To those running Klipsch Forte IIIs...

@mrdecibel ,  You are totally off Sir/Madame.  I'm not "ready to move on".  In fact, the Forte IIIs are so wonderful that it will be a long time before I do sell them.  They will remain in the stable with other speakers for some time.  But even more importantly, how do you know that I don't "sit and listen" or am not "engaged"?  I am not offended in the least yet I do think it's super important to note that your post has nothing to do with the original subject and you make some huge assumptions about my listening habits and amenability to selling the Fortes.  It's posts like yours that make me scratch my head.  Enough said--on to the topic at hand. 

On the question of what I am coming from--I've used Monitor Audio, Totem, PSB, Wharfedale, B&W and a few others which escape me right now.  The Forte IIIs are my first horn speaker. 

At AXPONA I heard some Volti horns that seemed to be larger and more elegant Forte IIIs.  I was impressed with them and left thinking the Forte IIIs are very similar (getting me about 90% of the Volti sound), which made me happy.  So, "before I move on" to Volti or another more expensive horn, I'm going to love my Fortes and enjoy experimenting with them on my own journey.  

One character trait of the Forte IIIs is their ability to sound so different with different pieces--whether it be amplification, front end sources, tube rolling, etc.  

@schw06 , you get the point of the post--we are curious to hear about others' experiences with the Forte IIIs!  I'm just looking to hear and share our mutual journeys with them. 

I don't doubt, as others have posted, that there are some cheaper internal parts (resistors, caps and maybe wiring).  Even my Primaluna uses middle grade caps in spots when I would prefer Clarity, Jupiter, Jantzen, etc.  

No worries Mr. D!  

I'd bet the markup on the F III would be $1-2k if better components were used.  I know that caps have really impacted my budget when building tube amps.  And they do make a difference in my opinion, which sounds similar to what I think your view is too. 

dromme, very interesting that you found the Harbeths boring.  I get that.  

Did you mention one you are using for 2 channel music now?  Sounds like the Fortes are being used for television/movies.  

Did you ever try the Fortes with you Primaluna? If so, what did you think? 

@bigjohn9095, Welcome!!! 

With your interest level, I'd say you definitely have to give the Forte IIIs and Heresy IIIs a whirl.  I'm in Chicagoland if you want to pop by to listen to your music to put them through their paces. 

I'm familiar with the PSB Imagine T3s.  They are a great loudspeaker. In contrast to the Forte IIIs, you're going to get a deeper but not wider soundstage and more pinpoint imaging.  The T3s have a laser focus from midband upwards.  On the other hand, the Forte IIIs are more holographic and without question more "live" sounding.  The Forte IIIs are more dynamic, more sensitive, and very revealing of sources.  They are two different animals and I like both very, very much.  

The Forte IIIs can play great, IMHO, with solid state.  I enjoyed them with Class D topology too.  I do, however, strongly prefer them with tubes. 

I'm not an evangelist of cables or at least dropping a fortune on cables. I will say though, decent cables that can at least keep noise out of the chain are important with the Forte IIIs due to the loudspeaker's efficiency plus it's transparent nature.  At this efficiency level I took efforts to keep all hum out of the sound. 

What's also fun about the Forte IIIs is their characteristic of sounding different with different amps and sources. That's why I said above that I'll enjoy the journey long before I move them out for something different.  I'm no expert but I think I can hear greater differences when swapping out gear than with a more modern design like the PSB you reference.  So that is a plus for me because I like to play around and the F3s are a great common denominator to play around on my journey. 

To borrow a line from WolfGarcia, I'm now that guy in his mid 40s (Wolf is likely mid 50s) using horns and tubes!  I never thought I'd own anything Klipsch too.  

With the Forte IIIs it is really a different kind of imaging than a lack of imaging. It’s more akin to live music. I hear specific image locations and depth but not as pronounced.  At first I thought I might miss such imaging. Later it seemed more natural to me. Both are interesting frameworks to listen to recorded music.  

After living with the Klipsch for a year, it did change my perspective on hyper imaging. Now, I still appreciate it but I’m more after a bigger holographic sound. I’m not as desirous of hearing something so perfectly placed because it sounds more processed to me now.  

I think that my two amp situations fall on the extremes of what I need.  My 300B sounds glorious with the Forte IIIs but my room is a bit large and I wish it had more power. My other amp is a Primaluna HP premium integrated.  The Fortes sound best with KT150s in the amp. BUT, the PL volume control must stay below 9:30/10:00 o'clock--my sense is it's too much juice.  Would I be better off with a 30w tube amp?

hifificrazed, great idea.  I wish I could. Both amps do not allow for it. 

Hificrazed, I agree with your view on it being hard to go to something else. I’m torn between selling the Primaluna to fund a new lower powered amp versus staying put.  

The used market for Forte IIIs is healthy.  I had mine for 27 months and sold them for $2600.  [I upgraded to Cornwall IVs]. 

I'd be curious to see the Forte IV, as the III was a great design in its own right.