Schroedinger Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Greetings all. I have a set of Heresy 3’s that I push with a Fisher X-100 amp in a fairly large room. The room is 18x20 and opens up to another room on one side. I’ve recently invested a lot of time and money into acoustic treatments, it’s a good sounding room. I also use a subwoofer but just to fill in below 50Hz. I have an opportunity to make a trade for some 1983 Cornwalls. I’ve heard nothing but good things about the CW’s but am I taking a step backwards in sound quality? Appreciate any direct comparisons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 I have both. The Cornwalls will sound bigger, more powerful, and more live even at lower volumes. As much as I like my Herseys, there is really no comparison, especially in a big room. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schroedinger Posted February 6, 2023 Author Share Posted February 6, 2023 52 minutes ago, Klipschguy said: I have both. The Cornwalls will sound bigger, more powerful, and more live even at lower volumes. As much as I like my Herseys, there is really no comparison, especially in a big room. That’s the sound I’m going for. Thanks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 You are welcome. Get the Cornwalls; you will not be sorry. To me (and I own all 3): Klipschorns>Cornwalls>>>Heresys 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 By the way, welcome to the forum; we are glad to have you here! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 @shroombaker audition the 1983 Cornwall 1st hand before making a choice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 10 minutes ago, OO1 said: audition the 1983 Cornwall 1st hand before making a choice In your own listening room if possible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 2 minutes ago, Klipschguy said: In your own listening room if possible. yeah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schroedinger Posted February 6, 2023 Author Share Posted February 6, 2023 30 minutes ago, OO1 said: @shroombaker audition the 1983 Cornwall 1st hand before making a choice That’s going to be hard to do. The guy lives an hour and a half away, and we’ll probably meet in the middle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edzu1234 Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 With a room that big you need the Cornwalls!..otherwise it will seem like and sound like the Hersey's are straining to fill the room with decent musical sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Here's what the speaker looks like 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff. Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 @Schroedinger, if you think you can sell the Cornwalls for what you paid, should you not care for them, it’s just your time that you’re out. And you will always wonder “what if” if you don’t try them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Very nice looking pair of speakers! With loudspeaker design, one can choose only 2 of the 3: Efficiency, Bass Extension, and Cabinet Size. The Heresy has efficiency and a compact cabinet but at the expense of bass extension. The Cornwall has efficiency and bass extension but at the expense of a large cabinet. Physics. Loudspeakers are about moving air; the Cornwall will move a lot more air vs the Heresy. Distortion is inversely proportional to efficiency; the Cornwall is more efficient than the Heresy, therefore distortion will be lower, dynamics higher. If your Heresy speakers are sitting on the floor, the increased height of the Cornwall mids and tweeters will be more pleasing at ear level (when seated, of course…well, unless you are not very tall). Tonally, the Cornwall is a better balanced speaker to my ear (not going to say too much here). If you can ideally place the Cornwalls into the corners of the long wall in your room (angled in), the listening experience should be be stellar at low to high volumes. The Cornwall is one of the best low-volume-speakers I have heard, but when asked it will also approximate a live performance very well. I have a pair of Heresy speakers; they provide a quality listening experience but the Cornwalls are a better speaker, no question. The exception: if the room is way too small for the Cornwalls, then room size deficiencies may be better served with a smaller speaker. As a practical aside: A lamp sits better on top of a Cornwall vs a Heresy. One last thing: My preference is for the plywood and veneered lumber core cabinet construction of the Cornwall I vs the MDF construction of the Heresy III. Personally, I would jump on it, but it is your decision. Hopefully some of this information is helpful. Andy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toz Posted February 6, 2023 Share Posted February 6, 2023 Cornwall's of any vintage do most things right. They have a very balanced sound that appeals to a wider audience. In other words I think they are less polarizing than some of the other heritage speakers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hron61 Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 Great post. Very informative. I've owned neither of these (yet), but I would go with the cornwalls, they sound like the better of the two. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schroedinger Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 As a follow-up to my thread, I ended up getting a pair of 1977 Cornwalls and I’m very happy with them. I’ve been experimenting with room placement and I feel like I’ve really got them dialed in now; fantastic sound and my 18 watt Fisher X-100 can drive them to ear-splitting volumes if needed. The bass response is amazing- solid down to 30Hz in the room. Really happy with the purchase. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 7 hours ago, Schroedinger said: As a follow-up to my thread, I ended up getting a pair of 1977 Cornwalls and I’m very happy with them. I’ve been experimenting with room placement and I feel like I’ve really got them dialed in now; fantastic sound and my 18 watt Fisher X-100 can drive them to ear-splitting volumes if needed. The bass response is amazing- solid down to 30Hz in the room. Really happy with the purchase. Congratulations! The Cornwall is truly a fantastic speaker that does well with all kinds of music; there are few complaints about Cornwalls here on this forum. 1977 is a good year for the Cornwall. Your speakers should contain the B Networks (which are my personal favorite), K33B (or just K33) woofers, K55V mid drivers, and the K77 alnico tweeters. Happy listening! Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schroedinger Posted February 20, 2023 Author Share Posted February 20, 2023 51 minutes ago, Klipschguy said: Congratulations! The Cornwall is truly a fantastic speaker that does well with all kinds of music; there are few complaints about Cornwalls here on this forum. 1977 is a good year for the Cornwall. Your speakers should contain the B Networks (which are my personal favorite), K33B (or just K33) woofers, K55V mid drivers, and the K77 alnico tweeters. Happy listening! Andy Thanks Andy. They do have the K33 woofers and the B networks. What are your thoughts on B vs. B2? I’ve considered upgrading them but I’m interested in people’s opinions on which is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OO1 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 @Schroedinger Since your Cornwall is 1977 , keep the B network since your speaker uses the K-77 Alnico round magnet tweeter + the push-pin k-55V , the B2 is optimal with the 81-82 Cornwall using the K-77-M square Ferrite magnet + the solder lugs K-55V ( which you do not have ) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klipschguy Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 I have a pair of B2 crossovers that I tried out (good caps, Litz 245uh inductors). To my ear there is some perceptible improvement at the squawker’s crossover frequency (600Hz), but the balance of the mids and and high frequencies is perceptibly worse to my ear (slight recess of the mids coupled with brighter high frequencies). The B Network is closer to the voice of my Khorn vs the B2 Network, no question. This comparison is just my experience and my opinion; if someone loves their B2s, great! - it is only their ears they have to please. BTW: The B2 does provide better tweeter protection, but I have never had an issue with the B Network and blown tweeters (I have never been afraid to crank ‘em up with my rather powerful Mac amp). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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