Cornwall IV vs. Volti Rival, Razz; Razz v. 1, 2, 3 -- what changed?


Looking for efficient speakers. I had the opportunity to listen to a Cornwall IV yesterday. It was run on nice tubes (Primaluna 400 EL34s) with a bluesound node streamer/dac.

QUESTION: I'm curious if anyone has compared CW IV with Volti Rival of Razz. Thoughts?

QUESTION 2: Anyone know what changed in the Volti Razz when it moved from v. 2 to v. 3?

Thanks

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I really appreciate the thoughtful and detailed responses and explanations about why and how horns work as they do. Thank you so much for thinking, writing, and posting!

Haven't heard Greg's speakers but intimately familiar with Cornwalls and other things Klipsch. 

It's my experience that three things will improve the performance of Klipsch horn speakers, especially the larger offerings.

Sit far enough away for the drivers to integrate. Horns are not near field, or even mid field speakers.

Do NOT toe the speakers enough so that they are firing directly at you. Even the newer speakers like the CW IV sound better when the axis crosses well behind your head.

SET amps bring out the best in Klipsch speakers that are efficient enough to accommodate them. A good 300B amp with stout transformers and power supplies will handle that 15" driver of the Cornwall with no problems.

. Modern klipsch speakers have advanced quite a bit over their predecessors, some of which could run you from the room. Even as good as the new ones are, they aren't for everyone.

FWIW Volti has a new model called Lucera which fits between the Razz and Rival.

My Cornwall 4 tube setup:

Primaluna EVO 400 pre and power.

Amperex "Bugle Boy" in the two center gain positions on both amps.

Old metal base GZ34’s in the rectifier positions

Sophia Electric blue bottle EL 34’s in the power amp

Vintage "Western Electric" cloth covered tinned copper wire for speaker.

SR "Purple" Fuses throughout system.

Shunyata Delta NR V2 power cables throughout.

Old Shunyata Hydra 4 conditioners for everything but the power amplifier where the cables go straight to wall.

I grew somewhat weary though of having to wait hours for the Primaluna transformers to saturate sufficiently for real "bloom," but when they did it was quite something.

This system is now sidelined for a SS setup built around Holo May DAC, Holo Kitsune pre and Audion MK3 monoblocs - an equally spectacular setup that is easier to manage.

The Borresen X2 speakers have been getting good reviews and are about the same price.

Borresen X2 Review

 

 

I’ve been to the Volti/Border Patrol/Triode Labs Cable room over the years and got to know Greg (Volti), Paul (Triode), and my apologies the gentleman from BP’s name escapes me right now.

Anyways, as a CW IV owner who modified the cabinets and crossovers on each (and blown two pairs of Tweeters two years in a row (pre and post mods). I prefer the Volti’s both on sound & build quality.

But the price well worth it those who can afford & appreciate them MHO.