My Cornwalls arriving next week...

[ChrisK]

About 20 years (2 kids, 1 wife, and a move south) ago my roommate had a pair of Cornwalls in his stereo system. We have kept in touch over the years and during a conversation recently I mentioned to him how I was putting together a 2-channel system to go along side my HT. I mentioned how much I remembered enjoying his CW's years before. He informed me that he still had them stored in his garage (wife problem), and would love to send them to me. Needless to say, they're on their way!

Anyway, is there anyone within earshot of this board that lives in the Los Angeles area that may consider taking a look at them for me when they arrive? Beer and pizza included of course! I'm also seeking reasonable, minimalist amp and preamp recommendations.

Thanks

[Colin]

Welcome!

can't help you with the pizza and beer -

but my roomate gave me back my pair of Stax headphones, so you know you have a good friend -

Since I love the sound that horns make when powered by tubes, I would look at the small crop of low cost tube integrated amps, for which ASL and Jolida come to mind. Check out the Antique Sound Lab MG-SI15DT Single Ended Integrated Tube Amplifier for only $700 at:

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_8_1/antique-sound-lab-15dt-tube-amp-1-2001.html. URL>

The editor said "view it this way. The 15DT is an entry level tube product, at an entry level price, but is Class A and single-ended, which are two characteristics that tubophiles love. It's a bargain."

Otherwise I would look at Jolida tube integrated amps for use with your super efficient horns: Use Audioreview.com to check out the Jolida reviews. Find the amps at the Jolida site and http://www.newtube.com/jolida.html.

Your system will sound so sweet and engaging that you will enjoy it for years.

Also, consider a used low cost pre-amp, like a NAD or Rotel, coupled to a low cost tube amp like the Decware Zen. See http://www.decware.com/tubes.htm.

Since I love the sound of horns powered by tubes, you might also consider the dirt cheap Antique Sound Labs Waves AV-8s. These are push-pull tube mono-blocks with ECL82 or 6BM8 tubes for only $100 each. There are reviewed at http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0801/coolaudio.htm.

Or for an SS amp uniquely suited to big old horns, see the Monarchy Audio Zero Feedback Amplifier Model SM-70 at http://www.monarchyaudio.com/ with 25 Watts RMS on 8 Ohms, distortion below 0.01% and output MOSFETS

For a solid state front end for a two channel system, I would still consider integrated amps. Ones without any frills, that have enjoyed good solid reviews for a long time. Names like NAD and Rotel.

NAD is known for their no frills approach, like the plain black boxes of Klipsch, so they give a lot of quality sound for the money.

http://nadelectronics.com/open.html

Rotel is a British outfit. The British are known for their polite and delicate sound, in their receivers, amps and CD players.

http://www.rotel.com/index.html

I have used them both and can recommend them as good solid values for the money. Your money. These brands are little thinner in the flanks perhaps than fat ole' American models; a little more scratch for less features perhaps, more like Hondas and Nissans than Chevies and Buicks. But they offer reliable service with out a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles.

I am sure that there are others, but these are the ones that I am most familiar with -

Some aspects of speaker design have improved in the last twenty years, search the updating topics for the custom ALK crossovers, which I strongly recommend, to see what I mean -

Then add a deep bass sub-woofer. Cornwalls have bass as good as any full range speaker, but not enough to master the low sound effects of movies ...

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HORNS & subs; leather couch & feet up; lights out & tubes glowing!

This message has been edited by Colin on 10-25-2001 at 03:30 PM

[Allan Songer]

I'd be happy to have a look at your "new" Cornwalls--I live in Long Beach and work in Hollywood. Just email me.

[BigBusa]

Congrats on the new toys! How do you like them so far? Pics for us?

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My system thus far:

1980 Cornwalls (mains)

19?? Heresy II's (rears)

2001 KLF-C7 (center)

2001 KSW15 (Subwoofer)

Onkyo TX-DS787 (reciever)

Kenwood DV402 (DVD)

Sony KV 27V55 (9 year old 27" TV)