John Ek
-
Posts
32 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Forums
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by John Ek
-
-
21 minutes ago, CoryGillmore said:
I'm going to give this song a listen when I get home, the track is on Tidal? I'm curious because my room is imperfect and I'm also using a cheaper A/V receiver to power my CWIVs.
Is there a specific point in the track here you hear this anomaly?
Now that I've read your last reply I see that you've come to the conclusion that it's your ears...I'll still give it a listen when I get home though.As soon as the piano starts playing. It’s not really sibilance, some frequencies seem to cause a ringing in my ears (fairly one-note).
Not sure what to make of it but if I cup my hands behind the ears, the problem is less pronounced. I guess that by doing so I might alter the frequency balance and also probably get rid of some reflections off the back wall?
-
Brought back my Genelec 8050’s just to see if they are different. Not so, they were just as bad, actually even worse. I guess the problem is in my ears. Never experienced this before. Pretty sure it’s the sound pressure levels at live hockey games that’s caused some damage.
-
I’ve had my Cornwall IVs for some time now. I like them a lot, they are outstanding with some types of music (classic rock, jazz, large scale classical music etc.).
One thing that’s disturbing me is the noise my AV receiver is introducing as soon as a source is active, that’s hopefully fixed by replacing the Marantz with another solution. The receiver is only used as a HDMI switch and pre-amp for digital sources, feeding a power amp via a pre-amp in HT pass through.
Now, what’s really bothering me is the sibilant pitch I hear on a few recordings (mainly piano and female vocals, Norah Jones live cover of Black Hole Sun is one example). This is regardless of source/amp, it’s there on vinyl when the receiver is out of the loop and it’s there when using Spotify on the Apple TV. I can hear this also when watching movies, during some dialogue parts or when high frequency sounds are present. Has anyone else noticed this and what can I do to resolve the problem? Would a decent tube amp solve the problem, or perhaps a class A solid state amp? In addition to the Marantz receiver, I’m still using Mark Levinson 326S as pre and a No 432 power amp.
I should say that when using headphones on another setup (or speakers) I can hear the same pitch but it’s not as evident or annoying as it is over the Cornwall IVs.
-
7 hours ago, Fido said:
I drive my Forte IVs with a Primaluna Evo 400 with kt150 power tubes and Brimar preamp tubes and think it sounds fabulous in my room for whatever that is worth.
It seems like a very attractive amp, I like the fact that it has auto bias and that it allows for changing between different tubes. I assume it’s quiet enough as it works well with Fortes.
-
2 hours ago, billybob said:
Are you wanting to lean towards solid state or tube amplification?
I’m just looking for something that makes the system sound it’s best, be it tubes or SS. Sure, if solid state is about as good as tubes I would certainly go SS just because of less maintenance, but main goal is to get the best out of my Cornwalls.
-
1
-
-
I have my Cornwalls connected to Mark Levinson 432 and a 326 pre-amp. Streaming is routed via my Marantz receiver (basically used as a HDMI router only) which is connected to my ML pre using HT pass-through.
I actually prefer streaming via the Marantz, sources directly connected to my ML pre (including my vinyl player) sound a little lifeless and bright. Guess it means I may like the warmth my Marantz provides?
Anyway, what amps do you think are a good match for Cornwalls? Accuphase class A integrated is a dream but expensive, do they work well with Cornwalls? I like that Acupphase have tone controls, not necessary but nice to have. PrimaLuna, Luxman, Line Magnetic etc, what are your opinions?
-
1
-
-
On 6/12/2021 at 2:28 AM, Shakeydeal said:
If it's a receiver then it has speaker level outputs, so connect directly. That will be fine till you can get something better.
Try pulling them off the wall a little, ten inches to a ft. or so. Keep playing with position, a little change can make a big difference.
Shakey
Lots of thanks you to you Shakey, you are one of the reasons for why I finally ended up with the Cornwalls. I’ve had a lot of doubts (in particular as dealers where I live don’t consider Klipsch as “true Hi-Fi”) and no possibility to audition before buying. Some also express concerns about the (lack of) bass. Luckily, you and a few others (including the Audiophiliac on YouTube) convinced me. In my room (a medium sized room) these speakers are excellent with a great bass that does not overpower the room. Again, thanks. Love them.
-
1
-
-
On 6/13/2021 at 2:41 AM, mikebse2a3 said:
Do you have Cable going to the AV receiver…? If so disconnect the Cable to the receiver and see if the hum goes away. If so you have a ground loop issue most likely and would probably benefit from a ground isolation device.miketn
Yes, I guess this might be the issue as it’s not really that prominent when the AV receiver is off. Seems like it’s more prominent also when using the Apple TV as compared to the STB. Everything is however grounded properly, not sure what else I can do (apart from be switching the receiver that I don’t really need).
-
On 6/13/2021 at 7:37 AM, babadono said:
So will they be staying? If not I personally would not bother chasing down a ground loop. That's just one man's opinion.
These will definitely stay. Just love the tonality and the impact. Awesome speakers. I’m considering to replace the receiver by new Bluesound node (as it has HDMI). I don’t need a receiver anyway. Hopefully, that will solve the problem.
-
14 hours ago, RandyH001 said:
Congrats on the Cornwall IV ,
for the hum , does it go away once the preamp is hooked up , or is it constant - what model-brand preamp is it ?
Thanks! These speakers are among the best speakers I’ve heard, it’s amazing what they do.
The preamp is a Mark Levinson 326 and the receiver (Marantz, only used as a HDMI switch) is connected via it’s pre-amp ou to the ML in HT pass-through. Strangely, the hum is there as soon as I switch to that particular input on the ML, regardless of the Marantz being switched on or not.
-
1
-
-
First impressions are, with the speakers basically flushed against the back wall, very slightly toed in, amazing! Definitely exceeding my expectations.
i was worried that they would be bright, Definitely not so.
I was worried they might not look good in my room. Well, they don’t, they are simply too big. Kind of awful actually. My wife hates them.
But the way they make music! I immediately fell in love with these speakers. They are more fun than all of my recent , previous speakers (JBL L100 and 4349, Dynaudio confidence 20 and Genelec 8050). It’s not only that they are fun to listen to, they are, but they are also very nicely balanced and great with voices.
The only problem I have encountered so far is a hum when connecting my preamp to the AV Receiver, phono and CD inputs are silent. I guess it’s due to the efficiency of the speakers, any suggestion on how to connect the receiver(it only has RCA out) are appreciated. .
-
1
-
-
I was considering black ash but now I see that my pair in walnut look amazing.
-
2
-
-
The speakers arrived this morning! They are now in place and I’m eager to try them out in the evening.
One box was damaged, there was a hole of about 6x4” but luckily there was no visible damage to the speaker.
One question, the rubber rings for the magnetic grilles, is it necessary to remove those?
-
On 5/27/2021 at 3:38 PM, Shakeydeal said:
If it absolutely must be a SS amp, then I'd recommend looking at Plinius or a reconditioned McCormack amp. Coda is very good too.
Shakey
I had a McCormack once, paired well with my current Martin Logan Sequel 2s. Since then I have tried Musical Fidelity (terrible) Bryston 4B-SST (still own, maybe not quite as good as McCormack) and a Mark Levinson 432. The latter is definitely the best to my ears but I have no idea how either would pair with very efficient speakers. I also believe my preamp, Mark Levinson 326s, is better value than the power amp.
-
2 hours ago, Shakeydeal said:
Congrats on your purchase. September is a long time to wait. 🙁
I think they are very elegant looking speakers in the classic sense. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed with the looks or the performance.
Shakey
Thanks, Shakey. Will post pictures and feedback as soon as they are in place. It’ll be a test for my Mark Levinson no 432, hugely overpowered at 2x400 W, hopefully it’s quiet enough. Plan to change it for something else in the future, my dealer suggested a First Watt F7. I guess a decent tube amp would do great as well.
-
2
-
-
Thanks, certainly looking forward to finally have them in place. Funny thing is, despite trying other speakers, I’ve had a picture of Cornwalls as my screen saver so I guess that means I don’t dislike the way they look.
-
Having considered my options for quite some time now I finally decided to get a pair of Cornwalls in walnut. Walnut was actually the only option my dealer could offer at this point, next delivery from Klipsch is due in September (I’m in Europe). Hope they will look nice once they are in place.
I’ve tried JBLs (L100 and 4349, both nice but not really great, preferred the latter) and Dynaudio Confidence 20s, and at the same time I’ve been reading about the Cornwalls but thought that maybe they are too big, maybe too bright?
But according to what I’ve read, they seem like a very nice match for what I’m looking for in a speaker. So, only one way to find out! I would have preferred to audition a pair but my dealer even sold his demo pair due to high demand.
Expectations are high (as is excitement), hopefully within a week or so, I’ll be able to finally enjoy the Cornwalls.
-
1
-
2
-
-
2 hours ago, salbake said:
My Walnut IVs
They look really nice, what a beautiful veneer on your pair. A lot more lively grain than I have on my current 4349. Thanks for sharing.
-
2
-
-
I’ve decided to place an order for Cornwalls, but I can’t decide if I want cherry, walnut or black. The pictures on Klipsch web site suggests walnut to be more grainy and darker as compared with my current JBLs. Cherry is difficult, usually cherry veneer change colour with age, not very fond of those becoming more red.
So, are there any pictures of Cornwall IVs where they are not completely out of the box? I’d be very happy if you would be kind enough to share pics of your own speakers! Thanks in advance!
-
2
-
-
19 hours ago, tigerwoodKhorns said:
I had K Horns set up properly and that was the only speaker that didn't seem to need a sub in my room. I kept turning it off. All others it seems to help.
I say get the Fortes because the OP is in Europe and Fortes will likely fit into the homes there better and if he ever sells, have better resale. European homes are not as big as in the USA (we are a really wasteful society) and Cornwalls can be difficult here.
In general, homes are smaller which will of course have an effect on resale value as less people will be able to accommodate large speakers. On the other hand, resale also depends on popularity of the brand. In most parts of Europe I don’t believe Klipsch as a brand are very strong, this will also likely affect resale, regardless of model.
-
19 minutes ago, Fido said:
That new video was very interesting to me as I originally wanted the Cornwalls based on reviews but there was no way they would fit my room. The Forte IVs feel so much larger than my Fort 1s. Comparisons are fun but most people do not have the ability or means to AB multiple pairs of speakers in their listening spaces. Glad the guys at Pudacah shared this review.
I’m very grateful for this type of comparison as I have no possibility to demo either speaker. Just wish sound quality via You Tube were better.
Based on the conclusion it seems like Forte IVs are close enough to the Cornwall IVs. The question is if one of these speakers is easier to place in the room, preferably not too far from the front wall.
I noticed you have placed your Fortes quite close to the wall, if they sound good in that position that would be ideal. Cornwalls 2-3 feet from the front wall would be visually dominant in my room (and just not practical) but Fortes in that position I could live with.
-
On 2/11/2021 at 11:54 PM, Darkscience said:
I recorded with my Samsung 8 phone, use headphones and it will give you a sense. When the voice comes in the phone picked it up small but it almost sounds hes in the room trying to sing.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Hi Dark,
Nice choice of music and recording, it actually sounds live! Thanks.
-
Watched the new video comparing Cornwall IV vs Forte IV. Difficult to identify differences other than the obvious difference in output volume.
Judging sound quality based on You tube videos is not easy, I do hope both Cornwalls and Fortes are substantially better when you’re in the room with them.
I guess the value is more in listening to the comments being made rather than listening to the recording of the speakers sound.
-
2 hours ago, Fido said:
Hi John, like you, I prefer my beautiful wife over extra large speakers. For me it’s more than just that I prefer things to a certain scale. Obviously the Forte IVs have only been available for a little over a week and most commenting about the Cornwall IVs versus the Forte IVs have never even heard the Forte IVs.
Good point of course, not many have heard the new Fortes yet.
I don’t think I can go wrong with either as long as they are less bright than the JBLs when played loud.
One option would of course be to buy an amp that brings out the best of the JBLs but I imagined that my current Mark Levinson amps would be a perfect match. Not sure if I’m right in my assumption after what I’ve found after some research, but it seems that Klipsch speakers sound excellent with a wider range of amps. Or perhaps, less expensive amps (as less power is required) may do the trick with Klipsch speakers.
It's been a while, short update
in 2-Channel Home Audio
Posted
So, the short story is that I bought my Klipsch Cornwall IVs almost a year ago. I had been happy with my active Genelec 8050s for 7 years, with subwoofers they were very nice. During the pandemic I decided to try something new, always
wanted to hear what a larger, classic loudspeaker could do. So, I bought the JBL L100. Did not like them, tried something completely different, Dynaudio Confidence standmounts. Easier to live with but boring. In the mean time I read and heard about Klipsch loudspeakers' heritage series. Not a big brand in my country, Sweden. Unfortunately labelled as crap usually, or by the more positive, they are fun but ...
Anyway, after searching for info here and otherwise I decided to order a pair when my local dealer eventually found out that the new heritage line was actually quite good. The Cornwalls are huge, no question about that, I had my hesitations. Maybe there Heresys? Most people at the time seems to favor the Cornwalls so I decided on those. When unboxing these I thought they were huge, quite ugly. An hour later I thought they looked quite cool, like a bookshelf on growth hormones. Playing some music over my Mark Levinson 3236S/432 combo was a game changer, this was something out of the ordinary. Bass with control, open and deep soundstage. Classic rock, jazz and classical music were extremely engaging. As were most other genres. These were keepers. So I decided to look for alternatives to my amplification, who needs 2X400W to power a Klipsch? I tried a First Watt F7, I tried an INT-25 from Pass labs, neither did sound better than my current combination. In there mean time my hearing was deteriorating, possibly as a result of visiting too many hockey games live. Turned out that wax also was an important factor. Nevertheless, before I knew what was causing my problems I decided to try a speaker I'd been wanting to try for many years, the active Genelec 8361 with built in DSP. DSP should be able to correct whatever frequencies causing my problems, or so I thought?
My pair of 8361 arrived early June, hooked them up and was impressed by their midrange, possibly an improvement over the Cornwalls there. After a calibration and with the DSP I found them to be great with movies but completely boring with music, regardless of style. I had experienced fewer problems with my hearing while waiting for the speakers to arrive (approx 4 months) but suddenly I felt that I was experiencing the same problems again. Went on vacation for two weeks, really missed listening to music, came back home and found that I did not at all enjoy what the Genelecs provided. Decided to sell them, got them sold and had a lot of money in my pocket. Not only that, I hauled my Cornwalls back into the system and immediately found that listening to music is fun, oh, what these speakers do really put a smile on my face!
I had long been wanting to buy a new vinyl player so decided to go visit my dealer. Came back with an excellent Technics but I also got to listen to a combination of Accuphase E-650 and Klipsch Heresy. That combination was excellent so decided to buy the amp for my setup. How did it sound in my system? Difficult to say, the best I've heard in my home is probably the best way to describe what I hear. I regret having tried other speakers, these Cornwalls are mazing, even more so with the Accuphase E-650. Never thought an amp would do that much of a difference (although
Just wanted to share my very positive experience with the Cornwall IVs (and the Heresy IVs did sound very good when I heard them). I'm so happy that I did not sell them when I got my Genelecs, these are probably the best speakers in the world (for me) :-).