What is Going on with the Klipsch Cornwalls!?
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- čas přidán 9. 07. 2024
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Enjoyed the video...as usual. I have gone down the Klipsch path starting with the Heresey and landing on the LaScala and Belle speakers. Yea, I have two systems, the Belles with a McIntosh MA 352 hybrid amp and the LaScalas with a Schiit Freya+ and Emotiva monoblocks (HC1) that I am picking up tomorrow.
People complain that Klipsch Heritage speakers don't have enough bass...Subwoofers people! I have two 12" Klipsch subs in the LaScala system and one 12" Klipsch sub with the Belles.
CAM and Klipsch are a winning combo.
One of your best reviews…EVER! Why? Because you just revealed what Klipsch lovers have known all along! That these fine speakers put out exactly what you put into them. You hit the precise nail on the head, in your description of the way they perform, taking the room and amps into consideration. It will be hard to beat this review, everything came together for you, and shows that you DO have a good set of ears, after all! 😂
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Could not have said it better. I did have an opportunity to buy a Carver amp back in the early 80's. It sounded like BOTTLED ECSTASY! It costed more than my car at the time. $$$ I just stuck with my Yamaha pre & amp.
Yep, amplifier choice was critical with my Forte IVs. They went from being impressive but kind of shouty and unforgiving on some recordings to absolutely sublime and perfect in every way with the right amplifier. These speakers need solid state to achieve bass weight and tubes for the mids and highs. Class A will be a huge benefit as well. Anyone not liking the sound of heritage speaker should hear it with hybrid integrated class A such as the Vincent SVK mkii. The difference between this and the Decware SET and Yamaha SS amps I tried was night and day. Class A will tame those horns like you won't believe. No more a bit shouty, nasally or harsh at all...just rich sublime smooth mids and highs from the horns and powerful perfect bass that's not shy in the least.
@@davidwald2938 I agree with you that Klipsch Heritage speakers are able to discriminate between amps. I had a similar experience with Heresy's. Settled on tubes but tried everything. Once settled on which tube amp to use I began tube rolling to achieve an even better sound to my ears. Not sure which other speakers are as revealing. Enjoy!
I recently bought a Harman Kardon 730 and a 430 for my Cornwall IVs. Great match with solid bass and smooth mids.
@@jefffeith4201 My first speakers were Heresy HBR's with a Sansui AU-92 (must have been a special model only in Europe), Yamaha HP-1's headphones, crappy tape deck.
When the Cornwall 4’s first came out I bought a brand new pair of Cornwall 3’s that were being closed out for $2699 shipped for the pair. Mine are A-stock in Black Ash and when I connected them to my Reisong A50 it was a match made in heaven! Love them!
That little Reisong is a fantastic amp, especially tube rolled. I had one, and it really pulled me into the world of single ended tube amps. I would imagine it would sing with those big, easy to drive, speakers. I used mine with Zingali towers.
Also, buying the previous model when a new one comes out is a sound tactic, as is buying ex dem units.
Sometimes I think older models can actually be better as companies may cheap out on, or be unable to source, as good parts in newer models. Especially with current shortages.
Wow. That’s an amazing deal. Congrats.
Many thanks to your friend for letting you experience those speakers so you could share your thoughts with us! Oh, and thanks, Sith Audio!
My slightly beat up, partially rebuilt 1978 Cornwall's still sound great. My basement listening room is 20 x 45 so they have room to breathe. They don't do as well in confined spaces. I don't use them too much anymore, but when I do drive them with a rebuilt Carver C-19 Vacuum Tube Preamp and a Carver TFM-25 Amp, or an Emotive RMC-1 and Monoprice 7X amp. Fun stuff. Thanks for the great review Randy. I'd love to compare the old and new versions.
I have Cornwall Its from about the same year. Love them.
It is SO helpful how you describe what you hear and give specific references to songs. Your reviews are not vague at all…kind of like how these Cornwalls sound! Thank you!
Happy you think so. Watching this back I missed so many things I should
Have said
@cheapaudioman make another video about what you feel you missed. Klipsch is a love or hate speaker, one loves them or hates them.
Great review Randy!!! I totally LOVE my Forte II speakers, they have a lot of the same characteristics. The level of "Realism" the Heritage line project in the room is SPOOKY!!! :) A low watt tube amp and a Heritage line speaker is a very stunning combo.. Most people will say, NO WAY can you run that large of a speaker off that low of watts.. I run my Forte and my 96db sensitive Open Baffles that have an 18" bass driver, 15" coaxial driver, and a compression horn tweeter of of a 2.5 watt Tube amp and were basically flat from 30hz to 20K... hahah CRAZY to think.. Cheers Buddy!! :)
@@kentwood2914 I have the stock risers on mine, but that’s only about 3-4”
If you get the chills from the music, you’ve nailed what you set out to do. My system still gives me goosebumps.
Yes. Exactly! 👍
Sith Audio absorbent audiophile undergarments… To catch the the leaks from the musical realism excitement and deep bass reverberations.
This is getting old so fast...give it a rest..
I bought a new pair of Klipsch Cornwall II's on Dec 11, 1986 from Read Brothers Wholesale Dept. in Charleston, S.C. via mail order. They cost $1184 a pair and the riser bases were an additional $32. Shipping was free. (to Pennsylvania). They are still in use today and still sound great. When first purchased, I powered them with a Pioneer SX-1980 Receiver. (270 watts / ch). It only took a couple watts to fill the room with sound since they are so sensitive. I still have the original receipt and manuals. They never needed service and the cabinets are almost mint (after 3 moves). The only other speaker that came close was the Cerwin Vega 316R which had almost identical sensitivity. I used those as rear speakers (in A/B Stereo mode)
After auditioning speakers of many makes and many designs every weekend for pretty much a year my last stop was the only Klipsch dealer in our city . After all those auditions Dalquist DQ10 KEF 105.2 ESS HEIL Magnepan Koss Quad so many more I listened to the Klipsch heritage line and that day changed everything for me in how I thought music reproduction could sound . I went back the next day and ordered a pair of Klipschorns , that was 43 years ago and I still have them . I do appreciate and own other designs BUT for me nothing reproduces a musical preformance that sounds like your right there like the Heritage line designed by Paul Klipsch .
Brilliant assessment. Really clear analysis of these speakers and their response to amps. Sounds like they can be paired with a number of different systems with that design though not tubes? Flawless. Wow.
15” High efficiency bass is addictive. It’s deep, but less likely to overwhelm a room. Once I heard some heritage speakers I was hooked.
my 15" Tannoy Ardens are the same...size DOES matter!!!
Klipsch is just plain awesome. I love how they make great stuff at any budget. They sell a lot of products because they work hard to make great audio.
did everybody forgot about Cerwin-Vega or JBL´s, i did for the next year
You can’t un-hear it now. Once the Klipsch bug bites you, It doesn’t matter what the haters say. You know Klipsch Heritage speakers are Awesome. There‘s just something special about those high efficiency compression drivers that brings the music to life. Great stuff. Thanks for another fun video Randy. Keep up the good work. Peace out✌️
I have the Cornwall IVs and always wondered what your take would be. I also love the instrument separation and clear midrange. The percussion is so realistic I was looking for John Bonham’s ghost hiding inside them.
I had Klipsch La Scalas when we got married. My wife pointed out their flaws and pretty soon I heard their issues as well.
No more Klipsch for us. Plus, they cost way too much now and require a big room to really work. I am referring to the Cornwalls and up here.
I thought the Las Scalas were end game speakers
@@dieseldust27they are for me
@@dieseldust27 poor guy, in order to make his new wife happy", heard" their shortcomings as well...talk to him in ten years... he'll trade her for a set of LaScalas, if she hasn't divorced him and taken half his sh*t by then...
@@stephenstevens6573
That was 46 years ago. I was a professional musician and got sick of the beaming they had, plus while their percussive bass was excellent, the deep base was not really there.
I suggest you watch your tongue in replying to posts.
@@richardtomasekIf you've been married for 46 years, you're doing something right in both speaker choices and relationship management. What speakers do you and your wife enjoy now?
Great review, Randy! After going through Heresy’s and now Forte’s, I’m sure my audiophile journey will lead me to the Cornwalls next.
As a Car Audio guy who is diving into Home audio ….. I just found your channel and I love it !! Subbed man, All notifications ….. I’m going to grab a coffee and start going through your video playlist 👌
A great speaker review by a great reviewer. Klipsch is THE endgame speaker
I'm glad you like them, because I've never heard a Klipsch that I could live with.
I've heard quite a few over the years, with various amps, in well treated rooms, and they just don't so that much for me. I guess, for a short time, they are fun to listen to. But the things that make them fun at first, are the same things that don't age too well for me.
Maybe I am just overly sensitive to some of their attributes, but they always seem to sort of overlay everything with a bit of the sound of a PA system. It is especially noticeable, if you switch to another speaker.
Totally agree. The mid is especially bothersome.
All the vocalistists sound like they have head colds. Very pinched and nasal.
Guess everybody hears differently.
Love your “pedestrian “ take on these speakers Randy! The heritage line takes the musical experience to another level especially paired with the a good amplifier. Like most things there is a cost to pay but it’s worth it. I enjoyed a pair of Forte’s for many years until I audition and upgraded to KEF 107.
I have Cornwall IIs and a pair of K'horns with Crites crossovers. They are fantastic. I also have Warfedale Lintons, Original JBL 100s and HPM 100s. All great speakers, but the Klipsh are my favorite hands down.
I run a pair of Forte IV’s with a pair of Benchmark AHB2’s in monoblock mode and totally love it. I think your assessment of tube vs higher power solid state on their heritage line in general lines up with what I’ve experienced, too (I also have a pair of Heresy III’s)
As a Klipsch fan and owner I'm glad you enjoyed the Cornwalls.
Damping factor, the forgotten amp spec.
Hi Randy...now you know why I speak so highly of my Cornwall IVs! I was very fortunate to pick up a lightly used (less than 1 year) pair for $5k delivered to my house. They fit perfectly in my listening room which looks somewhat similar to the room you were in when you did this review. The main difference is that mine are separated a little wider because my room allows it but the corner placement and toe-in are very similar to what I use. I do also use a RSL Speedwoofer 10s with mine. It is not really needed but it does give you that punch in the chest that we all love. I power them with a 150 W/channel Parasound Class AB amp...very nice. This is probably my end-game set-up! Thanks for the review!
I like the idea of you reviewing in your listening room as opposed to at a desk which is what I've seen you normally do. I don't know I think it gives viewers kind of more of an inside view of what it is you're doing and how it is your doing what it is you're doing, and by providing that firsthand look at your room and where you're listening it's just phenomenal.
Interesting to get to listen to some old school speakers, I'm sure!
I would love to hear these speakers (v3 or v4) at some point.
I went back to tubes a few years ago after 50 plus years of solid state (I'd started when tubes were all you could buy). At first I was totally intrigued by the 3D presentation you mentioned. I added a pair of subs to fill in the bass. After about a year I found an old SS amp I had long forgotten about in my store room. I brought it out to test it and Holy Moly! All the things I had done to maximize the tube amp, went through the roof better with the SS. I ate a massive amount of crow because I had been touting these tube amps, 3 different ones ranging from 6wpc to 40wpc, and now a 40 year old SS amp just ate them all for lunch. I don't own the Cornwalls, but a variety of Altec Lansing vintage speakers from 52 years ago, as well as a variety of other stand mount speakers. The SS wins even at low volumes. Was I surprised? Indeed I was. Interesting that you had a similar experience.
I’ve had my Cornwalls for over 20 years now. Every time I think about possibly moving to something else I just cave. I’ve upgraded the tweeters and crossovers plus did the ol’ rope caulk mod. These along with my Denafrips Pontus II DAC and PrimaLuna EVO300 integrated produce what just sounds right to me.
I have the same DAC and primaluna but power a pair of Klipsch chorus 2 and I'm in love
Some great deals can be had on older models of the Klipsch Heritage series of speakers. I just recently picked up a pair of Forte l’s, which have a 12” passive radiator instead of the 15” in the ll, lll, and lV’s. The 12” seems to give a bit tighter low end. They’re a super fun pair of speakers to listen to. They pop, are lively, and work in my room excellently. Also grabbed a Carver amp with the speakers for a super low price for the both. I’ve got new crossover parts ordered and on the way for the Fortes. .
I much prefer the Forte I over any iteration of Cornwall, Heresy or Khorn I have ever heard. Forte II is not bad either.
La Scala's are my next Klipsch speakers. Great video Randy, nice to have friends to give you other perspectives with more gear!
I love getting to see you back in this form. You can tell when something has completely blown you away. You almost gave a slight look of someone who just went into shock haha in the best way possible:)
If you get the chance, LISTEN to the LA SCALA AL5's! They are Klipsch's best speaker imo and i think youd agree. Cornwall would be my second pick, though. The Klipschorn just sounds a bit too forward and less warm in the midbass to me but more punch down low too i guess (thats what a sub is for anyway)
Klipsch Heritage speakers are just magical, even if not the most flat measuring
No surprise here. I agree. I have Cornwall II’s powered by a Mac MC275 V6 when positioned out and toed, incredibly soundstage. My favorite combo for jazz and quality recordings.
There's tube amps that have alot more to offer for those kinds of speakers. Ultra-linear amps like Mcintosh or a Dynaco ST-70 would really bring those things alive.
Cornwalls on an st-70 and pat-4.... nothing like it, ran a pas-2(modified) as well but preferred the ss pre.
My nephew has a pair of these. My response to hearing them for the first time was " I would be happy to take my final breath while listening listening to Ziggy Stardust in front of these speakers".
The excellent gentleman that has these high-quality speakers and highly refined amplifiers would only be listening to Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. Great review
Horn speakers keep the dynamics intact but usually have an elevated upper midrange, the so-called "horn shout." We can thank chief engineer Roy Delgado for tackling the issue head on.
Technically they are waveguides.
@@Beathoven007 🤔They are really low frequency for waveguides, champ! Should probably be thought of as audio frequency distribution facilitators lol 🤣
AFDF’s 😉
Does it work for any horn speakers? I have a pair of really cheap old Jensen speakers that have the same style horn tweeter and midrange and they sound just like what he's describing I listened to jimmy buffets juicyfruit and the highs and mids are so clear and separated but no harsh on the high end
@@Durkhead I believe so; it’s something they did in the old days quite frequently, and I guess nowadays it’s the kind of thing where speakers can be good that have horns and speakers can be good that don’t. It just depends on what your preference is really, as there is a bit of a difference sonically.
Cornwalls are great and the LaScalas are too but the later need subwoofers. My experience has shown toeing in horn loudspeakers to where the stereo triangle crosses right in front of the listening position greatly enhances the imaging, overall soundstage width and height.
Mr.Klipsch was a musical genius!! He made speaker that reproduce exactly what you put in to them ... if you put bad in they were bad if you put good in you got magic and life like as you are sitting at a live performance.
Been running Carver M1.0t into Heresy IIs since the 80s. Hard combination to beat. Loved the Cornwalls and Forte's but had no room at the time for speakers that large. Would love to see a review of all the various versions of the Heresys.
Love the return of Sith audio! Hilarious. Great vid, Randy.
Good stuff Randy, I’d love to have some big ol’ klipsch speakers and a sweet tube amp one day, I like some junk in the trunk too, thanks!!!
Now I have to finally refinish and refurbish my Cornwall 1s. They used to have all of what you were describing but need a good overhaul to get the magic back. Cool review
Great video randy. Not many reviews on decware. Appreciate your notes.
I have 1986 Klipsch Belles powered by a SMSL AO200-mk2 and the combo is fantastic. Belles / La Scala have the energy, efficiency and presence of a big PA speaker while being a very pleasant and capable hifi speaker
A pleasure to hear. I think the polk r700 is my endgame speaker - or at least for the next decade - but always enjoyable heating about other stuff.
I’m glad to hear you liked them. I love my Cornwall iv’s! Looking around for a class AB amp to pair with the. See how different from my PS Audio m1200’s it would be.
LaScalas on the radar though 😁
Great review. Thank you!!
The return of Sith Audio! Cool! Oh, what up Cheap! (almost forgot!).
I'm a Klipsch fan boy. Some people hate Klipsch and that is fine. More Klipsch for me!
Great review, man! If you ever have a chance to hear a pair of Golden Era Infinity speakers, I hope you can give them a listen! I have nothing at all against Klipsch, but Infinity was doing crazy, cool things back in the day! For instance, my daily drivers are a pair of QLS 2 from 1979. They use ribbon tweeters in a line source array, and have the world's first dual voice coil woofers. (The second coil has a super low impedance to help overcome cone breakup near box resonance) When right after I setup my listening room, a buddy of mine who sets up great for a living brought over his equipment and did a few rta readings. They played virtually flat from 24hz to 30khz!
Fantastic review Randy!! The Klipsch RP-8000F ii just went on sale for $489!!! (As part of a sneak peek for upcoming holiday pricing) which would be good follow-up to this Cornwall iii review ( kind of like how you reviewed the RP 6000F after the Klipsch Heresy review).
Great review, Randy. I love the Cornwalls in all versions.
Your comments about SS vs this Decware amp make sense, since the later is known to output as much as 3% to 4% of 2nd order harmonic distortion. It can be very pleasant to the ear, but definitely less precise.
Great review! I have a pair of matching 77' cornwalls. When I play those babies, everyone's jaw drops. Best 700 bucks I ever spent. 🔊
Been watching your stuff for awhile now and this is the BEST audio review I've seen bar none on any channel. Wow, and you were actually using a streaming source? I think I want a restored Carver m400. You've nailed one of the challenges with Klipsch and that's amplifier pairing. To really get the most out of the Heritage line-up the amps often fall outside the "cheap" spectrum and it "is what it is." Getting my Forte IIs recapped and will then be exploring a SS amp upgrade. My tube amp has been awesome but after 22 years of listening to it I'm curious what else is out there...
Cornwalls are one of the best daily drivers. They do background music at low level phenomenally well. Love em
I agree. I like to listen in the morning with coffee at like 50db and I can still hear everything In The music.
First I want to say I have a pair of those sith audio, uh, glasses. However, I bought them at Harbor Freight years ago. They help me when working on computers, cell phones, game systems, or one of my Pontiac models! I paid considerably less than $17..lol
Secondly, I understand your review. I fell in love with Klipsch speakers in my youth as my brother in law has had many different Klipsch speakers (Forte's, Cornwall, LaScala). I don't own a pair currently but I'm constantly looking for a reasonably priced pair of Cornwalls or chorus series.
Great review!
Great Review Randy! Thank you
I'm impressed with how many higher end speaker owners tune in to Randy. Thanks for the review, dude.
Anything in the Heritage line is way underrated. I absolutely love my Fortes. I go to the shows and listen to the $35,000 speakers and I'm serious when I say the Heritage line is what I'd rather have in my house.
Shows are not a good place to assess 35k speakers...
@@yantrussart6584 then I think you'll agree it is a level playing field at a show.
Great review. I know Klipsch speakers are not everyones favorite, but I do like them. I have had my set of LaScalas since 1990 and never get tired of listening to them. A little weak in the bass department, so like others, I supplement with subs. Keep the down to earth reviews coming.
Great review and I agree. However, as an owner of these same speakers and having them alongside the klipsch chorus II’s, you would be impressed with those as well. I have both of these in my room, and I can’t bring myself to sell either set because of how amazing this speakers are.
I've got my CWIV's on a Parasound Hint 6 and I love it. I would like to try other good quality amps when I get the opportunity. The Cornwalls are my end game speaker as I'm in my late 50's and I can't imagine replacing them anytime soon.
I had my CWIVs on a Marantz 40n and liked the combo. However, I recently tried a Harman Kardon 430 and like it a tad better overall. Smooth mids and a bit more bass. The 40n gave slightly more micro details but a little less warm overall.
My mantra is still Tubes on the line stage and Transistors for amplification.
Thanks!
I bought mine in 1978, don't know what series they are, don't care. All I can tell you is that they have taken everything I could put throw at them with a set of Phase Liner 400's and they still sound fantastic all these years later. I also have a set of '80's La Scala's I bought for a couple hundred bucks from a friend that owned a bar that went belly up, they are in my garage being pushed by an old Sherwood S-9910 I had because IMHO the Cornwall's sound better. From Vinyl to reel to reel to digital the Cornwall's just rock. My kids are fighting about who gets them in my will, they do agree the looser gets the La Scala's.
I have the IV’s with a highly powered tube amp. Based on the show that I went to last summer, I would have to spend 3-4 times as much to get vastly better sound.
I need those Sith Audio goggles to find my way through life. Take my money. 😂 Those are sweet speakers. I hope you had fun with the sound. Thank you for sharing.
Although I’ll never be able to afford these speakers due to silly thinks like food or gas! I enjoy your presentations and your channel! I must admit that at 77years old I don’t know what you’re talking about half of the time your style of communication enables me to believe I know what you’re talking about! I’ve use Bose speakers most of my life with Polk and infinity thrown in for variety and despite what most audiophiles think of my speakers they have served me well the youngest being twenty years old! But most are somewhere around fifty years old and like me starting to fade! Plan to upgrade soon but with the current poor quality of Bose I’m not to sure where to go! Hopefully watching your channel will paved the way to speaker successes!
Could you tell us a little more about the listening room, like the approximate dimensions and room treatments? I'm wondering what size room you need to have to make the investment in Cornwalls? It looks like a beautiful old Craftsman style home by the way!
Nice review and I do love the Cornwalls the La Scala's are even better but you need more space. The Forte' IV was in my final 2 for new speakers but I went with Tannoy Chevoit's if you get a chance the coaxial 2-way speakers are worth a listen. And someday you will need to hear a higher wattage tube amp, headroom is important
I've had my Forte 2's since I bought them new in 1989, did a refresh about 7 years ago and they still sound better then ever. All other speakers I've heard over that timeframe sound like they have a dishrag stuck over the mid-highs. I chose the Forte 2's over the Cornwall's back then because the Cornwall's seemed to have a looser bass when compared back to back.
I would suggest you take your Advance Paris A10 to your friends and hook up the Cornwall III's.Ut will really blow your mind.Bass Punch and Air(sounds like the highs are coming from the ceiling)I have the Cornwall Iv's and the Advance Paris A12 hooked up to the Eversolo dmp-A8 and a Florence RT-85N.The system is amazing.
I totally agree. Outstanding! 😎👍🌴
So back in the day, I powered two La Scalas with a Phase Linear 700B. Lots of headroom there.
If I had to guess, this speaker faithfully represents a more “free” design approach from a bygone era where hifi was all the rage and living room aesthetics were more accepting of a full-size tower speaker. A large format woofer can play well into the lower midrange because it needs very little excursion to fill in the low end, and does so with efficiency that smaller drivers simply cannot match.
This is a real testament to the laws of physics which, even after all these years, cannot be bent nor broken. Interior designers be damned… let there be sound!
It's not Interior designers you need to worry about, it's partners and spouses. Go on, tell them to be damned, I dare you ! 😉
I agree with the spirit of your comment, though, just unsure about the practicality.
@@jimfarrell4635 oh, I agree 1000%! My wife wouldn’t let me put my Energy RC-Minis in the living room, and they are like little 7” tall wooden jewelry! They are now part of my PC/Music system in the basement, so at least I still get to enjoy them!
Exactly right, trying to get tight punchy bass and midbass from a small driver is like trying to paddle a canoe with a broomstick. Area matters!
@@naturalverities and the lower you go, the more area you need. Of all the crazy crap I did in my younger car audio days, the best bass I ever had came from using a 15” Cerwin Vega Stroker; a sub with a pro-audio style cone and suspension, mixed with dual spiders and a MASSIVE motor.
In a sealed enclosure (it was designed for vented applications) it was the fastest, punchiest sub I’d ever heard. The amount of energy it could ACCURATELY transform into sound was something I had to demonstrate; it defied description. No one believed me until they heard it for themselves.
Horn loading is also something the pro audio sector figured out a long time ago; a way to better couple a driver to the air mass in front of it. Lo and behold, look at this Klipsh - horn loaded! Some say there’s nothing new under the sun. 😁
@@superspeeder tell me about it... my man-loft has Lascala bass bins, love 'em! And 38" wide mid horns, 😁.
I owned a pair of these for almost 6 years- powered by tube or solid state, currently a yamaha mx-1 - nothing sounds like these, the easy of sound, adaptability across all music types, acoustic sounds, one of the best speakers for “live” sound out there
The xmax on that driver is in the 7 mm range which is really adequate for loud deep bass especially with a ported box as it limits cone movement.
I have a pair of Cornwall II which I have updated with Crites sonocaps and new Italian horn tweeters which go up to 30 khz, OMG there's not much in this world that can raise the hairs on my arms!
would enjoy seeing a pair of original AR-1s highlighted...take it back to where it all began....
Have you been nipping at the cooking sherry?
Forte IVs are also great in smaller rooms. Would also suggest a more powerful Tube Amp. I run mine with a Melody MDA2 which gives 13 Watts via 2A3 Tubes.
i had that amp also for a year with my CW4, its a great amp and a nice match with these speakers
Hi Randy, currently i am using Elac UB5 slim and pair it with Yamaha AS500 if i may ask do u think this is a good pair? Or if not any recommendation for Amp that would be awesome to pair?
I feel Klipsch Heritage speakers with tubes is an excellent combination. They may not be the ultimate speaker in every category but they do offer a great overall performance that can bring the venue to your listening room. I have Heresy IVs, a few tube amps and a solid state amp. My preference is tubes. But that doesn't mean my way is the only way. I've read Paul Klipsch himself preferred solid state. I know you have been critical of the Heresy IV (it's not perfect) but it does share DNA with other Heritage speakers. With good placement and an amp you like long listening sessions can be a wonderful pleasure. And thanks for being critical of products! It forces manufacturers to do a better job in the future.
sounds like you have found your speaker / sound. When i audition the Cornwall III i almost purchased them. at the time Cornwall IV was around the corner and i wanted t audition them before i laid my money down. but in Australia none was available to audition. years later had a chance to listen to the IV at the show - very disappointed due to the lack of setup in the hotel room.
Thank you Randy! Cornwall IVs + Pass Labs INT 25 = Bliss
Have you finally found time to hear the lV yet?
That room definitely needs treatment. I can hear his voice echoing so much. Rings like a church bell. I can only imagine what a set of Klipsch speakers sound like in that room. Must be so harsh. As a former Cornwall owner, I can definitely say they need tubes and treatment to sound listenable.
Big speakers, big drivers, big sound.
Next up is to try out a set of big Jbl 4333 , 4343 or even better a pair of Tannoy Arden. Nice to watch your audiophile journey 😊👍
Great review CAM! Would like to see what you think of the RF7 iii
Thanks for the vid - Is there a minimum room size you would recommend for these speakers? Sure using speakers without room correction you have to be even more ultra careful about positioning of the speaker, the equipment and the listening position. Most of us have few choices in reality - well unless we dedicate a room to just listening. In my case my mains atre 100" appart and main listening position is 140" away from the front of the mains (my Secondary listening position is another 100" further back and rear wall a further 40" line with books etc.. -- YES I understand this breaks the 60 degree rule (well it is 70) - but it is what it is. The front of my mains is 46" from the inside of a manly glass bay/wall - 24" brick wall base with large windows. I have thick base traps in the corners and found significan toe (to align to the primary listening position) in works best.
I have tried many other positions and use heavy curtains to reduce the reflection of high frequency.
My understanding is that you can push the Cornwalls hard against the far wall and right into the corners. Does this impact the standing wave (presumably raises the frequency dip that hits your listening position). Trial and error and some room treatment are essential.
You realize this Speakers Low / Low Mid / and Cab Resonances, are actually as present as their Horns in volume . This is the reason. Their other models can’t balance out the horns , unless they have the dual woofer. Or a very large cabinet .
Wait until you hear the Cornwall IVs. HUGE STEP UP
I'm using Cornwall 1 cabinets from the 70s as subwoofer boxes and man do they get lower than you might think
I agree about solid state or even a more powerful tube amp. Prima Luna prologue integrated and in Solid State. Mosfet or something class A like the new Musical Fidelity A1. I am willing to forgo some warmth for dynamic ability and bass control. Klipsh have refined their speakers lots over the last decade or so.
Agreed and my findings mirror Randy's where he said tube amps push the midrange and highs too much. My Forte IVs didn't sound balanced to me with SET amp or SS .mofset either until I tried a class A biased hybrid. It smoothed out the mids and highs and added much needed weight down low. Would love to hear the music fidelity but I still think I'd prefer my Vincent because the Forte"s love the 150 watts on hand even though they are efficient. It's possible with only 25 watts the MF could still sound really poweful but super low wattage amps that still sound powerful are generally tube from my experience and SS needs more in comparison to have same effect.
Looks like you're ready to do some serious soldering or splinter removal. That looks like a nice size room for those size of speakers. Bet it was a fun listening session! What furniture will your spouse agree to letting go of to have those in your house?!
These speakers were made and calibrated to be placed in the Corner. The Speakers are good enough to sound good when not placed optimally. All you have to do is stand to the side of one of the speakers in the middle of the Room to see why. Mr. Paul was all about Corner Loading that's how he earned his Name. The Klipsch Trade Mark is a corner speaker LOL! The bass to the side of many Vented Cabinets made many builders use unnecessary Bracing (while some is good for strength) because they thought that the sides of the cabinet was Vibrating LOL! In many cases the Bass from the side of the cabinet is louder or heavier than what's coming out of the Front.
So you move speakers out of the Corners to detune or mute them a little. This happens with ported speakers as well but not to the extreme like well Vented Speaker Cabinets. As one guy told me 55 years ago, the corner is a Horn's Bell! I'm an old Tuba player.
The cheap audio man finally got his head screwed on straight...more klipsch and more tubes!
I really enjoy my Klipsch Chorus I's, real easy to listen to.