For decades, the classic Klipsch Cornwall has undergone updates and upgrades, reaching new heights in terms of sound quality and performance. The current Klipsch Cornwall IV is the latest iteration, with better sonic performance than its predecessors. A magnificent floor-standing speaker such as the Cornwall IV will require equally impressive amplifiers to drive them, if you are looking for one right now then stick around.
We will be sharing with you the best amplifiers that you can go for and match them with your beloved Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers. These amplifiers must be able to complement and drive them to their full potential. In order to do so, we must first find out the merits of Klipsch Cornwall IV and what are their sound characteristics. With the right information, then we can find the right amp to partner with these legendary speakers.
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Sound Characteristics and Merits of Klipsch Cornwall IV
The sheer size of the Klipsch Cornwall IV already displays the power that these speakers can deliver, and when the speaker grills are off, it further supports the earlier statement that they indeed can deliver powerful sound. At the top, you will find a K-107-TI 1 inch (25.4mm) Titanium diaphragm compression driver (HF), right below will be a K-702 1.75 inch (44.5mm) Polyimide diaphragm compression driver (MF), and followed by a K-33-E 15 inch (381mm) Fiber-composite cone woofer (LF). You will also spot three Klipsch Tractrix ports right at the bottom. With the frequency response of 34Hz – 20kHz (+/- 4 dB), that’s a strong indication that the Klipsch Cornwall IV does not need a subwoofer.
The Klipsch Cornwall IV floor-standing speaker is incredibly efficient, it has a speaker sensitivity of 102dB and a nominal impedance of 8 Ohms. This shows that Cornwall IV can be easily driven to high volumes. The recommended power handling of 100 Watts (Continuous) and 400 Watts (Peak) is below what we expected but not an issue. All these data will help us filter down the pool of potential amplifiers. The aesthetics of the Klipsch Cornwall IV are vintage looking, it will definitely fit into homes that are retro-fitted or with wood elements. Retro-themed amps and tube amps will look great beside these floorstanders. The Klipsch Cornwall IV is best suited for a large listening room, and with enough breathing space around them.
More Details at Amazon – Klipsch Cornwall IV
The size of the soundstage is astonishing, it extends beyond the walls, and the stereo imaging is creating ‘life’ on the spacious stage with crystal-clear music. The precision of the imaging is simply perfect, providing you with lifelike performances and engages your senses immediately the moment you start playing your favorite tunes. The musical details are clear as day, even the quietest of sound is audible and the trebles are crisp but never sounding harsh even at very high volumes. The Klipsch Cornwall IV moves the air in the room effortlessly, the sound field envelopes you and starts feeding you music with incredible energy, the liveliness lightens up your senses and you just keep wanting to hear more of your favorite songs through them.
The low frequency supports the overall music delivery very well, providing weight to the sound and punch without any exaggeration. It is taut and accurate, digs deep into the bass extension, and bringing them out prominently, more importantly, the bass reproduction blends seamlessly with the rest of the frequency, providing you with a coherent music presentation. The bass is rich with details and never sound flat or dull. The Klipsch Cornwall IV doesn’t need a subwoofer unless you want a more powerful mid-bass and higher bass output below 40Hz. Overall sound reproduction is transparent and clean, all drivers work seamlessly together to bring you the most faithful music presentation that the artists have intended for their audience.
For home theater usage, the Klipsch Cornwall IV will be extraordinary as left and right main channel speakers, and should likely exceed your expectations. Even as a 2.0 channel home theater setup, the dialogue clarity and bass output would not be an issue, excluding the low-frequency range below 35 Hz. Now we have all the necessary information we need to get the best matching amplifier to unleash the full potential of Klipsch Cornwall IV, and so without further ado, here is the list of the best amps to pair with Cornwall IV.
Klipsch Cornwall IV Specifications
- Speaker Type: Bass-reflex (front-firing)
- Drive Units: K-107-TI 1 inch (25.4mm) Titanium diaphragm compression driver (HF), right below will be a K-702 1.75 inch (44.5mm) Polyimide diaphragm compression driver (MF), and followed by a K-33-E 15 inch (381mm) Fiber-composite cone woofer (LF)
- Frequency Response (+/-4dB): 34Hz-20kHz
- Recommended Power: 100 Watts (Continuous) and 400 Watts (Peak)
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
- Sensitivity (2.83V @ 1m): 102dB
- Dimensions (H x D x W): 965.2mm x 394mm x 643mm, 38″ x 15.5″ x 25.3″
- Weight: 43.4kg (96lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Klipsch Cornwall IV
The McIntosh Labs MA5300 integrated amplifier will be an exceptional choice for your Klipsch Cornwall IV as McIntosh amps complement the Heritage speaker series really well. Both are excellent in providing large-scale soundstage and faithful music presentation that engages you every time you sit down to listen to your favorite tunes. Not to mention, there are plenty of details that are delivered to you in high-resolution sound quality. McIntosh Labs MA5300 also comes with a DA1 Digital Audio Module which can be further upgraded in the future. The DA1 Digital Audio Module is capable of playing high-resolution audio files up to DSD256 and DXD 384kHz.
The McIntosh Labs MA252 is a hybrid integrated amplifier that uses a vacuum tube preamp and solid-state power amplifier, the amp sound characteristics complement your Klipsch Cornwall IV really well. McIntosh MA252 has the capability of delivering a large spacious soundstage that is very wide and with incredible depth. The imaging is holographic-like and precise where the performances are lifelike, engaging you every second along the way. Immerse yourself into the music and just simply enjoy your favorite tunes. If you love listening to music, then you should definitely take the opportunity and have an audition with this awarding winning McIntosh MA252 hybrid amp together with your Klipsch Cornwall IV floor-standing speakers.
One of the top choices when it comes to pairing with Klipsch Cornwall IV will be the Yamaha A-S3000, it is an integrated amplifier that is the pinnacle of Yamaha’s engineering and passion for music. The sound quality is exceptionally clean, with amazing transparency throughout the frequency range and tonally neutral. The Yamaha A-S3000 is incredibly detailed as well, it captures even the breathing of the musicians and the subtlest of details. When it comes to playing back music sources as faithful as possible to what the artists have intended, the Yamaha A-S3000 is probably the best when match with your Klipsch Cornwall IV. Definitely worthy of your time and effort to have a listen with them.
More Details at Amazon – Yamaha A-S3000SL Natural Sound Integrated Amplifier
Pass Labs INT-25 is probably the best amp to match with your Klipsch Cornwall IV, it has the capability of creating a large and spacious soundstage filled with beautiful and powerful sound. The ultra-low distortion provides you a clean music presentation and powerful delivery of authoritative taut bass. Your Klipsch Cornwall IV will be driven with the illustrious Class A amplification provided by the coveted Pass Labs INT-25. This Class A integrated amplifier reproduces rich musical sound quality and is simply beautiful to hear. You should hear them out when you get the chance.
Sugen A21SE is another integrated amplifier that deserves your consideration, it has the sonic purity of Class A that delivers sweet and smooth sound, full of details and insight. The soundstage and imaging are impressive, delivering a 3-dimensional sound that engages your senses and immediately hooks you into the music. The height of the soundstage is also breathtaking, the Sugen A21SE when pair with your Klipsch Cornwall IV delivers an incredible sonic performance that breathes life into your music. Furthermore, the Sugen A21SE may be revealing but it never sounds clinical.
The Marantz PM-KI Ruby is a noteworthy integrated amplifier that delivers high-resolution sound quality and is a worthy match for your Klipsch Cornwall IV. This powerful reference amp of Marantz effortlessly creates a holographic soundstage. A stereo imaging that has pinpoint accuracy and delivers a high-definition music presentation. It may use Class D amplification but there is richness and warmth in the midrange, where the vocals sound sweet and natural. When needed, the Marantz PM-KI Ruby punches and shows its muscles, and it has more than enough power to drive your Klipsch Cornwall IV to high volumes without breaking composure.
More Details at Amazon – Marantz PM-KI Ruby integrated amplifier
If you are looking for power amplifiers, the Pass Labs XA60.8 is a great match and since Klipsch Cornwall IV is a very efficient speaker, the 60 Watts of Pure Class A sonic purity will be enough to satisfy you at most volumes without breaking a sweat. Parasound A23+ are amazing power amps for their price range, uses High bias Class A/AB operation to provide your Klipsch Cornwall IV with clean power and allowing them to handle all sorts of music transients. The Cambridge Audio Azur 851W is another power amp you might want to check out and pair with your Klipsch Cornwall IV, they are extremely powerful. The Azur 851W Class XD amp has a brilliant design that uses the sonic purity of Class A and the efficiency of Class AB.
More Info at Amazon – Cambridge Audio Azur 851W Power Amplifier – Silver
To Sum It Up
Due to the high efficiency of Klipsch Cornwall IV floor-standing speakers, you can play your favorite tunes at high volumes using pure Class A amps without needing too much power. This is why some of the best amps to partner with your Cornwall IV use the highly sought after Pure Class A, the other amplifiers are equally impressive as well. All the amps listed here are worthy of your time and effort to audition them, listen to them, and see if you like what you hear.
