D Jenson

I agree with your statement about expectation bias. That is why I always listen for weeks at a time before making a final decision. Buyer bliss fades and the "truth" sets in. Can you sit for hours and listen without hearing fatigue. Do you want to listen for hours at a time and find it hard to stop listening. Your body will tell you the truth over time. The addition of the REL212/SX to my Khorns has put me in the state of not wanting to stop listening again. The improvement is so noticeable that I feel I need to listen to all of my music again to hear what I was missing before listening with the REL.

I am running the Klipschorns full range. I believe the 212/SX is integrated nicely as sound is present around and in front of me. There is no sense of any speaker standing out. I have not noticed any distortion since adding the SW. I never noticed any distortion with the Klipschorns before the REL either. The overall system clarity has improved with the SW. I am now able to understand words in songs that I could not make out without the lyrics pre 212/SX. Also, I listen to broadcast TV or any movies 4K etc at lower volumes since adding the REL. The Improved clarity has allowed me to listen at lower levels to actually hear more details. I would have loved to pick up the new Klipsch Horn SW but space did not allow for it. There is a new sense of satisfaction when experiencing music or video that I have not quite felt before. The Klipschorn and REL experience is other worldly.

All I know is, everyone noticed significant differences between the low and high level sound presentation in a number of songs listened to over a 2-3 week period. We all liked the high level connection better, YMMV.

I started using the line level hookup suggested in a REL video for high sensitivity speakers. I quickly found out that I was turning the REL off on some songs because everything was better with the Khorns alone. After several weeks I switched to the high level connection and the difference was much better and consistent sound. High level is definitely the way to go. I am going to pick up the Baseline Blue cable and give it a shot. If I don't notice any improvement after a break in period I will return it. I am hoping for the improvement mentioned in the REL videos and other first hand user write ups. The A/V journey is a long and enjoyable one. I must say in 50 years of this hobby, the addition of the 212/SX is one of the very best additions that I have made. Pondering that second one already....ponder, ponder, ponder.

The REL website matched the 212/SX with Khorns, so I went with that. The soundstage is bigger, sometimes wider than the speakers on good recordings. My head snaps around to the location when that happens. The system sound clarity is also better. I listen at lower levels now because of the increased clarity. I have always been happy with the bass from the Khorns but that is where the biggest and most positive change has taken place. My neighbor, a drummer, has always liked the bass of the Khorns but he also loves the improvement in detail and quality. We hear subtle details not heard in familiar recordings before adding the REL. It is not a matter of more bass, the REL is rated to 18Hz. Drums sound different. You really notice the difference between a mallet or stick hit. I feel the texture in the mallet hit that I never did before. The stick hit is a little sharper than w/o the REL. Overall, after and during a listening session l enter a state of complete satisfaction and calmness. I have never quite experienced that before. I thought about 2 RELs, and that may happen. But I have to say, I am wondering how much better the sound can get. I will add the REL Bassline Blue cable for sure. The 212/SX may still be breaking in as the sound has improved over the last two weeks. At this point I do not "need" the second REL but I may want that last little bit of improvement.

I picked up a REL 212/SX to run with my Khorns. Unexpectedly great Improvement in overall sound.

OMG, my wife is the same way. On the gas until she has to step on the brakes........hard. I am not allowed to say anything to her about it anymore, it's been 40+ years. Whenever my wife drives and I am in the car, I drop the visor on my hat so I can't see anything. That is the only way not to raise the blood pressure.

That's the way it goes.

I heard my first Cornwall of any version this past summer, CW IV. After hearing them twice, I was thinking I might want them instead of my new 2013 Khorns. I thought they were amazing. Then something happened. My Anthem AVM70 had a firmware update which messed up the Anthem for a few weeks. I was then forced to connect my VPI Prime Signature to my McIntosh C50 and MC302. Oddly enough, the sound was better than I have ever heard from my system. No subwoofers available or the Anthem Room correction SW, ARC. Thanks to the firmware update, I am not interested in the CW IVs for my main system anymore. But, if I had a second AV room I would buy the CW IVs for sure. I would highly recommend the CW IVs for anyone with room constrictions that wouldn't permit Khorns Just my two cents worth. Cheers

I search out and listen to any genre. I am looking for a good melody, memorable hook, good rhythm and good beat. Give me those with a quality recording of the music piece and I will almost always enjoy it. I look for accoustic music more often than not. It appears easier to get a quality recording with acoustic instruments. I've started paying attention to singers presentation lately. I've heard much distortion on recordings because a singer isn't careful with the delivery of dynamic sections of a music piece. Nothing a recording engineer can do about a singer over saturating a mic. I stay away from singers where I have heard vocal distortion due to their bad technique, any genre. I was never a jazz fan but I have bought more jazz the last 20 years because of the many high quality.

I have owned Tannoy Ardens for over 35 years. The mids and treble as described on this forum and other audio sites are very laid back even with the treble setting at it’s brightest. The low end is very nice. The Telarc 1812 recording with the cannon warnings never fails to shake my pant legs when played at loud levels. They handle heavy low end demands comfortably. These are rated down to 28Hz. I always needed more from the treble. If the new Arden Legacy has improved the mid range and treble and at at least maintained the original bass output it will be an outstanding speaker. I have heard the Cornwall IVs three times and was massively impressed. I am running 2 channel audio with Khorns , new 2013. I prefer the Cornwall IV highs to the Ardens and the Khorns. There has never been any high end “bite” with the Cornwall IVs which I some times get with my Khorns. The Ardens sound as if someone put a blanket over the tweeter. The midrange is tight and wide, very pleasing with the Cornwall IVs. I would have to do some detaled listening before I could say I prefer the Cornwall IV or the Khorn. The Ardens again are laid back, smooth, and some say dark. Their mid range may appeal to some people but I would never call them accurate or live sounding. If you play an instrument or go to live concerts, isn’t that the sound you want your speakers to produce? I use 2 CDs to test speakers bass handling ability. The first is La Bamba, by the O-Zone percussion Group, track 10 Jazz Variants. The second is the Telarc SACD, Monty meets Sly and Robbie. Pretty much any track. I call the Monty CD a very dense or heavy or thick recording, it hits hard. I bought these 2 disks when I read the reviewers blew up their speakers when playing them. I have abused my Khorns with these when friends come over. I played these 2 on the Cornwall IVs at very loud levels as well and they also handled them easily. The Ardens handle this type of low end just fine. The Cornwall IV is rated to 34Hz and the Legacy Arden to35Hz. I would like to hear the Legacy Arden with these 2 disks The price on the Legacy Ardens is $8K and $6K for the Cornwall IVs. If the Mid range and Treble of the Legacy Arden matches the clarity and smooth presentation of the Cornwall IV, I believe you go Cornwall IV based on price difference.

I just picked up an Anthem AVM 60 processor. I have run the ARC and was wondering if anyone has compared this to REW. Is REW more detailed?

New unit is coming from Anthem. I was in on the phone call with the Anthem rep. The Anthem people tried everything to fix the issue. Once they concluded they could notify it, the rep said they would send me a new unit. I was impressed with the matter of fact approach and quick decision. I like the Anthem Support.

yup only1. I took it home tried to setup the ARC room correction SW and failed. HiFi Sound sent out their tech guy and he together with Anthem support couldn't fix the issue. Sooo...they are sending me a new one. Still waiting on that. Maybe you could get the one I returned, I know they have that one!

Lucked into an open box 1/2 price on an Anthem AVM 60. Picked it up on the spot!