Advice for Amp to Drive Klipsch Forte IVs

Both are excellent integrated amps and there are several more out there including tubed integrated. I have not heard both of the units you asked about but perhaps the two links below will help. BTW I own a Luxman 590 AXII, among others.

I wouldn't call 15x30 a small space. But the Fortes won't need much power to fill it up. I'd look at 50 wpc tube amps. I'm sure the Pass and the Luxman are great amps, but tubes are where it's at with Klipsch Heritage speakers.

Oz

How about a Rogue Pharaoh II Integrated Amplifier? Tube front end with a class D power section. Plenty of power to get the Klipsch pumping. The pre-amp tubes will last a long time. 

@daodao 100% with you muisically and about Decware. I have Heresy IV;s running with an Odyssey Khartago with tons of upgrades. Unless I can someday get a pass amp I have no desire for any other amp. Word of caution, because this is happening in my system, most SS amps are high gain, and most tube pre’s have high gain so noise is an issue. I am running 12db attenuators which remedies this. No change to the sound to my ears but its obviously not something I thought through before hand. I am very happy with my system but admit the gain thing bugs my sensibilities (read: mental illness) and so I have been looking at a passive/low gain pre like the Hattor.

Just something to keep in mind with effecicient speakers 👍

Maybe look at the Quicksilver integrated amp.

IF Luxman, Efficient Speakers, I would prefer tubes.

My 1st ever Luxman SQ-N150 is a low powered tube integrated, 10wpc 6 ohms ..., wonderful sound, very compact, using with my least efficient speakers ever 87 spl/w/m, in my office system, Like they say, much more power than you think.

Built in Phono sounds terrific also.

I would be tempted by it’s bigger brother, LX380, 20wpc 6ohms ...

http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=16

It has pre-out/main-in which allows the optional use of self-powered subs if you ever try that, thus the 20 wpc will not have to do the heavy lifting.

Couldn’t wait? Think Long, whatever the wait, it’s but a speck of time. You may regret, for a far longer time, not waiting for what you really want.

In my answer above (#1) I should have said one link below. Perhaps you are not looking for other integrated amp brands, but if you wanted to go the tube route take a look at any of the Raven integrated amps.

https://www.ravenaudio.com

PA5 has 48/83 wpc @8/4 ohms @ .1% distortion. At 1% it will do 110 watts @8ohms.

...most tube pre’s have high gain so noise is an issue. I am running 12db attenuators which remedies this....

Nothing wrong with this. Although 6 db might be enough but as long as you can get the volume you need/want it's fine. 

Thank you for the suggestions/advice.

What does the below statement by jasonbourne mean? Compared to what?

...only the Benchmark  AHB2 ($3500) placed ahead of it...

@jasonbourne52 

One should not speak about things one knows nothing about. Didn’t your mother teach you anything?

Topping PA5 will sound better than anything listed above.

I have a little class D amp on my Heresys. 65 wpc, I think. It plays but no balls. Not the same as the Rogue with 250 wpc and a good power supply. Plus, the tube front end that puts it in another level. 

I have the Forte IV’s as well and I’ve tried several amps. The best results were yielded from a McIntosh MAC7200. The 275 watts per channel offer supreme sounds stage, and really bring out the low end of the driver. 
 

highly recommended 

I’m running Peachtrees Gan400 on my Cornwall, sounds amazing. I hope someday to try a tube amplifier. 

The Forte IV are specified at 99 dB sensitivity. A First Watt F8 would likely drive them well - it has no problem with my Focal Aria 906's spec'd at 89.5 dB. Plus a SS or tube preamp.

being that it is a Klipsch, i'd go for something mellow like a rega brio. 50 wpc should be plenty for those speakers.

Benchmark AHB2. American-made, very well built, stellar measurements, very musical

Okay...thank you everyone for the great input. I'll call it done.

Oh No Honey !!

ARC I-50 INT at $5k just about to hit the stores.

Your Luxy and Plabs are good

but the horn needs a tube!!!

Only one weak link in your system.

Once your get the new amp you will notice!!

PS:  Love your DAC and stay on the Decware list. 

Anybody??

You could run them on as little as 2 watts from an SET tube amp...there are tons of choices to drive them. However, I would stay away from any bright sounding amps. 

I am using a tube buffer with XA25 Pass. This cost less than 5k for the two. Reno HiFi usually has some great demo or used Pass.  The 25 actually has about 80 watts.  If you are in Class AB with this amp your ears may hurt.   The INT25 is same amp with preamp gain. I have Crites speakers, close to Cornwall. Very good match. Buy some springs or some sort of isolation. Maybe a subwoofer or four as well. You will be quite happy once the system gets all tuned up. Then play some Orb, awesome recordings and great system tester. Or Grace Jones Hurricane Dub.

Sugden, Luxman also make good amp choices.

I’ve used the following amps with the Heresy IV’s:

Luxman 505uXII, Pass INT25 and the Luxman SQN150. The small Luxman Tube amp sounded great. I just rotated the Pass with the Heresy’s and personally like the Luxman 505uXII better. Just fyi it seems Klipsch usually matches their tube amp with the Cary tube amps at the audio shows.

I have heard a number of Klipsch speakers, and IMO the sound better with tubes.

If you are considering Luxman the small integrated should drive them with no problem. If you want a more classic look you should consider the Luxman LX-380. A little more power and a great look. I own the Luxman CL-38uC preamp. Also great sound and a great look.

I have heard the Benchmark amp, and it is good, but not a good match for Klipsch speakers IMO.

Have fun with your new system.

I'm surprised no one has suggested the Rogue Cronus Maxum III integrated tube amp.  It's $3K (new) and has more than enough power to drive the Klipsch Heresy's even in your (fairly large) room.  I have no personal experience with this amp but my closest audio friend, whose ears I trust implicitly, loves his.  

BTW: the Benchmark AHB2 gets great reviews but it is a power amplifier; you would need a preamp too.

I’m using a VAC Avatar SE integrated tube amp with my Forte 3’s and sounds very fine to these ears!

I wonder what the modern Dynaco amps would sound like with the Fortes?  Dennid Had makes some great tube amps.  He sells them on ebay for about 2k.  I think they have about 20 watts.  

I say BS on the "must use tubes" nonsense.  Using an Edge G8 (70 wpc SS class AB) with mine after experimenting with a Moth S45 running 2A3's, which just didn't have enough guts in the low end.  Although some say Decware is satisfactory for the Forte's, I'd be cautious if I were you.

I'm surprised no one has suggested the Rogue Cronus Maxum III integrated tube amp.  It's $3K (new) and has more than enough power to drive the Klipsch Heresy's even in your (fairly large) room.  I have no personal experience with this amp but my closest audio friend, whose ears I trust implicitly, loves his.  

I've heard that Rogue with Magnepan 20.7's and it sounded VERY nice.
Sean from Zero Fidelity has said multiple times that his Cornwall's with the Luxman is a system he could be happy with for a long time.

I use to own the KA-5500, I’ll bet the 9100 would sound good with your new stuff, but I vote for a First Watt or tubes. Stay in the Decware line or 300b.

The Klipsch don't need power, but they love power. My neighbors aren't happy about this obviously. I played my Heresy IV's with a Decware (2.3wpc) and it sounded great. My Odyssey gives it grunt and propulsion.

@russ69 

Nothing wrong with this. Although 6 db might be enough but as long as you can get the volume you need/want it's fine. 

My line stage cooks tubes so tubes issues come fast. I do have a set of 6db I want to throw in but I never get around to it. I have been exploring other ways to lower the output but have found that conclusively works.

I don’t have Klipsch but own Altec 620A (100 db efficiency) and they’re hard to match to a SS amp so here’s my take : if you don’t go for tubes, you’ll probably have to go for a class A (Pass Lab, Sugden, First Watt) or a very good sounding class A/B (Ayre, Belles, Croft)... I’ve read good reviews about class D but havent experienced it myself... good luck !

Here's a nice little amp with volume control you may want to consider.

If you do, contact me :^)

Again… Thank you everyone for the great advice and suggestions. Let’s call this thread done and complete.

Hi, I've been testing the Forte IV with many amps... Rega Io, Audio Reveal junior, Musical Fidelity Ms6i, Primaluna Evo 300, Pegaso P50A, Unison Research Simple Italy and Leben CS300f. The PL was very impressing, the sound was very balanced and coherent and the bass realistic and fast, extremely engaging. But... the small Leben literally killed it. The bass was unbelievable for a 15 watt amplifier, powerful, visceral, fast. The colour of the midrange so sweet and plenty, plenty of details. I literally listened things that I didn't feel with the other gears. Don 't know how the Leben sounds with different speakers but with the new Heresy Klipsch models the sinergy is absolutely incredible. Did the same tests with the Cornwall IV and with them the CS300f was breathtaking. I'd recommend in general to look for tube amps with a few watts, in my opinion that's what the new Klipsch models really ask for.

If you can get someone to guide you if you have never done it before, don't rule out building a 45 SET tube amp. Bottlehead.com has some kits and they support you. A 45 is more than enough for sensitive horn speakers such as Klipsch.

Use a big triode (GM 70 /  211  / 845) tube amp or integrated.

Line Magnetic comes to mind instantly but also consider NAT Audio

Like @adversam I tried my tannoy (arden not Cornwall) with my Leben cs300xs as well as luxman 550ax2... The leben was amazing esp the midrange but lacked a bit of bass control that the luxman a class had control of easily but still retaining the space and ease of tubes. Not sur if this will transfer to similar but different klipsch. If first watt weren't so expensive in UK I would have been very tempted 

I ended up purchasing a Willsenton R8 and have recently been doing some tube rolling. I never could get the Luxman L-550AXII out of my mind so I just bought one and it should be here later this month. I'm very eager to compare the R8 to the Luxman.