I've listened to Klipsch Cornwall IIs with 45 SET Welborne monoblocks. I like to listen to rock and reasonably loud in a room about 18x14 or so. I think the 45s drive enough volume to just about get there. Would a little more volume be nice? Yes, but it's not that far from being enough. The 45s and the Cornwall IIs do very well together from top to midrange to bottom, but if there is one of the three that could go a little more it would be the bottom. I've tried other amps (more to get some deeper low end than to get more volume), including tube amps up to about 100 watts but the 45s are still the winner overall. I've also tried a Marantz 2230 and it's a very good receiver, but the 45s do a better job. Over course, the whole thing is somewhat system and room synergy dependent, and YMMV, but I think if you try 45s you might be happy to very happy, you will have a good frame of reference, and if you find something you like better you will probably be able to sell your 45s (I think 45s are becoming increasingly popular as more people learn about them). Let us know what you do and how it goes.
PS, the real answer is this whole think can be a trip/journey; so be prepared to have two of everything (amps, preamps, turntables, cartridges, speaker cables, ICs, etc. You will be able to A-B, settle on a winner, sell the loser, buy a new contender, and repeat; wash, rinse, dry, and repeat :)
PS, the real answer is this whole think can be a trip/journey; so be prepared to have two of everything (amps, preamps, turntables, cartridges, speaker cables, ICs, etc. You will be able to A-B, settle on a winner, sell the loser, buy a new contender, and repeat; wash, rinse, dry, and repeat :)