mike stehr Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 "12'x13.5'x8'" My Cornwalls don't do too bad in a 12'x 14'x 7' room. Nearfield isn't bad for me, I dunno...the room is pretty well damped with junk. I've been having good results with these homely bastards. The imaging is nice, and the bass is right up there with the Cornwalls. I need to sand them up and oil or stain them. They are smaller than the Cornwalls, maybe that helps in a smallish room. Though they sound just as big as the Cornwalls. The Cornwalls ain't going nowhere however, I may get a house someday..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 The F2s arrived a few days ago in excellent condition, and have been on constantly since then. They did sound rather muffled at first, but have opened up considerably now. Bass is tight (and seems to be getting better), but I still feel the need for a sub someday... Well Mike, I guess if my room was well damped with junk, maybe my big ol' Cornwalls wouldn't sound so harsh. Since the carpet was ripped out due to the flooding from the last hurricane, the near-empty room just isn't a good candidate for horns (even with the nasty ol' shag ca. 1975 the Cornwalls still didn't sound their best). The Klipsch were against the short wall (the only feasible location due to the window and closet); maybe if they were placed along the long wall, but it wouldn't be an ideal setup with the PC desk, etc... Simple conclusion, the room's way too small and the Klipsch are too big. I never tried small bookshelf Klipsch monitors though...maybe that's why my ProMedias DO sound so good in this room! Mike, finish those homely bastards (looks great so far)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 A couple more pics of the new AS-F2s...as if any Klipschers really care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 Since the bottom of my '70s vintage Danish walnut cadenza was totally waterlogged from Hurricane Jeanne, I had to buy an audio rack to replace that nasty Nixon-era coffee table I was temporarily using...This Haropa 13SVG steel and glass AV rack was only $156 with shipping on eBay (even a poor slob like me could afford this one). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 A closeup of the NOS '50s Mullard GZ37 and the old '40s vintage Canadian Westinghouse 6K7G drivers, my latest "cheap" tube buys; The GZ37 was only $28 and the 6K7Gs $4.95 each! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 They make great antique night lights, along with being HOT space heaters (the Shuguangs don't count due to their "indigo" hue). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 20, 2005 Author Share Posted February 20, 2005 I hate to admit it, but the Athena AS-F2s do sound better in this room than my Cornwalls ever did, and the shrill is gone (sorry, pun intended)! I wish I could afford the cherry veneered RB-75s; I feel these flagship Reference monitors could've worked out quite well in this particular room. Even the least expensive Reference bookshelf speakers would be efficient enough (minus the new RSX-3 @ 89dB), but I'd need a powered subwoofer for every single on of 'em, and I couldn't afford both (not even a Synergy and a sub). At least I have a dynamic tower with a smooth treble response and ample bass (not gut-wrenching, but no worse than the Cornwall's). Rick...when I finally have a coming out party for my Cornwalls, you'll be the first to know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Boy, my homebrew's look homely as ever now.... Nice speakers, Jim. Nice rack,too. You and the brother's need to get drunk some night and go find some carpet and some pad. Maybe try blocking the ports and see what happens bass-wise. It might be a good thing, it might not be...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 I could try stuffing the ports with foam plugs...my brother just bought a new SVS PB12-ISD/2 dual 12" subwoofer with his tax refund; I could maybe borrow his plugs when he's not around (damn gigantic sub has 3 ports for bass tuning (choose from 25, 20, and 16Hz). I'd hate to buy another carpet just to have another torrential downpour flood my room again...until I can afford a contractor to come out and seal the foundation, there's no sense laying carpet 'till then. I dunno...beer spills and vomit are so much easier to clean up on concrete floors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edwinr Posted February 21, 2005 Share Posted February 21, 2005 The speakers look great, Jim. They remind me a little of the Paradigm Performance series. I can see what you mean about the acoustics in your room. Klipsch speakers wouldn't like a bare concrete floor. It looks as though you've bought really well. At the lower end of the market, Klipsch don't do inexpensive floorstanders. Klipsch admit they are a mid to high end loudspeaker company. Things might change though with the recent purchase of the Danish company, Jamo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 The concrete floor definately didn't help matters none, but the small room (even with the carpeting) is still the culprit in this instance. The Cornwalls are just way too big for such a small room; bookshelf loudspeakers are probably the only right size loudspeaker for such dimensions. If I could've afforded both a sub and the Reference bookshelf monitors, I would've gone that route I think. The large F2 towers are about the biggest I could get away with for this room and obtain acceptable results and still have Cornwall-like bass without a sub. I had even considered a pair of used Heresys, but being 3-way (and essencially Cornwalls without the bass) I was afraid I'd still have horn harshness that this little room seems to project. Big horns seem to need large rooms to breath properly, and my poor Cornwalls were sufficating! The Athenas are decent looking cone 'n' dome towers (if you're into that sort of thing)...personally, I always loved the look of horn speakers (and their in-your-face lifelike sound qualities). They're so unique and make such a statement IMO; look at the statement the venerable Klipschorns have made for over half a century! I may be able to enjoy these AS-F2 towers for my present situation, but once I get the chance to finally locate the Cornwalls to our much larger livingroom, I'm gonna jump on the chance in a heartbeat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 21, 2005 Author Share Posted February 21, 2005 And when that day comes, my tubes are going with the Cornwalls...word! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3dzapper Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 Jim, While the Corns are resting, it might be a good time to do a little refreshing on them like new xover caps and some Dynamat on the horns. That will take away some of the "bite" when you ressurect them. Those tweeters in your Athenas seem to have a bit of a horn loading thing going on there. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 22, 2005 Author Share Posted February 22, 2005 Funny you should mention that, Rick... "The high-powered 1" Teteron dome tweeter provides clear extended high frequencies that are dispersed from the unique faceplate in a very wide window. The wider the window of sound, the easier and more flexible your speaker placement is, and the better the stereo imaging, too." ...from their sales literature. I thought about replacing the Cornwall's tired crossovers, or at least updating their caps, when the time comes to use them again. Guess rope caulk around the horns wouldn't hurt, seeing how it's an acceptable means of reducing metal horn ringing. Hell, if I can afford it later on down the road, I might even have a cabinetmaker refinish the birch veneer...whatever it takes to make the wood look like new again! That's the one thing I really don't like about the Athenas, to keep their prices down they use vinyl veneer...YUCK! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted February 22, 2005 Share Posted February 22, 2005 "I'd hate to buy another carpet just to have another torrential downpour flood my room again..." I didn't say buy another carpet, I said go FIND another carpet. I put rope caulk on the midhorns of my Cornwalls, must a subtle thing.... The midhorns in my Cornwalls didn't seem harsh or bright even before the rope caulk. I dunno....maybe tube amps cure that issue somewhat. I can hook up a older SS NAD amplifier to the Cornwalls, crank it up, and those horns will cut your head off. IMO, the best Cornwall tweak would be to double up the back panel, and brace the cabinet up big time, corners, sides. Crossbraces side to side, front to rear, top to bottom. Run braces across the front baffle as well. Use hardwoods for the bracing, oak, hickory.... That would tighten up the Cornwall's bass response, but that would also suck up a bunch of internal volume. So you'd pretty much have to retune the cabinet. Then doing that to a pair of vintage Klipsch Cornwalls is one reason I haven't done it. I'd rather try to build homebrew speaker cabinet and do those sort of things.... I doubt if I would ever ditch my Corns. But if I had to, they would be worth more in stock form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 ---------------- On 2/22/2005 7:49:55 PM mike stehr wrote: ..."Then doing that to a pair of vintage Klipsch Cornwalls is one reason I haven't done it. I'd rather try to build homebrew speaker cabinet and do those sort of things.... I doubt if I would ever ditch my Corns. But if I had to, they would be worth more in stock form." ---------------- Which is why I haven't succumbed to modifying my Cornwalls, not that I would ever consider selling mine neither! Just leave 'em the way Andy (HDBRbuilder) had built them. Seems to me ol' PWK knew a thing or two about designing them...just my opinion, natch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted April 3, 2005 Author Share Posted April 3, 2005 Our youngest cat Sammy loves tubes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted April 3, 2005 Author Share Posted April 3, 2005 She nestles herself between the amp and the interconnects without disturbing a thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1stcav Posted April 3, 2005 Author Share Posted April 3, 2005 Of course my system isn't on...I doubt she'd sit there if it was (nor would I let her). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnm Posted April 3, 2005 Share Posted April 3, 2005 That pic reminds me of the day that we bought our ASL AQ1003DT. My wife said It sounds beautiful but what if one of our girls decides to sniff one of the big tubes ?? I looked at her and said Just Once Dear...Just Once!! Fortunately it has not been an issue...so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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