Hi moose89,
First, I am sorry for such a long message, but I just had to reply to your post because it really relates to my life with audio gear!! In 1982, I bought a Brand New McIntosh C33 Pre-Amp. Also, I bought a pair of Brand New Klipsch Cornwall’s. Along with this, I bought a Pre-Owned McIntosh MC2105 Amplifier (Vintage 1971). Also, I bought a Brand New Bang & Olufsen Beogram 3404 Turntable. I am being truthful here when I say that to this day people still tell me that it was the best sounding system that they had ever heard! One time I took all of this and I had set it all up at a party at the local “Firemen’s Union Hall”. They had a ”Raised” Stage in the Hall. This was my opportunity to really test it all out. It was unbelievable how good it sounded! That night, I played “Madman Across The Water” (Vinyl) by Elton John. When the Violin section in that song “Kicked In”, it was unbelievable! You just can’t beat Cornwall’s “Horn Tweeters & Mid-Range”! This system sounded so good that every weekend I “Cranked It Up” for 15 years and my neighbors never complained! You could hear it for a half block away and at the time these were older neighbors! I would go outside the next morning and no one ever said a word about the loud music.
After all of them years I traded in the McIntosh C33 & McIntosh MC2105. BIG MISTAKE, but I could not afford to keep them! The only reason I did so was because I wanted to have “Home Theater” and McIntosh did not offer that at the time. I bought a B & K A/V Processor. It really had great sound with the Cornwall’s! But, after all of those years the B & K went out 2 years ago. In 2022 I bought a new McIntosh MC257 Amp (7 Channel) & a New McIntosh MX123 Processor. You sacrifice sound quality with music and a 7 Channel Amp. It does sound excellent, but the McIntosh MC2105 Amp was better!! Now, get this! After 40 years, I still have the Klipsch Cornwall's. They sound as good as the day I bought them! Every few years I will shop around and listen to new speakers. But, the Cornwall's can’t be beat! I have always been careful not to send distortion through them. If it is a clean signal, these old Cornwall’s will really “Ring Out”!
I don’t know how Klipsch builds Cornwall’s these days, but they built them like a “Tank” back then! I am a long time member of Audiogon, but this is only my second “Post”. I read the “Forum” everyday, but I am always too lazy to “Post”! I I “Posted” this in hopes that maybe it helps with your question!