korenek%ficc@uunet.UU.NET (Gary Korenek) (03/22/90)
> From: unrvax!unssun.nevada.edu!lsmith@uunet.UU.NET (LARRY SMITH) > Subject: Klipsch > Date: 16 Mar 90 09:55:56 GMT > > I have a pair of Klipsch Cornwall speakers that I bought used. > These are the original Cornwalls with the nice wood cabinets, not > the Cornwall II that Klipsch sells now. I can't seem to find any > information on these, i.e. how old are they, what quality, if I got > a good deal ($400)? BTW they sound great! If anyone knows anything > about Klipsch Cornwall speakers, please let me know. Back when I sold Klipsch products (approx. 10 years ago) the unfinished (birch-wood) Cornwalls were approx. $400.00 each! The finished (walnut, rosewood, etc.) Cornwalls were more than that (in the $500-and-up each range). As to age, my guess is they are approx. 10 years old. There are many peole that poo-poo Klipsch, and there are many people that would have nothing else. I am smack in the middle-of-the-road; I love them for what they are. In my humble opinion, you got a good deal. The foundation of Paul Klipsch's philosophy is: make speakers that are _efficient_. Paul Klipsch is (was) a big fan of horn speakers, for the reason that horns are the most efficient drivers. Klipsch believes that high effiency begats low distortion (ablity to listen to speakers at high volume without getting tired). Klipsch speakers are, in general, more efficient than other speakers. This means you will get lots of volume from them with minimum power. They are hand built and hand finished. We are talking solid-wood here! No particle board. Cornwalls are called Cornwalls because you can place them either in a corner, or against the wall! By nature, Klipsch speakers sound mid-rangey (unequalized). I like the way they sound. I think they are _great_ for rock-n-roll and classical music, where volume is wanted (these babies can shake the plaster off of your ceiling). They are also great at uncovering dynamics in music (transition from soft-to-loud passages for example). In A-B tests, the Klipsches would show impressive reproduction of dynamics, while the same piece played on other speakers would yield a more "compressed" sound. In particular, find some source material that has "plucking" (e.g. mandolin, guitar strumming) and you'll find the Klipches bring out the dynamics of each pluck of the string, where other speakers leave this more flat and un-exciting. If they were mine, I would place them against a wall, approx. 6 feet apart (no toe-in) away from corners, with the optimum listening area 10 to 15 feet away (I find the "sound-stage" to be farther away from the speakers, probably because of the horn tweeter and midrange). In summary, you get and you give up. What you get is a quality-built product, efficiency (volume), and great reproduction of dynamics. What you give up is flat response. You can always have them equalized to your room (to address the response issue). Quick summary of Klipsch speakers (approx. 10 years ago) in order of price: Klipschorn: fully horn loaded, must be placed in a corner, Paul Klipsch's baby! Belle Klipsch: fully horn loaded, placed against wall, named after Paul's wife! LaScala: fully horn loaded, more suited to sound re- enforcement than home audio (Peter, Paul, and Mary toured with these!). Cornwalls: horn tweeter/midrange, cone woofer, placed in corner or against wall. Heresy: horn tweeter/midrange, cone woofer, placed in corner only (to enhance low-frequecies), thus the name "heresy". Gary Korenek
paasch@lbl-csam.arpa (Bob Paasch [advdev]) (03/23/90)
In article <9003221132.AA12918@uunet.uu.net> korenek%ficc@uunet.UU.NET (Gary Korenek) writes: > Belle Klipsch: fully horn loaded, placed against wall, named > after Paul's wife! > LaScala: fully horn loaded, more suited to sound re- > enforcement than home audio (Peter, Paul, > and Mary toured with these!). Gary, I was under the impression that the Belle and the LaScala were esentially the same speaker, the Belle being the cosmetic model. Could you elaborate on the differences between these speakers, and the reasons you feel the LaScala is "more suited to sound reinforcement than home audio". This is definately NOT a flame, I'm just looking for knowledgable information. I'v seen several rock and roll clubs that use LaScalas (usually four). I've owned a pair since 1978, used mostly for r&r with some classical. I too very much enjoy the dynamic range of these speakers. Bob