Are Klipsch Cornwall II's all that?
- Thread starter teisco
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Tia
Did you say birds?
If they are anything like my modded 1's, then yes.
My challenge has been, and always will be a speaker that can deliver jazz as well as heavy metal. With a few turns of the forbidden eq adjustments on my pre, I can make the Cornies sound good with either type of music. Flat for jazz, bump the bass and loudness for heavy metal.
My challenge has been, and always will be a speaker that can deliver jazz as well as heavy metal. With a few turns of the forbidden eq adjustments on my pre, I can make the Cornies sound good with either type of music. Flat for jazz, bump the bass and loudness for heavy metal.
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
Not if it's my money being spent on them.
Cornies are fun but very coarse and unsophisticated sounding (IMO) -- to the point of being downright horrible (again, to my ears and taste) with certain amplifiers. I sold mine off quickly after getting a pair of Altec Valencias which absolutely and unequivocally don't have the LF extension of the Cornwalls, but, to my taste, were immensely superior in every other respect.
Cornies are fun but very coarse and unsophisticated sounding (IMO) -- to the point of being downright horrible (again, to my ears and taste) with certain amplifiers. I sold mine off quickly after getting a pair of Altec Valencias which absolutely and unequivocally don't have the LF extension of the Cornwalls, but, to my taste, were immensely superior in every other respect.
I'm not sure what type of music you like, or what you currently use as your main speakers, and so on. If you can get a set for a good price, and after you give them a listen to make sure all driver's are functional, and you're satisfied with their sound then do it. They are easy to place in about any room and most people will say they are very good speakers. Mine aren't going anywhere!
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
If you're not familiar with the Klipsch sound I strongly urge an audition before you buy them. There are a lot of people who don't like the "Klipsch" sound. I've heard several different models and haven't liked any of them.
Klipsch speakers are prime examples of the "they are here" sound. My preference is for the "you are there" sound.
FWIW: JBL's, Altec's and most speakers with horns are also from the "they are here" sound school.
twiiii
Lunatic Member
All horn speakers can sound gritty and coarse. You are sitting to close if they are!. The more directional the speakers the more revealing the sound and the more that is revealed the more raw the sound becomes. Sit next to a Cello, viola, or violin in a chamber music ensemble some time. There is nothing inviting about the sound at all. Being in the crook of a harpsichord is another terrible experience. Sit in the second row of a dance band with trumpets blowing in your ear or with a trap set of drums directly behind you. In the old days when there weren't 48 input mixers and good mics were rare and expensive you did the best you could with as few as possible allowing some air and ambient sounds into the recording. Thats when the clarity of a horn loaded speaker was appreciated and when Klipsch speakers were first designed. Now that everyone sticks a mic down the singers throat or attaches it to the bell of an instrument or takes direct feeds from instruments the sound on the recordings is already raw and when you feed the signal to a speaker that projects this rawness with high directivity the sound will be raw. You want the speakers to reproduce anything less. If you do you buy a point source speaker that spreads the sound everywhere masking the rawness of the recording.
So when you buy Any horn loaded speaker be pre-pared to back off. That goes for line arrays, too. I guess you can put a point source speaker in a very dead room and gain some of that rawness. But if you want to hear what's on the recording and all its issues the horn loaded speaker is the first step.
Another thing horn loaded speakers do amazingly well is produce dynamics, that other speakers tend to compromise. Those that don't are very expensive and are known as line arrays.
Cornwall in the correct room with the right amount of absorption on the floor and ceiling with softer furniture and an items to absorb and breakup unwanted reflections perform amazingly well. Sit to close in the wrong environment and all the complaints about any speaker will become apparent.
Ever wonder why MBL speakers are held in such high regard? They are omni directional in the horizontal plane with controlled vertical dispersion, they have high dynamic capability with low distortion. They give you an ambient listening experience with just enough direct sound to make the sound very pleasant. In another words they move you away from the speaker position with out you needing to move. Masking the rawness of the original recording.
But if you value clarity and faithful dynamic range reproduction a Cornwall is a great place to start. Then you will spend the rest of your time looking for great recordings. That is how it should be and not worrying about the speaker you chose.
So when you buy Any horn loaded speaker be pre-pared to back off. That goes for line arrays, too. I guess you can put a point source speaker in a very dead room and gain some of that rawness. But if you want to hear what's on the recording and all its issues the horn loaded speaker is the first step.
Another thing horn loaded speakers do amazingly well is produce dynamics, that other speakers tend to compromise. Those that don't are very expensive and are known as line arrays.
Cornwall in the correct room with the right amount of absorption on the floor and ceiling with softer furniture and an items to absorb and breakup unwanted reflections perform amazingly well. Sit to close in the wrong environment and all the complaints about any speaker will become apparent.
Ever wonder why MBL speakers are held in such high regard? They are omni directional in the horizontal plane with controlled vertical dispersion, they have high dynamic capability with low distortion. They give you an ambient listening experience with just enough direct sound to make the sound very pleasant. In another words they move you away from the speaker position with out you needing to move. Masking the rawness of the original recording.
But if you value clarity and faithful dynamic range reproduction a Cornwall is a great place to start. Then you will spend the rest of your time looking for great recordings. That is how it should be and not worrying about the speaker you chose.
WaynerN
Addicted Member
Horn speakers are very sensitive to upstream electronics and sources. Tube amps can tame the high end down, vinyl can be a better source then digital (DAC dependent), Also volume level is a consideration (as it is with most other speakers.
My only Klipsch are a pair of KG-4s driven by a Sunfire II (325wrms per channel SS). No special treatments to the speakers (they are stock) and have had no cap or coil replacements (don't need them). They can be breath -taking with vinyl or FM. I don't recall running any digital thru them.
If you have tone controls ( I prefer them), you may be able to dial them in to your liking with an assortment of sources.
I do think that having the treble horn at ear level is not a good idea. I think they can benefit from an unusual elevation or tip them back a tad, but bass may slightly decrease. May be better to play with sitting position (elevation wise) to find the dial-in point.
I have no comment on the price, but if "minty", may be a collector item. I paid little for my KG-4s but had to refinish the walnut cabinet and purchase genuine, original "Klipsch" badges that cost me.
My only Klipsch are a pair of KG-4s driven by a Sunfire II (325wrms per channel SS). No special treatments to the speakers (they are stock) and have had no cap or coil replacements (don't need them). They can be breath -taking with vinyl or FM. I don't recall running any digital thru them.
If you have tone controls ( I prefer them), you may be able to dial them in to your liking with an assortment of sources.
I do think that having the treble horn at ear level is not a good idea. I think they can benefit from an unusual elevation or tip them back a tad, but bass may slightly decrease. May be better to play with sitting position (elevation wise) to find the dial-in point.
I have no comment on the price, but if "minty", may be a collector item. I paid little for my KG-4s but had to refinish the walnut cabinet and purchase genuine, original "Klipsch" badges that cost me.
