Klipsch Cornwall IV

I’m really to green at this audio stuff to add much to this conversation, but on impulse, I bought the Cornwall IV. When they first arrived, I thought I had made a big mistake. About 100 hours in, they sound so much better. I’ve even had a few “wow” moments. Can’t wait to hear how they sound after the 200 hour mark. Digital side is the Holo May KTE. Analog is Luxman PD-171A, Jelco 850, Hana ML and Channel D Lino C phono stage. 

Based on what you say, you‘ll get plenty more “wow“ moments. They (Heritage series) really love even moderately powered tube amps of good quality. My JLH69 class A transistor amp sounds wonderful with my Quartet‘s, as does my Leben CS600.

I was never a fan of the CW's and felt they were just a big boomey box sounding thing. The CW4 however was a stunning change with serious rework from drivers to the cabinet and crossovers and is now very good. I don't have a lot of experience with speakers outside of Klipsch because I like to buy used then fix/restore and sell on and the Klipsch market is far larger than any other. I have done so with hundreds of sets now. I only had two sets of CW's in all that time because I REALLY did not like them and felt the Chorus was far superior and looked for those instead.

  The CW4's though I can recommend without reservation. The only bad thing I can say about them is they use MDF just like all the rest does now. When I build for myself I use nothing but Baltic Birch. Sound wise they are superb and don't require lots of watts.

" I have demoed them twice at the local dealer on a McIntosh 7200. I do not get the hype and thought they were kind of meh. They seemed pretty average to me. "
  That can be a problem. The Klipsch dealer in Huntsville, AL is clueless about setup and he manages to make those great sounding CW4's kind of MEH. Wall full of Macintosh stuff and sales jargon spews forth and those in the know about how the CW4's CAN sound leave and never go back.

" Oz gives excellent advice to at least give a listen :-) "  I second that with the caveat that finding a competent dealer is a must. Even better is to find a private owner and go hear what they sound like in person in a real home environment. Show rooms are often so full of trickery and manipulative sales shmucks most of the time. I don't know where you are but Metropolis Outfitters in Paducah KY is a very highly regarded dealer well respected by Klipsch fanatics. People drive for many hundreds of miles to deal with him.