Cornwall IV vs. Volti Rival, Razz; Razz v. 1, 2, 3 -- what changed?

My Cornwall 4 tube setup:

Primaluna EVO 400 pre and power.

Amperex "Bugle Boy" in the two center gain positions on both amps.

Old metal base GZ34’s in the rectifier positions

Sophia Electric blue bottle EL 34’s in the power amp

Vintage "Western Electric" cloth covered tinned copper wire for speaker.

SR "Purple" Fuses throughout system.

Shunyata Delta NR V2 power cables throughout.

Old Shunyata Hydra 4 conditioners for everything but the power amplifier where the cables go straight to wall.

I grew somewhat weary though of having to wait hours for the Primaluna transformers to saturate sufficiently for real "bloom," but when they did it was quite something.

This system is now sidelined for a SS setup built around Holo May DAC, Holo Kitsune pre and Audion MK3 monoblocs - an equally spectacular setup that is easier to manage.

The Borresen X2 speakers have been getting good reviews and are about the same price.

Borresen X2 Review

Most important addition to My Cornwalls by far was a pair of REL S812 subwoofers. They have as much to do with modifying the mids and highs as they do with modifying bass. By playing with the crossover in the subs and that interaction with gain many wonderful things can happen with sound including the ability to mitigate upper register glare. It was a revelation.

Many listeners assume that the Cornwall’s 15 inch woofers "take care" of bass. No they don’t. It is true of many speakers that a good sub arrangement gives you many more options for sound adjustment across the spectrum no matter how much bass you think your speakers have.

What I didn’t at first quite grok when I got my Cornwall 4’s 4 years ago is that the "bass ports" on the front are really more like horns. They are shaped like the mid and tweeter horns, and there is a lot of air being handled by them; and they are just as "directive" as the upper horns. They are actually porting a lot of mid and high energy as well as bass. This more than usual specific directivity across the spectrum is why the speakers can and should be toed out more than you think. The collective directivity of these two convergent, focused beams of sound can maintain coherence with a wider space between and shallower angles. If the speakers are toed in too much they will "trip over each" and sound will be harsh and confused. Complex passages will be congested.

In my listening chair the apex of the "listening triangle" is probably about 6 six feet behind my head. When I was using tubes it was more like 3 feet. With the new GanFet monoblocs there is more energy with higher articulation, so the toe out is wider without any drop in detail, speed, or tonality. Fewer sonic "collisions" mean a more relaxed sound and non-fatiguing presentation.

I was just about to do the Crites thing when Sr. passed away. I live only a few hours from them. However, I am reasonably handy with soldering iron and could probably handle installing an upgraded crossover and pure copper WBT fittings shipped to me by his son with special attention paid to not getting shocked by the old caps. With proper toe-in I doubt I will Dynamat the horns though. Would do the bass basket however. At the moment am experimenting with 18lb lead bars slipped through bass ports to rest on bottom of cabinet.

A few years ago I attached to the bottom plinth a piece of cut to fit 3/4 inch plywood stapled with rubber shelf liner on one side and screwed to the bottom of the open plinth.. This immediately quelled any bass interaction with my wood floors without stunting bass. I do think the modern cabinets made of heavy MDF do a good job of quelling cabinet resonances in general though. If I experimented with "No-Rez" it would certainly not be attached with permanent glue though.

Klipsch Production

It hardly matters where the Forte 4 cabinets are being made now. The Chinese know how to do veneer laminated MDF, and the cabinets themselves are fairly easy to build. The Chinese have been making MDF panels for years and at the same quality level as the US made stuff.

I was a professional furniture maker for years. My speakers previous to my current Cornwall 4’s were Forte 3’s. I am sure that the Volti’s are better made and perhaps sound better which Is why I don’t see the need for excoriating the perceived competition with questionable assertions.

We are all AI - have been for many thousands of years. Contrary to popular belief, our recent skirmish with "mass formation psychosis" did not put us to sleep. It woke us up.

I clearly remember that thread. The problem was that Silverfox was browbeating the forum in a very explicit manner as if he were desperate to "make a sale." It became kind of unnerving.