Klipsch Cornwall IV will make your speakers sound small
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Klipsch Cornwall IV, more info, www.klipsch.co...
Klipsch R 51M, $216/pair, www.klipsch.co...
Klipsch RP 600M, Audiophiliac Speaker of the year (2018), www.cnet.com/n...
I messed up, at 00:11 and 19:38, those are pictures of the Forte III, not the Cornwall IV.
#speakerreviews #audiophile #bigspeakers
I became an audiophile back in the 70s after listening to "Kind of Blue" through the mighty Klipschorns, powered by an Audio Research tube amp setup. Transformational.
When i heard my bosses klipshorns with his Accuphase seperates, i went down and ordered my Cornwall systems the very next day.
What I hear out of this review is that listening to music is emotional and these Cornwallis have that in spades. Music is art man, who gives a s**t about what specs say when it moves you like Steve is obviously moved. How can this NOT make me dream about having these one day? I am not a freaking robot man - I LOVE MUSIC.
The nerds at Audio Science Forum would disagree lol
@@jshannock Yes, they would!
@@jshannock those “superior” speakers that measure well sound dull and flat, and somehow also manage to sound harsh like someone is dumping razorblades in your ears.
My Audio Psychiatrist.
I won’t even admit to how many times I have watched this episode. My cables have been upgraded, my amps have been upgraded, my source has upgraded but my “IVs” are here to stay. No desire to mod or change tweeters. Leaving that up to you audiophiles. I just want “blow you away” music of many genres. Thank you Steve.
I owned a pair of La Scala's for several years. I remember a high-end stereo sales guy pooh-poohing the sound of horn loaded speakers. Things like; tinny, trumpet like, brash etc.
To my ears they always sounded closest to live music; the gut punchy bass, the somewhat flat soundstage and the hands down quickest transients of any speakers I owned. Agree with all of what Steve said about the separation of different instruments and a presence that you just don't get with smaller boxes. Still regret the day I sold 'em...
You weren't kidding! It is a big one! That speaker is MASSIVE.
A 22 minute verbal description of a centerfold. I think I'm in love with a speaker. 😁
$6000 ...sigh😣
Steve honestly admits to be going through a "horn phase". And the large woofer and box clearly fascinate. Good to know a reviewer's preferences.
I bought my first pair in 82. I had just started working in the studio, so the odd time i would get to bring a high speed master tape home to listen too. I believe these big Klipsch were on par with anything we had at the studio. In my opinion , the best balanced and smoothest of all the big klipsch. Phenomenal systems, no matter what you listen too. Just make sure your system chain is quiet. I may put my next pair in my next studio. I believe in them that much !
Hey Rob.b what music where/are you recording? :)
@@JIMISTONEDHi ! Im braeside ontario Canada. right on the lakeshore. r. just my own work for now. i write and play r&b , pop ,ballads solo piano. The studio ie ever evolving. When I build in a larger space with separate control room/ studio I will be able to do drum overdubs ,strings etc.
These huge 15 inch speaker systems are unparalled... no replacement for displacement. I loved my old klh - 950s [ 9000s from costco but the same basically ]. I just bought a pair of these today. never heard them... I know they will sound like my old klh's. but better.
I love how they look with the mesh or screen over the front. I imagine them in a really old dance hall.
I keep the mesh on mine
Klipsch speakers have a powerful sound, and it does not take much power to run them, because of their efficiency. They sound like the musicians are on a stage, or at times, just around your listening room, and as you say, the singer, jumps out, with a full, round sound. My Klipsch speakers are over 50 years old, and not a matched pair, they are a shorthorn, and a smaller one, one has a 12B, and the other a 15B EV bass driver, and phenolic horns. I used both a digital receiver and a single-ended amp of only 5.5 watts and I turned the volume to 3 on the single-ended amp and the sound was big, warm and present. I play a lot of late 1950s and early 1960's classical, and jazz RCA living stereo, Mercury Living Presence, and Command records, and the 35mm Presence of Sound, and yes Blue Eyes too, and hits produced by Goldstar. All sounds great on them, so does Led Zepplin, Rush, Beatles. Good review!
Like i mentioned.. i am in my 50's i have been an audiophile since i was a teenager. I have seen so much gear come and go, but ten years ago i got Cornwall IIIs. Not the best in anything, but they will never leave my listening room. I have other speakers, but i have never played records as much as i have since i got the Cornwalls.
Do you know how they would compare to a 280F, 600M, 504C with dual 12" subs system? I like the sound of my system, too. My other speakers sound nice but the Klipsch are huge concert wall of sound: the mid-range surrounds you it's like those instruments are being shot right into your earholes, the cymbals crash and clash with realistic extension and weight (not tingly and tiny), the bass is thunderously quick and detailed sounds like real drums being played in your room and the vocals are huge, grasping and authoritative. There's nothing like it; I love the Klipsch experience.
Nice job, Steve. I have been listening to them for about 3 weeks now, and there is no question that these speakers are a blast !! I find the biggest difference between these and the Cornwall 2's or 3's is the midrange. The new midrange horn is a real upgrade. I would say that these speakers sound more like a pro-audio cabinet than a HiFi Cab - Very powerful projection. They sound 'alive.' My only knock on these speakers are their price, they went up $2000.00, that is a 33 percent increase. Seems like $5K would be the right price to me, but everyone can be their own judge on value.
I have Altecs with the horns, been about forty years now and sounding great.
I have A5 Altecs very nice.
Steve calls em as he hears em ! No BS , just straight forward , like it or not not many people have his vast audio knowledge and experience.
Tks Steve ! Lots of GREAT listening , and all thanks to you.
I have to totally agree. The Cornwalls sound more accurate than most speakers I've heard. A lot of more expensive speakers sound more seductive and dynamic but no where near as accurate or long term as enjoyable as these Klipsche Cornwalls. I've owned high end in every iteration for 50 or more years and I'm 73 and still enjoy these beauties. That's a testament to good honest engineering. Good review.
As an owner of 15" Tannoy studio monitors, I totally get what Steve is saying about how a big woofer+horn can connect you to the music like no other type of speaker. I really want to audition the new Cornwall, as I feel it might be more refined than my 20 year old Tannoys. I'd also like to hear Steve's take on JBL's 4367 or S4700 15" monitors, even though they are twice the price of the Cornwalls.
Me too, have also Tannoy sgm. Have doe's it compare
I'm saving up for a pair of JBL Everest, but I won't live long enough at the rate I'm going. In the meantime, my old trusty Cornwall II exceed the bandwidth of my ears and are paid for.
Having owned both Klipsch (RF7i’s) and JBL’s (HDI 3800’s), I can tell you that the JBL’s will sound very good, but will also sound like there’s a blanket over the tweeter. They lack the high end sparkle of the Klipsch. Almost like being at the “very back of the arena” vs “front row”.
It comes down to personal preference which sound you prefer.
How truer can it get. I have these beasts in my living room. What a pleasure it is to listen a low and high volume:)
do you use them for TV and everything? I think I'm going to get a pair of these but the most practical way for me to do that would be to implement them into my home theater system in my living room. And that would mean powering them with a mid-tier Onkyo A/V receiver for at least a little while. They would also displace two entry level 12 inch Klipsch subs on each side of the TV. I feel weird even pairing these Best Buy Klipsch subs with $6000 loudspeakers lol. Klipsch deperately needs a Heritage level sub or 3.
I enjoy listening to your reviews Steve, and not just the more technical side of things but also your musical appreciation and choices of artists etc. I personally love jazz, blues and Motown along with the classic rock and pop sounds of the 60s and 70s. Like you, I was never big on Sinatra but if people enjoy swing music there's a big chance they'll eventually realize how subtle and hip he was with his phrasing and sense of time. What I also enjoy about artists like Frank is they exude an easy confidence in their craft. It puts me at ease. Nat Cole (whom you also mentioned) had that calm cool thing down to well, an art. Your description of these Cornwalls makes me wish I could hear Ella and Louis doing 'Foggy Day' or Moonlight in Vermont' through them! I guess I'll have to make do on my little Audioengine 2+ boxes!
Thanks again Steve.
I bought used Heresys $500, then started looking for Fortes. Found LaScalas for $1400. WOW! All 70s vintage in great condition. Always been into ARs and Polk. Made me feel like I was wasting my time all these years. You can hear everything in the music,even at low volume. If I crank them up they sound great if you wander into another room in the house. They are just huge. Powered by a vintage 70s Pioneer SX-950, 85 watt, that was in excellent condition, but gone over by pro, tested at 98 watts. Music streamed through Pro-Ject StreamBox DSA with Spotify. WOW! WOW! WOW! Vivaldi, Chuck Berry, Hall and Oats, Frank Sinatra, anything sound.....WOW!!! I failed to mention $750 for Pioneer. Vintage is king. I also have a new Marantz amp,cd,streamer and two power amps with Polk LSIM 705s bi-amped but the vintage setup is my listening favorite!
Leon, I've been dreaming of a pair of early model Heresy speakers, which, though a bit of a stretch, financially, are probably doable. My brother, who bought a pair of Fortes for a pittance twenty years ago says they are too small. What say you, sir?
Chris Noto You know, the deal is once you go up you can hear the bigger speakers are all around better, but get what you can manage because of price and size. By the way my listening room is 11 x 16. Bigger space in the near future. I just could not pass them up.
@Leon Kruk LaScala's are beautiful! I'd love to hear a pair someday, for now I'll enjoy my RF-7II's, but I hope eventually I can get my hands on a set of LaScala's to have a fully horn loaded system. May not have as low bass as the modern reference line, but I bet they've got the gravity and impact Steve talks about here. Enjoy your stereo man!
I had a pair of industrial LaScala’s in 1980 I was in high school powered by two crown D150’s bridged and if you find a D series amp buy it you won’t regret . Then have outside party on a beach and the sound is amazing
I love it. I'm in my," horn period." This is a piece of art and furniture also. Think of it like a beautiful piano. It's just beautiful and belongs...Only the lonely. You do a great service when you mention the music that your into. Thank Steve and Amazon...
For basic comparison sake, you can obtain an RCF V MAX V-45 loudspeaker (pair) for 5k US. Dual 15 inch woofers, 4 inch voice coil compression driver, flat 45hz-19khz, 99db efficiency. Great company with great sounding products. A great time to be a consumer in the space.
Steve, if you ever get the chance to listen to a pair of original Klipschorns please do a review on them. Younger members here may never have heard of them but they ruined me for any other speaker over 40 years ago. If you really like the Cornwall and Forte you will be amazed by Klipschorns. A small clean amp and a pair of decent corners are needed but nothing else can touch them. I am happy to say that those K Horns that amazed me all those years ago still reside in my living room to this day.
I'm hip man, I'm 67 and have been "ruined" since 19. K-horns and a Mac tube amp, pure bliss.
I've had the Cornwall III's for about a decade now, and I can say they are the speakers I will die with. No desire to even look at other options, they are that good. Also agree about Amy Winehouse vocals, her Back to Black album sounds absolute amazing on the Cornwalls.
I've got the Cornwall III's in my basement system. Love the big sound, and movies are special out of them too. Lots of dynamics and impact for sure. It's a wall of sound coming at you.
dynamic they are!
This review motivated me to by a pair of these.
I replaced my RF7’s with these. I was in shock at how much better they are. Ok they are really big, but they work well close up and at low volume. The horn mid-range yields incredible vocals vs the RF7's(which were good). They have a very live uncompressed sound. The instruments are incredibly distinct and clear. Even the clicks on my firetv box took on a new life. By far the closest to live music I have ever heard from a home speaker.
I have loved relistening to my music to hear all the new found detail. I feel like a junky running from song to song to hear what it sounds like. For some people these might take some getting to as they are sound is so real it is almost shocking, some might consider it harsh, but real music is. You can hear a lot of the secondary effect of the instruments, fingers sliding along strings and so on where you never could before. It is like taking a recording an un-compressing it, all the details now pop.
Now I want a pair of mag panels and B&W 801 monitors so I can compare and contrast and hear the music in new ways again.
Thanks for the review Steve
I had a similar experience. I had the RF7i’s for 13 years. Very powerful bass monsters, but kinda lacking with everything else, especially midrange. Horribly bright to my ears too. I auditioned the Cornwall IV a couple years ago, got stage fright, and went for JBL HDI 3800’s instead. While good sounding speakers, the JBL’s definitely have less power and presence than Klipsch, especially the Cornwalls. I’m seriously considering revisiting them and get the full on sonic assault that they deliver 🔊🔊
Geeze Steve, if these aren't a "lifestyle" speaker, what is? :)
PS, of every review I've ever seen, I think this one had the most wardrobe changes by far! A+ for effort!
Zack W magnepan are lifestyle speakers .. just a example
Wonderfully thorough speaker review, Steve!
Thank you for the well rounded review. I first heard a set of Cornwall's back in the late 1970s (my age showing here). Two of my co-workers just out of college (like me) each had new systems EACH with Cornwall's. I was stunned at the open full range of sound- and those 15" woofers (real bass). Awesome then as you now describe- must be very refined with the IVs. Anyway, my first "good" system right after that (I could not afford Klipsch speakers) had the New Larger Advent Loudspeakers (perhaps I settled, but no regrets really). But, later in mid-80's I rededicated myself to look at Klipsch (there way a suppressed memory impression I had to explore). I bought a pair of the original Fortes- my main system speakers today (supplemented with a 10" Klipsch sub). I must have influenced (or impressed) my family because, my brother, my brother in-law and my father in-law all went out and each bought a pair of Fortes! If I had the space and funds, I would bring home a pair of Cornwall IVs. I need to find my first tube amp first....
This is a great review! Thank you for the time you spent to do this. I wish I could hear them!!! I have to be honest I am a sucker for the Klipsch sound for stereo and surround sound. Right now I am using the KSP-400 speakers and they really are beautiful sounding. I decided to keep them over the Chorus II's and Forte II's I used to have because of their more refined top end and bottom end that is just buttery smooth. Although the heritage speakers are more dynamic, the KSP-400's are a great compromise. They have a wider sweet spot, and don't have that edgyness and horn throat distortion heard in the II's which makes the top end sound grainy. I have heard so many speakers and honestly, I am going to stick with my used Klipsch until I can afford some Danley Sound Labs speakers. I still haven't heard better speakers than say a Danley SH96, SH50, SM96, SM60F along with a great sub. I would get them in primer so I can custom paint them for being in the house. My gosh the picture the Danleys can paint in front of me...it's like man this is the stuff.
My friend has a pair of la Scala speakers. Wow! They're very imposing and what a huge sound!
Epic review. How can I stand pat when you love these speakers so much? I want to hear Sinatra and Amy Winehouse in my room.
Great review! I’ve had that same experience, where I feel like I could hear the previous speakers cabinet size...I love klipsch speakers in particular the classic ones. Your descriptions are spot on. Cheers!
Steve I love the way you describe the loudspeaker impressions with no bias whatsoever thank you
Great review Steve thanks. It was great meeting you at the NY audio show, I got to meet my personal rock star
Steve ,I didn’t think an Audiophile of your stature could like Klipsch Cornwall 4 Speakers you are very Brave ... I hope you are not kick out of the Club. Good luck .... I wish you well
Ok, now when is the La Scala review? Oh, and the Klipsch horns! Good review 👍😊
WOW, now all I want for xmas are Cornwall IV's !! Maybe someday. Great review BTW.
I built a pair of horn speakers using Altec theater horns on the midrange and the bass, although the bass "horns" are really just waveguides. It would take three of the Cornwalls on each side to obscure my speakers. In order to make these speakers disappear, I have to close my eyes, they are that imposing, having been designed to be hidden behind a movie screen and fill a small theater. The bass cabinets, (Altec 210 bass and 203b midrange if you want to look them up) would not fit through my door, the reason for disassembling the cabinets and just bringing in just the wave guide part. They are impossible to ignore as the real horns, exponential flare, are 32" wide (2 16"x16" cells). The waveguides are even wider. I made them to work with a 2 watt single ended triode amp, and I calculate that at my normal listening level, I consider 95db to be loud, they are drawing from 1 to 10 milliwatts in the midrange, with the 15" bass drivers using 10 times that much, still less than 1/10th of a watt. I have a ribbon tweeter on the top using a powerful 8 watt single ended solid state amp. I believe it is this efficiency that makes horn speakers sound so good when played at low volumes.
Wonderful rewiew Steve I have never heard a couple of Klipsch Cornwall as they are few on our side of the Atlantic but one day it might be.
When explaining how a horn speaker sounds people always mention it sounds live. I instead they should mention intimate, feeling, closeness, musical, engaging maybe not always correct but always gripping about one's emotions you want more all the time. Yes you become addicted, I myself I am lost forever it's just a wonderful feeling.
Lol, new Klipsch customer, I bought the Fives, and love them. I love how these look like comically large bookshelf speakers.
Thank you for reviewing horn speakers. I am thinking my next speakers will be horn ones.
I first heard Klipsch Horns in 1979 on a Technics turntable and 25 watt Class A amp at my friend's home. Based on your review Steve I finally bought what I wanted several months ago and I cannot live without my Cornwall 4s now. If I had more space I would have purchased the La Scalas. I do not even need my favorite subwoofer.
That's fantastic, enjoy!
Loving my Klipsch Bell's. Same big sound. Thank you for the review.
I have a friend with 1970 vintage Cornwalls. A house fire caused some cabinet damage and his woofers had to be replaced but the speakers sounded just great.
With a bit of TLC, old Cornwalls can be modified a bit, with some recapping and some cabinet treatment which is relatively easy to do and will improve aspects of the speaker response and make them sound closer to modern Cornwalls at a much more affordable price point
Been with my Cornwalls for a few days now - agree with all you're saying here. I was surprised by their relative lack of horn "shoutiness." Am thinking about going with all silver xlr interconnects to bring up treble and mid-clarity. As is the clarity is quite good, but think I will try goosing it up.
Completely agree about sung "voice" too.
Very pleased with these big boys.
I love my "Kornzilla's" a Dallas copy cat (better hardware then the klipsch from that era?) from the 80s. Will never let them go.
I have a pair of blem Cornwall IV's on the way to replace my Forte 3's. My system also uses the Jay's Audio transport and the Denafrips Terminator DAC. Also use AQ Vodka I2S connector between the Jay's and the Treminator. Also use Moon Audio black dragon xlr's between the Treminator and the pre and between the pre and power amp. All of these things collectively quiet the horn "shout" without smearing detail. Hoping this set-up will perform well with the Cornwall 4's as well.
I've been waiting for this!😁
I've had mine since November. You nailed everything! They add so much.. real life! It's something that we haven't found words for yet.
My listening room is quite large so theirs a good 15' distance apart and seating is just sky of 20' back. I do get a presentation.. to me they are far from the typical directional horns people are worried about. Give some Leonard Cohen a spin, the depth of his voice is surreal!
Like you said, these speakers are not the most accurate, but good god they are glorious.
I love your videos Steve. I like the way you described the Cornwall. Maybe some people have lived with dim systems for so long they think they like it. The clarity and detail you get from Klipsch is awesome
One day, I will own these beautiful speakers. I have heard them at a low volume & couldn’t believe how well they did at such a low volume as Steve mentioned. They are imposing in a beautiful hifi way & will look gorgeous in the right room. One day….
Thanks for this review, Steve. I had been eagerly waiting for it!
The 1st loudspeaker system that blew me away was the JBL Paragon about 1970. It was so effortless and dynamic. At the same time and place I saw and heard the JBL L100s and decided I had to get a pair since I couldn't afford the Paragon. It was a few years later before I could get them and by that time they had been upgraded and now were the L100As. I still have them although they are rarely used. I had to replace the articulated foam grills with cloth many years ago. I went to sub/sat systems when DVDs came out for surround sound. I found some small bookshelf speakers that sound great alone and awesome with my powered subs, they are the Optimus Pro-X 77s with the Linaeum tweeters. They do well with all kinds of music, play louder than I care to listen, and can handle my torture test, a CD of the 1812 Overture. It may be my last system, but I would like to hear the Klipsch Cornwall IVs if I get the chance.
Klipsch is a company that no matter the price level, you don't find the company shuttering quality. From vintage to modern home theater, Klipsch is just fantastic
No replacement for displacement, remember that.
I will!
A couple of subs replace displacement.
@@Carl-bd1rf that could be a fit substitute at times, I agree, may throw the timing off some but it does the trick.
Jc Trox Ya sub integration is tuff and comes up ever so short of true displacement.
@@Carl-bd1rf only for the low bass frequency.
I want a pair of La Scala's so much. I would have a pair yesterday if I were single.
Have had mine since 1980 - brand new I paid $800 for the pair in raw birch cabinet - great sound
My best pick of the year was a set of Paradigm 7SE that I re glued myself, $90 with stands :)
This speaker has more.., more..., ...cowbell? Just kidding, love your content! Your videos made me reactivate the stereo set I bought about 23 years ago. For a long time I could not properly listen to it. Now my wife and I got a house and cool neighbors. Thank you for reminding me of my old love for high fidelity. All the best from Germany!
I did hear them, and do like their rich sound. I have heard the Cornwall 3s and 4s. I have also heard the K-horns, the LaScalas, Fortes and the Heresy. I liked them all. They all sound similar, but have subtle differences.
I am currently speaking with a guy who has been working his own design, with modeling software, to build a pair very similar to the Cornwall, using aftermarket components, and costing less than a third of the $6000 to buy these gems from Klipsch. He wants me to assist in the construction. I do not know how these will fare, but if they come out decent, I may want to build a pair for myself, as well.
This is all in the beginning stages, and I'm anxiously awaiting his outcome. Because they are a great speaker to want to emulate, and to be the basis for a similar DIY design, and it may prove challenging to duplicate such a sound. But if it does, the rewards should be phenomenal, and well worth the effort. Also, $1800 is a lot easier to swallow than $6000, and a bargain for a pair of Cornwalls. 😀
Not to be confused with the Frazier/Klipsch "Kornzillas."
Steve your success is at least 50% about your fabulous shirts.. sometimes I check out your videos on silent just to see the shirt!
The mid horns they use are actually very linear than most other horns and direct radiators in the same price range, so they measure relatively well.. But even at this price point they can be improved with bracing and damping of the cabs, and a modified crossover circuit and better quality (but not necessarily boutique) crossover parts.
I bought a set on Craigslist. $700. Now, to be fair they're a bit older and have a few nicks here and there and the grill on one is in lousy shape. But, they have new caps and Crites Tweets. I run them with my CraigsList Fisher 500B that I picked up for.....$35. Enclosed in a perfect wood case. ;)
They were well worth the wait.
A fisher 500b for 35 bucks ! One 12ax7 tube is worth that much! ...u lucky dog!...must be why you have the dog picture? Lol
I use a Sansui 1000A
@@beatleme2 I've made some amazing deals through CList. People just don't know what they have. That Fisher is a perfect example. I responded to his ad within 20 mins of him posting it. I knew his phone was about to blow up. I paid $200 for a set of Fortes. $300 for a set of Heresies, a Klipsch sub an ACADEMY center and a nice Yamaha amp. 800 for a set of KLF30s and a C5 center. Those deals were years ago and are GONE now. Too much competition. The word is out.
@@lbowsk True, I collect vintage tube stuff - i got a bell 75 watt el34 amp from ebay in 2012 for75 free shipping and had double halo Telefunken tubes i sold for 300.00 ' kept the telfunken 12ax7's" and made my $$$ back :)... found a 7591 Sano tube amp at goodwill in 2017 for 75.00 also :) ...semms when its 75 its mine ;:*) ...i love recapping these old things and keeping em running on cold or rainy days ' played in bands as well" ..but yeah man
On Spotify I stumbled on to the Chet Baker album "The Touch of Your Lips" Great guitar as well on that album. Your reference to male vocals made me think of this album. Seems I rarely get tired of listening to Chet.
I'm right there with you. Chet all day / all night. Cannot say the same about Sinatra. Loathe that guy.
Going to just to this album
I was introduced to Chet Baker when I was senior in high school and a mentor gave me two Chet Baker Albums for Christmas. I have been enjoying his music ever since. While many other artists have received greater recognition (and even notoriety), Chet Baker’s fine recordings have always been among the “”classiest” (however you want to define that) in my listening experiences. If you haven’t been properly introduced to his music there are many excellent recordings that will properly introduce you to Baker’s fine abilities.
@@Aswaguespack I'm a huge Gerry Mulligan fan. I came to Chet via Mulligan. Those two guys played so fantastically together!
@@Aswaguespack Although I was familiar with Chet to some degree for quite some time, I was recently surprised by the number of albums that were recorded.
Listening to my Klipsch R51M's while listening to you on RUclips! Bought them on your recommendation.
I'm really glad you went the extra mile to experience the Cornwall There really is no substitute for cubic inches LOL! (Or high end vintage analog watts running the signal thru ) enjoy!
I've been running mine with my Pioneer SX-980, and they fill the room with sound with very little power. At times, my power meters are barely moving off of their rests. It's pretty amazing, actually.
I just bought a pair in walnut. Should arrive in a few weeks.
"You go to a smaller speaker, it sounds like the sound is being squeezed through..."
Amen, baby
That one hit me, too. It's true. They're trying to squeeze big sound out of small speakers.
@@Xx-xd3zo A lot of small speakers do a very good job of sounding much larger than their physical size though, don`t underestimate the underdogs ;)
@@afrog2666 - Yeah, and I respect the work they put in and the talent and brains it takes. But, man...bring the size and scale sometimes. Know?
Now that's what I call a review!.... a heck of a review. Much appreciated Steve. So now I'm going listen to my old L100 Centurys, shut my eyes and imagine they are Cornwalls - hahaha
L100s rock tho man!
@@TheAirConditionerGuy yyyep - and when you back off the presence and brilliance controls they sound even better.
@@MrPeeBeeDeeBee where do you have them set? I have my presence at -2 and my brilliance flat
@@TheAirConditionerGuy presence almost -3 and brilliance -1.5. I find this allows the midrange to really shine and the much scorned harshness disappears. That famous 123A woofer does it's magic right up to 1500hz. It is also super compliant and fast, hence the legendary punch.
@@MrPeeBeeDeeBee easily the best pair of speakers i have! Thank you for you input! I have a set of Fisher ST-843 that I use too with upgraded drivers that rock too and can handle slightly louder volumes, but thats kind of a cheat because they have JBL tweeters in them lol
I bought my first pair (Heresy) in 1977 @ 15yo and then industrial lascala’s a couple years later. Then I found Cornwalls at a garage sale for $400 in 1990 and still have them with two D 150’s bridged . And sounds great need to do the upgrade caps
I love how there is a pair of Susvaras ($6k headphones) just casually sitting on a narrow shelf, behind him
Every word spoken here is the truth about the CW4s. I can listen to Radio Paradise for hours, even when I am reading and listening at the same time, they always keep me listening. So much emotion, I never had before with other speakers. I had a pair of Hereseys before them and I had a hard time giving them away for the CWs but now, I do not want to go back or any further. My wife is the best indicator, when it comes to unwanted noises or uncomfortable listening situations at home, she reacts. But now, when I feel I play loud, my wife just sits relaxed and reads, no reaction at all. Everything sounds so relaxed yet clearly separated. The highs are smooth, as Steve said, just place them flat on the wall. The Hereseys did bring Music into the room while the CWs fill the room with music.
I have them and with you.
You mentioned Paradise Radio, it’s nice but try High on Line Radio. their Lounge or Jazz stations out of Europe move at 24bit 192k, much cleaner and dynamic. LINN radio is a good one also.
@@tedrubinstein2003 Thank you! Much appreciated and will give them a try for sure.
Yeah let me know what you think if you can hear the difference
@@tedrubinstein2003 In the meantime I did ad Hi Online Jazz to Roon and give it a try. I can say this is an incredible quality. I know Jazz always sounds extraordinary on my system and I am using Qobuz wich is high standard in quality, but I would say Hi Online is better. Extremely wide soundstage to my first impression. Linn I knew before but they provide a different style in music selections. I prefer Hi On line. Thank you for sharing!
If these get lifted off the floor a little their sound gets even more incredible. Paul Klipsch designed these to be a center channel for the Klipschorns and sans their mid/tweeters being a few feet off the floor the soundstage can have that lack of flatness that some note. Mine, which I traded in my III's for a couple of months ago are on a pair of butcher block risers. Off the floor by ten inches a piece on those immense, dense and isolating 100lb hunks, not only do I know my listening room will be anchored to the Earth in the event of a hurricane. But, I now have a mini Carnegie hall. (Schitt components with Yamaha's WXAD-10 streaming Tidal and the walls disappear)
akr01364 I’ve thought of trying this with my cornwall iii, did you notice any bass drop off?
@@nicholasreeves5025 None at all. If anything, if properly done, it enhances it as the woofer's output isn't stuck to the floor as much as its configuration causes. There are subwoofer elevators you can buy that do something like it. But, they're not exactly pretty. www.acousticsciences.com/products/subtrap
Yes agree they need to be raised up at least 8 inches. I have my Forte's raised 9 inches and they sound huge! Bass is also much stronger and tighter.
@@infooptimalfitness7720 Imaging is dramatically improved when risen away from a surface. It's why moving them away from the wall always helps and why getting them off the floor does as it reduces reflection and when done properly isolates their vibration into where it needs to go to do the most work: the air. By having a sub or any speaker on the floor or a table, the vibrations that make music music go into whatever they're sitting on or against. Isolated and risen up, the improvement can be quite dramatic. As it is, Klipsch's Heritage line is lacking this one design element. Probably, because the speakers are just so big and heavy already that adding a stand to them from the start would make moving them worse. Though, it would be nice if they had it as an option, at least. Such great speakers deserve it. I had the Fortes when I started going into Klipsch,,,,,the Klipschorns I fear may be next at some point. lol
@@akr01364 Not sure why Klipsch doesn’t offer a stand? Yes the Forte’s are big and heavy but that is a poor excuse to not have a speaker sound its best. I’m sure its the bean counters that get in the way or Klipsch not wanting to break from tradition. The Forte only needs to be raised up about 8 inches to start sounding fantastic! I am actually making some stands to take it to 10 inches. To bad the Cornwall IV is over priced….it would be fun to own a pair.
Large speakers sound more dynamic and end up compressing the music less then smaller ones. What is lacking in most audio systems compared to live instruments, especially with small speakers, is the lack of dynamics you hear in live music. Large speakers, quality ones of course, do a much better job at that. I think that is why you can even hear more dynamics in fairly highly compressed recordings. I have large speakers and small speakers. Size does mater when it comes to music dynamics.
I've enjoyed listening to live music and recordings since 1940 and I agree with your observation.
15'' is the correct size for a woofer.
my 12" woofer with carbon graphite can take about 562 watts with a big tight smile down to about 20 Hz. Sloppy you know what isn't great you want tight
@@JohnDoe-np3zk Is that 562 watts plus or minus 1 watt? Gotta be precise about 'sloppy.'
;)
Totally agree
@@gman1087 not all b(ass) was created equally. Betcha my 12" graphite cone woofer in this big sealed cabinet has better bass than a 15" ported design. Now, to pick nits we could argue about what is better, you like a big fat bottomed girl and I like mine toned.
@@JohnDoe-np3zk ok john!! ...but how u know i like fat bottom girls...lol
Steve, I love that you talk about the recording because that is the most important part :) Once you become accustom to large speakers with horns tuned for the room no going back to fudgey little audiophile box. After all for me its wanting to feel that I am at the side of the musicians playing.
The Cornwalls that I purchased about 1976 (in 3/4" plywood with grills) cost me $800.00 retail for the pair. I think the walnut version was about a grand. My first pair of Heresys (1974) were $256.00 each and my 2nd pair (1979) were about $296. each ... but by then I worked for a Klipsch dealer and so I got a pair for 1/2 off! Shoot, my McIntosh MC-2050 (?? ... I don't remember the model) was only $449.00 and the matching C26 was just $349.00. As time went by, the affordability of good stuff just got worse and worse for the average Joe. But, back in the early 70s, you could rake and scrap and make a dream come true!
Joni Mitchell's The Hissing of Summer Lawns is viscerally felt, as much as listened to with my original Cornwalls...a real musical joy.
That's one of my reference CDs to select speakers :)
Nice review Steve. I happened to audition KHorns AK6 last month. They catch you by the throat, as the designer himself says! But for normal homes Cornwall-IVs may be better suited, if you love Klipsch heritage's dynamic, life-like sound signature!
I use Cornwall's from 1981...currently replaced all components and use a Heil tweeter on top for outstanding highs.
I had Klipsch horn towers before and you nailed it about that 'live sound'. Its true that they do grab you're attention, so much so that I gave them up because when I had music on it wasnt great for background. It was active listening only. That said for watching movies they were awesome, albeit a bit shouty at times and fatiguing. Everything is tradeoffs.
There are Klipsch speakers and Klipsch speakers. The term "horn towers" doesn't define the model. Any full-range, efficient speaker will be shouty, if you have an echoic room.
I've got a loud echoey space.. I got these and am picking them up this week... I realize now.. these are perfect. I can aim that at me and it will allow me to hear dialog in movies. klipsch.. the more you know. my old klh-9000s 15 inch with standard mid driers and dome tweeter were amazing as well... no replacement for displacement. smaller speakers ARE strained I do not like how they sound at all.
great speaker. they can sound a bit shouty when played loud, but so does live music sound somewhat shouty as well. I like these speakers played at moderate levels in a larger room.
'The music is happening right now'. This is an outstanding quality of these designs, I feel. Somehow, Klipsch horns give this impression better than many others, even more exalted horn systems. I think they have this in common with WE horns and Vitavox systems of old. As you say - "it sounds more like music in real life". Can there be any higher recommendation?
They are not crude, to my ears, but they are not polite either. It's here, its now, it's real, it makes no apologies - seemingly all the energy of an event, from the music to the atmosphere is conveyed with tremendous dynamic immediacy and coherence (across the whole audible range) and remarkably little mediation, mechnical or transducer 'distance'.
If you sit down front at a symphony concert or rock show or jazz club, the music sounds "shouty". Even the musicians know it's fatiguing, if you do it all day! Reality can be tiresome.
I djed with a pair of cornwalls pulled from a country bar , never got any complaints about it not being loud enough , I later added a pair of earthquake vega horn subs and I had a real set of Texas headphones
Steve do yourself a favor and listen to the Shefield drum record on the Cornwall 4's. That recording sold me on my Klipschorns 38 years ago.The realism is astonishing. Thanks Dale from Canada.
Man I just heard these. What a treat. Thanks for the advise. Stairway to heaven is nice too:)
Thanks Steve for suggesting the Band Sexmob, i am blown away by the directness of the sound and the art of creating it!
Great video Steve.. you have my full attention from beginning to end. Thanks for posting!
Well now we know the Cornwalls fit in your space...time to step up to the LaScala II's :)
AL5's!
This is where the term “Big honking speakers” came from. They also look great in your garage which preferable to divorce court.
My friend has a pair he bought in 1970. The first time I heard them I was awestruck. The detail, soundstage, bass, midrange, are like no other speaker I have ever heard. They are physically huge. Very difficult to place where your current speakers reside in your room. Doesn’t matter. They are that good.
They bring music to life, and sound more realistic than any number of insanely expensive high end speakers. The limit for me? They need space. They don't belong jammed into a 10x12 bedroom.
Great comprehensive review 👍
If I had the space I'd lean towards Tannoy dual concentrics (Tunberry thru Westminster;-)
British taste.
Ever hear them Steve?
Those Tannoys would be an end game speaker, I am a fan of British sound
Steve, I know what you mean. When I first heard the klipschhorns some 30 odd years ago, I felt the same way. Articulation is probably the best word for it. As for that big sound, I listened to the Danley J1-94, which is about 6 feet high, and the female vocalist's head seemed to be as large as the speaker. Can't put my finger on why that is. Good review.
Hi Steve. Keep tracking that groove. I'm there with you, next door - listening and enjoying. Don't forget the fun and the moments in the detail.
The word your looking for in this video is "evocative" at low levels. IMHO pressure waves have a lot to do with expression. You get them in live performance. When you get them at home you know you have something special.
yes..my fave. Now this is a speaker. sounds like my marshal and fender amps sound live.
I take it you like these speakers, Steve. Beware, the modifiers will be all over these, understood. I was strongly considering the Forte 3s over the Cornwalls, but now maybe the Cornwalls. No passive radiator to deal with, but about $2K more.
Thanks for your very descriptive review!
I've auditioned older Cornwall's and agree they can create "a sense of live" especially with Jazz. What really blew my mind is how my little 1962 Harmon Kardon A500 25 WPC tube amp brought these speakers to life.
Would love to see a review of the Altec Lansing Model 19
sold a pair of ALs back in the 80s. ...the only piece of gear I miss.
We know you LOVE Klipsch and horns at the mo. Enjoy!
No grills means no cats in the house. LOL
I know what you mean too well as a speaker collector/builder 1965 perfect condition 12-inch paper cone full ranges that went to 12khz with an insane FS of 65 and a nice 2-inch voice coil... It was a nice scratching post indeed it was!!!!!!!!!!
Ya got that right !