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Better Amp for Cornwall IV's...

...Parasound 2250 v.2 / 200 Pre combo, which I own, or Denon PMA-1600NE integrated, which I don't, but I admire the build quality and appearance of?  My Parasound is rated 275W into 8 Ohms / 400W into 4, while the Denon is 70W into 8 and 140 into 4.  Of course, the Klipsch Cornwall IV's are quite sensitive and are rated 8 Ohms.  Maybe more than which is better, which would you all prefer?
jdmccall56
willland's avatar
willland
846 posts
 
"If the Cornwalls are like my Heresys, you don't want to short them on power. They need a little juice to get jumping."

The best my Heresys/Heresy IIs jumped was with a Luxman R-117(why did I sell it to DeanG?) with it's 160w/ch and unlimited dynamic headroom.  Needless to say, my Heresy IIs jump pretty darn well with my CA 640A v2's 75w/ch.

Bill
audition__audio
1,309 posts
 
You own an amp with unlimited dynamic headroom? 

The best I have ever heard any horn sound was with OTL amps.  You dont get the significant editorializing with OTLs which I think you get with SETs. Clearer, sharper, faster with fewer colorations to my ears. As others have said mentioned dont short these speakers on power.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
2,840 posts
 
Not a tube guy? Well you should be, you have bought the perfect speakers for tubes.

Seriously though. Buy a good tube amp. You can thank me later.....

Oz
willland's avatar
willland
846 posts
 
"You own an amp with unlimited dynamic headroom?"

Maybe a slight exaggeration but all the same a great sounding powerful vintage stereo receiver.

Bill
mrdecibel
2,900 posts
 
Try a passive preamp with your Parasound amplifier. Do you have a source with a variable output ( bypassing the preamp )? Because of the very high sensitivity of the CW4s, you do not need the additional gain of a preamp, and a layer of noise and distortion will be eliminated ( IME ).
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