Argon Audio Forte A4 WiFi Review
Argon Audio is a Danish brand with a clear mission: to offer stylish, high-performing audio products without the high price tag that often comes with premium brands. Their range includes everything from turntables and amplifiers to speakers and wireless audio devices, all designed with a focus on simplicity, functionality, and Scandinavian minimalism.
I've already reviewed a few of their products on my channel, and I've found them to offer exceptional value for the price, such as the Argon Audio TT-4 turntable. This time, we'll be taking a closer look at the Forte A4 WiFi Active Speakers, which move away from traditional Bluetooth in favor of a more audiophile-friendly and engaging WiFi connection. Let's see if the Forte A4 lives up to the Argon Audio reputation for quality and affordability.
Features & build
The Forte A4 WiFi arrived in a beautifully designed, colorful box with excellent padding around the speakers to ensure they were well-protected during shipping. Inside the package, I found everything needed to get started: a 3-meter speaker cable, a remote control, magnetically attached front covers, a power cable, and adhesive felt protector pads.
The speakers are available in four stunning finishes, classic Walnut, Black, White, and a deep Blue that I would have preferred, though the version I have is just as attractive. In hand, the speakers feel surprisingly compact; I was expecting something larger. But don’t let their size fool you, these speakers pack a punch and deliver an energetic sound, as we’ll explore later.
The build quality is exceptional, with a solid, premium feel. The silver rings around the woofer and tweeter add a classy and elegant touch that catches the eye. The speakers are equipped with a 1-inch Soft Dome Tweeter with a Neodymium Magnet and a 4-inch Custom 2-layer Cone Bass/Midrange Driver. This two-way design utilizes a rear bass reflex port, which enhances low-end performance without sacrificing clarity.
Overall, the Forte A4 WiFi exudes a level of craftsmanship and style that promises a strong performance, despite its compact form factor, Even the remote control stands out, it’s not just basic plastic but a well-crafted metal unit that feels premium in hand. It includes all the essentials, allowing you to switch inputs and adjust the volume with ease. The metal construction gives it a solid, durable feel, adding to the overall quality impression of the Forte A4 WiFi speakers.
Inputs and Outputs
On the back panel of the Forte A4 WiFi speakers, you’ll find a versatile array of inputs and outputs designed to accommodate a variety of audio sources.
Phono Input (RCA)
Dedicated RIAA preamp for connecting turntables equipped with MM cartridges.
Don’t forget to connect the ground wire to the Ground (GND) terminal (if your turntable has one). Some turntables may not require a separate ground connection.
Aux Input (RCA)
Line-level input for connecting analog sources, such as a CD player, DAC.
Sub Out
Output for connecting a subwoofer to enhance low-frequency performance.
Optical Input
Digital input for sources like TVs, gaming consoles, or media players.
USB Input
Reserved exclusively for firmware updates to keep the system up to date.
HDMI ARC
An HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) connection for TV audio. Supports PCM 2.0 output only. This feature allows for easy integration with modern TVs for improved sound quality.
Wi-Fi Setup Button
Used during the Wi-Fi setup process via the DTS Play-Fi app.
Power Plug
Connect the power cable here and plug it into a power outlet to power the speakers.
Ground (GND)
A dedicated connection point for grounding your turntable to eliminate potential hum or noise.
Speaker Output
Terminal for connecting the passive (right) speaker using the included speaker cable.
The well organized back panel offers a wide range of connectivity options, ensuring the Forte A4 WiFi can seamlessly integrate into almost any audio setup.
Ease of use
Setting up the speakers shouldn’t be too complicated, but there are a few important things to keep in mind. Placing them on a cabinet or close to a wall will result in a warmer sound, with a very full and abundant bass. However, if you opt to position them on stands, giving them more space, you’ll need to carefully adjust their placement to achieve the right balance in the bass, potentially reaching a point where a subwoofer isn't necessary.
It’s important to remember that these are compact speakers, so they are best suited for smaller rooms, where they can deliver their full potential without overwhelming the space. Proper placement will make a noticeable difference in achieving the ideal sound, particularly in terms of low-end response.
The first step, after inserting the included batteries into the remote, is to take the main speaker, the Left speaker, and connect the cable that links it to the Right speaker. Thankfully, Argon Audio made a smart choice by opting for a single WiFi module in the main speaker, which manages amplification for both speakers. This means the Right speaker doesn’t need its own power source, avoiding the common WiFi connectivity issues seen in some more well-known wireless speakers.
However, this also means you’ll have a 3-meter cable visible between the two speakers, which can be a drawback if you’re aiming for a freestanding setup on speaker stands. In this case, I would have preferred if Argon Audio included a longer cable, at least 5 meters, in the box to provide more flexibility with placement options.
Another important point to note is that the Left and Right speakers are fixed and cannot be swapped. There's no hardware switch to change channels, as seen in models like the Klipsch The Seven, nor is there an option to adjust this via a smart app. This means the power outlet must be on the left side of your setup, limiting flexibility in placement if your room layout doesn't accommodate that.
After turning on the speakers, the LED light on the main speaker will illuminate. To set up the Wi-Fi connection, you’ll need to download the DTS Play-Fi app on your smartphone or tablet. Open the app and follow the in-app instructions to complete the initial setup.
I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of this app, it’s not the most intuitive interface, but the included user manual is well-written and provides clear guidance. You can find it at this link: Argon Audio Forte WiFi Manual. With a little patience, the setup process should be straightforward.
In addition to using DTS Play-Fi, the Forte A4 WiFi speakers also feature built-in support for Apple AirPlay and Google Cast. These options make streaming even more seamless, allowing you to bypass the Play-Fi app entirely for day-to-day use. Whether you’re an iOS or Android user, you can easily stream high-quality audio from your favorite apps with just a tap.
After pressing the Wi-Fi setup button on the back of the main speaker, the app automatically detected the speaker and prompted me to update the firmware. It’s great to see that there’s no need to use an external USB for updates, everything is handled seamlessly through the app.
Returning to the topic of Play-Fi, one of the main reasons I’m not a fan of this system is its handling of multi-tasking. If you’re streaming music and then switch to another app, like Instagram or YouTube, and a video starts playing, it will interrupt and stop the music on the speaker.
The only way to avoid this issue is to manually transfer each track to the speaker using a button within the Play-Fi app, which is quite inconvenient. Alternatively, you can dedicate a separate device, like a tablet, solely for streaming, which is the solution I ended up using. While this works, it’s far from ideal and highlights a limitation of the platform.
THE LISTENING
In my 25 m² room, I positioned the speakers about 50 cm from the rear wall and 1 meter from the side walls. I opted for a straight setup without toe-in to maximize the sound-stage, while still achieving excellent center imaging, thanks to the technical capabilities of the speakers. This placement allowed the Forte A4 WiFi to deliver an expansive yet focused sound that perfectly suits its design.
The bass is exceptionally tight and quick, delivering a fullness that feels much bigger than the speaker’s compact size. The midrange is clear and well-textured, with natural warmth and excellent articulation, bringing vocals and instruments to life with an engaging presence. The top end is extended and detailed, offering great clarity without ever becoming harsh or fatiguing, ensuring long listening sessions remain enjoyable. The overall balance is impressive, delivering a dynamic and immersive sound that punches well above its weight.
This is a speaker designed for small rooms, ideally under 20 square meters (approximately 215 square feet). In larger spaces, adding a subwoofer becomes necessary, especially if the speakers are not placed near a wall to reinforce the low frequencies. However, when positioned correctly, such as closer to a rear wall, the Forte A4 WiFi can deliver satisfying bass performance even without a subwoofer. This makes them versatile and capable of adapting to different room sizes and setups, though they truly excel in more intimate spaces.
PHONO INPUT
I tested the phono input by connecting the new Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 turntable fitted with the Pro-Ject Pick It MM EVO cartridge. The new Satin Wine Red finish of the turntable is absolutely stunning (review coming soon). This setup is both affordable and of excellent quality.
The noise floor was quite good, almost inaudible from the listening position, though not entirely pitch-black. The sound was very natural, characterized by a warm and engaging midrange with an extended yet neutral top end. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and didn’t feel any need to add an external phono stage. The built-in phono input performed admirably in this test.
HOME THEATER 2.1
As mentioned earlier, a bit of extra low-end power never hurts, especially for home theater use. To enhance the experience, I connected the Argon Audio MALMÖ SUB 8, a compact, affordable subwoofer with impressively rich and full-bodied sound. It complemented the Forte A4 WiFi speakers perfectly.
When using the HDMI ARC connection from your TV, make sure to set the audio output to PCM rather than passthrough. Otherwise, you may encounter an unpleasant noise from the speakers. In a 2.1 setup, the Forte A4 WiFi speakers paired with the Sub8 delivered excellent dynamics in action-packed scenes and clear intelligibility for dialogue. The system’s ability to turn on and off automatically with the TV was a nice touch for seamless integration.
However, during extended listening, I noticed the treble could become slightly emphasized and fatiguing. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to adjust this, as the DTS Play-Fi app lacks equalization controls or subwoofer management features such as a night mode. This is a significant limitation when compared to modern soundbars like the Sonos Arc Ultra or Sennheiser Ambeo, which even offer automatic room calibration.
Overall, the performance was great, but there’s room for improvement in terms of flexibility and features for home theater use.
Pros
Compact and stylish design with excellent build quality.
Wide range of connectivity options, including HDMI ARC, phono input, optical, and Wi-Fi.
Detailed and clear sound that performs well across different genres.
Bass is tight and punchy, delivering a sound much bigger than its size.
Clear midrange and extended treble.
Easy integration with TVs, thanks to auto power on/off via HDMI ARC.
Subwoofer output allows for flexible 2.1 system expansion.
Phono input performs well, eliminating the need for an external phono stage.
Cons
DTS Play-Fi app lacks equalization settings, subwoofer management, and features like night mode.
Speaker placement is fixed, as the left speaker must be the powered one.
Requires a cable connection between the main and passive speaker, limiting flexibility in free-standing setups.
Best suited for small rooms, bass performance diminishes in larger spaces without a subwoofer.
Scores
Build Quality: 8/10
Excellent craftsmanship with premium materials and stylish finishes.Connectivity: 8.5/10
Comprehensive input options, including HDMI ARC, phono, optical, and Wi-Fi.Sound Quality: 8/10
Clear mids, and detailed treble, with tight and punchy bass. Slight treble emphasis may not suit everyone during extended listening.Ease of Use: 7.5/10
Straightforward setup with a clear manual, but DTS Play-Fi app usability is lacking, and speaker placement options are limited.Value for Money: 8/10
Great performance for the price, offering good sound and versatility in a compact package.
Overall: 8/10
A versatile and well-rounded active speaker that excels in small spaces, delivering excellent sound and a broad feature set with minor limitations.