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

Did you like the Cornwalls? 

Hilde45,

your remarks on the Cornwall match my opinions. I demoed them 3 times at different dealers on McIntosh solid state and their 275 tube amp. I find them a bit harsh and wore my ears out but they were cranked (by choice) in all fairness. I also find the soundstage changed width with frequency. After demoing the Klispch line I bought the JBL 4367. 
 

I have never heard Volti. The JBL 4367 keeps the good part of the Cornwalls but betters everything with better drivers and parts. Look up Google images of the drivers from both speakers… They have a very smooth response that never tires and highs and upper highs are adjustable. They have measurements to back them up too. There is a pair on here for $7500 right now. 

I can say owning a pair of horns has changed what I feel is important about hifi. The highly dynamic speakers just sound more real, as in less reproduced. I struggle to enjoy my other speakers now. 
 

I think the thing to understand with horns is the difference vs standard speakers is the controlled directivity, not so much the efficiency. Efficiency comes with the controlled directivity as less energy is spilled into the room and directed at the listener. The dispersion differences greatly affects the sound stage and it will be important if you enjoy it. 
 

other types of speakers can achieve similar results in dynamics/controlled directivity without a horn (line source etc). I know for me I will probably never let the JBLs go (lol…I know…I know). I might add a wider dispersion speakers sometime to rotate in and out. 

Ampsandsound Seneca is another speakers that falls in this wheel house. Looks nice too. They have gotten good comments from shows but I have not heard much about them, nor hear them. 
 

https://ampsandsound.com/products/seneca-2way-speaker

Hilde45

the Seneca/Hudson are brand new, I just thought it looked interesting. 
 

Steve Guttenberg called it the “best sound” of Axpona for what it is worth. That does not mean too much to me but does say that the speaker is more or less designed correctly. It falls into the “better built” Klispch category. 
 

At 4 minutes 35s into this video. 
 

https://youtu.be/ln_ONxCGapo?si=jW0X7TtdyQUGMqnD

Silverfox,

Home theater bypass is very easy. You can send the left and right pre-outs from your receiver/processor to any analogue input on your two channel pre-amp. Just set the volume knob at a consistent place when using it for movies. If you preamp has a HT bypass use that setting as it will set a utility gain on the preamp.

the other option is to just wire in a switch like the one linked below. You can of course buy higher end switches.

https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Balanced-Converter-Audio-Selector/dp/B07D7P7366