hi Rod 1957,
Yes you heard me right. Check out the Klipisch two channel forum and do a search on the Cornwall III's. They are planning to bring them back on the market and have a prototype. They are still tweeking them for the best overall sound. Probably a few months before relase and the selling price is not set yet.
In lew of that put a post on the forum that your are looking for a clean set of Cornwalls, I got mine that way for $850.00, a 1979 set, and I love them.
good listening,
Larry |
I inherited two pairs of Klipschorns and a pair of LaScalas some years ago. I lived and listened to music through them for probably two years before becoming completely dissatisfied with the sound. I ended up going with speakers that are no where near as efficient, but sound far more natural, in my opinion (different models of Vandersteens).
I always liked listening to 60's rock on the K-Horns, and they were definetely fun to listen to early on... You really need to hear them before purchasing them to live with.
Will |
SET/Klipschorn is the most gratifying, lifelike sound I've experienced, bar none. However, it was not a simple plug 'n play process. It worked for us because of four things:
1) Finding the best NOS tube combination for the amps
2) Modding the speakers (Dampen horns/Update x-overs/Re-wire with silver)
3) Experimenting with cabling that worked best for the system, even if it was expensive. We went from $200 IC's to $800 IC's, but doing that--as well as adding a preamp--enabled us to sell our sub, because we were getting so much more full range music as a result of the cable/preamp change. Simple rule that we had: Don't guess at the result without trying it first. If it works, keep it. If not, re-sell it. You don't lose anything by trying out various used cable options.
4) Getting the best possible source we could afford, which was THE most important factor. If you wonder whether or not your source sounds digital, has glare, or just isn't up to snuff, the K-horns will make you wonder no more. You'll have your answer in a jiffy. Because if there's something to be heard, they will project it.
A fellow audiophile asked me the other day how our system could sound this good for less than the price of his speakers. Because the SET/K-horn combination is like sushi. When done right, you feel like you're eating with the royals. And when done poorly, you just want to vomit and never come near it again. |
have you ever listened to horn speakers in general even if they werent khorns,i would reccomend that before you buy or sell anything that you try to hear atleast one pair of high effeciency horn speakers.
ive owned most of the klipsch heratige line including klipschorns & i liked them very much even though i much prefered solid state amps over tube amps with my khorns.
i dont really buy into the saying'properly set up system'to me its just a way people blow off bad reviews by saying the system must of been set up poorly.
to mee it all boils down to weather you like the horn sound or not & the horn sound isnt for everybody. |
Larry, Did I hear you right! Did you you say the Cornwall is coming back into production? How and where did you get that info from? I'm asking because I've been searching for a clean pair of Cornwall 2's for the longest time. |
Hi,
I have a SET ( Wright 2A3 monoblocks ) which I use with 1979 Klipsch Cornwalls. I also use a EICO HF-81 (circa 1959 el84 williamson design pp amp ) and a Cary SLI-80 ( in the triode mode ) with them. The Wrights sound the best ... detailed, articulate, fast and plenty of bass and volume, a midrange and highs to die for and outstanding imaging ( side to side and front to back ) with these high efficiency speakers. The horns can only be better. I wish I had the room for them.
BTW, Klipsch still produces the La Scala, the Bells, the Klipschorns, the Heresys and will soon add the Cornwalls to current production.
To get sets and Khorns is IMHO a dream set up.
good listening,
Larry |
It is hard to try to say what the exact right amp
would be like anything else, but I would say a
good 300b or a EL34 based amp would be a good place
to start looking. As you know, you do not need a lot of power, so that opens up the door for a lot of great
amps. Right now I am running KT88's but am going back
to EL 34's.
Somthing that is known for a rich, full bodied sound.
Also maybe not to much silver wire in the system would
be a good path.
You are right, they still make the Heritage line,
and they are pretty expensive. Here is an interesting
site you may want to check into if you do not already
own the Khorns.
http://shinallandcompany.com/
Looks like Klipsch, but cheaper!?!?
Good luck! |
Telescope - thanx for the insightful words. One question that comes to mind after reading your post is; is there any meaningful way to determine what the "right" amp is? I've heard that quite a few times now.
MacDadTX - Thank you too, if you check the Klipsch site like I did you'll notice that their Heritage collection is still comprised of the original lineup and they're still cranking 'em up. Although, I understand they're not cheap. |
I don't know if the system you propose would be "Better" than what you have, but I do know that I love the sound of the Klipchorn, especially with loud orchestral works, or rock music. I have a buddy with a pair of late 1950's era (think they are 1959), that he runs with modern McInstosh tubes (sorry, not sure of the models), and uses these for HT as well. He uses a Cary preamp, passes through the HT, and process movies and surround with an older Denon 3803. Vinyl and discs sound fantastic. Full, detailed, powerful, great bass. He uses no sub, room has good acoutics, without any treatment.
I love the Klipsch sound. Why don't they make any high end new models I always wonder?? |
FWIW, I am using a pair of Klipsch LaScala's in an all
tube system, and I am amazed! And I am not a total
rookie at this, and have owned some pretty amazing
& high dollar speaker systems and alway's blown off
Klipsch because of their mainly "non high end statis"
but came across a pair for cheap, and they have blown
me away. No speaker is perfect, but the Khorns should
be fantastic coupled with the right equipment...IMO
no SS, but tubes only.
People can argue till the cows come home, but I think a
proper system used with the Khorns will blow you away.
I never had the VR4JR, but had the VR2's. Not a snowballs
chance against the K's.
So yes they are more than relevant!
Main strenght's are (with right equipment)
Dynamics & tight bass
Speed
PRAT (musicality)
Air
Vocals
Weaknesses (with wrong equipment)
Bright
Honky
(I had SS with a pair of smaller Klipsch..Yuck!!) |
Postscript: Has anyone experienced Cary SETs with Klipschorns? |
