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Tube amp Friendly Speaker That Sounds like Klipsch Cornwall

Hi All, 

I am shopping for a tube friendly speaker after a long time with Magnepan 3.6's and then Thiel CS5i's.

I was able to spend a couple of hours with a broken-in pair of Klipsch Cornwall 4's. These were in a dedicated dealer space with corner bass traps and some treble absorption. They were driven by an all McIntosh setup (7200 Receiver and T500 CD player).

The Cornwalls were dynamic, and I loved the palpable sound of the 15 inch woofer. Loud rock in roll was great with them. However, I was less impressed at lower volume levels and finally decided they were not very detailed and a bit too much in my face, at least in that setup.

When I left that room, I wandered over to where some Magnepan 1.7i's were playing in a casually set up open space. I thought the Maggies were much more resolving than the Cornwalls and a lot more laid back.

Any suggestions on a tube friendly speaker with good sized woofers that is dynamic but with good weight and detail to the sound?

Thanks for listening,

Dsper
dsper
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
I'm guessing budget plays a role?
I run a pair of Classic Audio Loudspeakers model T-3. 16 ohms, response to 20Hz, 98dB 1 watt/1 meter. 60 watts is plenty of power on them in most rooms!

You might consider another alternative though. If you were to get a set of Audiokinesis Swarm subs to handle the bass, your main speaker would then only need to get down to 60Hz or so. There are plenty of speakers that are easy to drive with 60 watts that would then do the trick- a set of Devore O96s for example, Klipsch RM51s or Tannoy Eatons. You might also contact Duke at Audiokinesis as his speaker designs have always been easy to drive and tube-friendly.  
jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
I sold my spatial audio X3s, which were mighty fine speakers, for a pair of Cornwall IVs. I disagree about how revealing these speakers are.


ozzy

i have never heard a spatial x line speaker ... the new m sapphire series does have a different high freq driver... but i am quite surprised to hear you say the x series lacked resolution to your ears

i find my m3s to be plenty revealing... this coming from a user of quad esl 63s, proacs w ribbons and big maggies!

yes you are correct i don’t know all the ins and outs of the latest klipsch cornwall versions, so i may be speaking from memories of hearing past cornwalls (not in my system, i have never owned a pair)

anyhow... happy listening
cal3713's avatar
cal3713
1,421 posts
 
I got on to mention Tannoy, so add a +1 if you're keeping a tally.  
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I don't think there is a tube amp that  sounds  like  a Cornwall .
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
3,131 posts
 
but i am quite surprised to hear you say the x series lacked resolution to your ears

I didn't say the X3 wasn't revealing, it is. What I meant was that I disagree that the CW IV is not revealing, because it is too. I think my one disappointment with the X3 might have been using a 12" driver to cover the midrange. The Cornwall just oozes tone and texture and sounds more real, whereas the Spatial sounded more refined and like hi-fi. It, of course, comes down to a matter of taste because there are tradeoffs with most speakers.

Oz


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