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Klipsch Cornwall III: Review

Posted to Speakers 2009-08-20

The Klipsch Cornwall III loudspeaker is the next step up from the Heresy III in the Heritage series of loudspeakers. The Cornwall was originally introduced in 1959 as an alternative to the Heresy for use as a center-channel speaker with a set of widely spaced Klipschorn loudspeakers. The Cornwall was discontinued in 1990, and after a letter-writing campaign by disappointed customers, was brought back as the Cornwall III.

The Cornwall III features a 3-way design using a 15 inch direct radiating woofer for deep, powerful bass and horn-loaded compression drivers for realistic midrange and treble. The tweeter and midrange are constructed using a titanium diaphragm and the cabinet features a bass reflex design. Frequency response for the Cornwall III is 34Hz-20KHz, power handling capacity is 100 W continuous and 400 W peak, and sensitivity is 102dB at 1 watt/1meter.

Rating:

4.8 out of 5

Quality

Klipsch makes some of the highest quality loudspeakers in the world, and the Cornwall III is no exception. You can find people who have owned these speakers for 20 years, and they are now performing just as well with their new digital equipment as they did with their analog equipment when they were purchased. The drivers are all made from the highest quality materials and the cabinet is real wood veneer, available in cherry, walnut or black lacquer finish.

Performance

These speakers are capable of delivering heart-pounding output, up to 119dB. A favorite of rock music lovers, they have deep, room-filling bass and crisp, clear highs. You really don't need an amplified sub-woofer with these speakers, as the 15 inch woofer reproduces the lowest of low frequencies. And the horn-loaded compression drivers deliver faithful midrange and highs. In addition, the Cornwall IIIs are sensitive enough to be driven by most any amp.

Summary

If you're putting together a high-end stereo or surround system, the Cornwall III makes an excellent choice for stereo speakers, as front speakers in a surround system, or as a center channel speaker. They are expensive, but you could easily spend twice as much on other Klipsch high-end loudspeakers. Few speakers (besides others made by Klipsch) on the market today can compete with them, regardless of price.

Pros

3 way bass reflex design
15 inch direct radiating woofer
1 inch horn-loaded titanium diaphragm compression tweeter
1.75 inch horn-loaded titanium diaphragm compression midrange driver
Available in cherry, walnut or black wood veneer finish

Cons

There are no cons for this product