Just for kicks I put the original X-overs back in over the weekend and was blow away with how HARSH the midrange seemed to me. And the attack of a plucked bass string is just so clean and crisp with Al's networks. I love them--so anyone "on the fence" should jump right now, as these are a real bargain.
They WILL make a difference!
Allan Songer
I use a Crown OC-150 power level meter which permits me to observe peak and VU levels during play, and, even before the change, the Cornwalls were always efficient. One watt is usually loud enough to simulate a concert experience for the electric blues bands I favor (thus causing my family to close the basement door in self defense). There is a definite perceived increase in loudness which may be due, in part, to the change to a nominal four ohm impedance.
With extended listening, I have noticed improved transient response across the spectrum, noticeable especially in plucked string tones, percussion riffs and in the sounds accompanying vocal sibilants (e.g., "sshh", "sstt" and "ffftt" sounds). Cymbals and audience applause also seem more naturally rendered and less harsh: I no longer run for the volume control at the end of a live recording.
The best endorsement, though, may be the way I have changed my stereo since the installation. Before installing the crossovers, I used an SAE parametric equalizer with the Cornwalls, in part to reduce a harshness which was sometimes heard when a complex musical passage reached a crescendo. After living with the newly modified Cornwalls for a while, I decided to remove the parametric equalizer altogether, their response is that much cleaner and smoother; ringing bell and string tones are especially well rendered, as are all vocals.
I could go on like this at some length, but I think you get the picture.
As we discussed, my own thoughts for modifying the Cornwall crossover were to start by simply substituting a higher quality capacitor for the series cap in the squawker circuit (this after discussing the crossover with an expert in loudspeaker design, formerly with Klipsh, who also owns a pair of Cornwalls). After living with your crossovers for these past few weeks, though, I'm convinced your complete redesign is clearly the best solution.
Well Done! Count me as a very satisfied customer ..
J. Andrew McKinney
Hi Al,
I went back and read the comments from Allan Songer and J. Andrew McKinney posted on your website. I think their comments are right on, and for the sake of efficiency, I won't be redundant, but I certainly endorse all their observations.
I installed the networks on Saturday morning while the kids were sleeping and enjoyed them Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday at normal listening volumes. I listened to all my personal reference recordings, i.e., those that are really well executed and have a lot of soundstage (e.g., Pat Metheny's "Map of the World", Dave Grusin's DTS CD of Henry Mancini, DTS version of the Eagles, etc, etc..).
Well, I was stunned, to put it mildly. The Cornwalls and Belle center sounded great before, but ... to use a visual analogy, it's as if I was listening to the music in black and white and now it's in color ... I know it's a terribly inadequate analogy, but there is now so much more vividness, texture, depth, attack, and bass ... The bass that comes out of those boxes now is wonderful; not boomy, just tight and right there, in your face. Female vocals are rich and sultry, not shrill at the edges; cellos are warm and vibrant, just the way they should be.
The tragedy, if there is one, is that these physically gorgeous networks have to be put inside boxes where the sun never shines. I should buy an extra one just to put on the shelf for "Show and Tell" when friends drop by!
Keep up the great work, and thanks!
Kind regards,
Chris Robinson
Area Sales Manager
Epson Electronics America, Inc.