OK, I installed the 30 ohm and 8 ohm pathaudio resistors. I am done and never opening that speaker again!
First off, I understand the concepts of confirmation bias and controlled experiments. I have a PhD and have analyzed tons of data. I have also built at least a thousand pieces of tube equipment. I have my ways of evaluating changes with the same 30-40 test tracks. I listen for very specific things in all of them. Yes, the proper experiment would be to have two pairs of Cornwall IV speakers, one modded, one stock. Both connected at the same time and toggle between them. Better yet, have a blindfold on and have someone else toggle for you. Or a mono signal and one speaker modded and one stock or something along those lines. Yeah sure. Who among us can afford two pairs of the same speaker for such an experiment? Who has the room for that sort of experiment in their living room?
The pathaudio resistors are not quite as big a change as going to the VCap ODAM caps, but the change is quite audible and almost as large. Same things, a little more 3D imaging, but the slightly bright character of the original sand resistor is apparent upon removing it! The pathaudio resistors sound more natural, no brightness, just music. Definitely more clarity and again, no brightness to achieve that clarity. So like the cap change, the speaker is more natural sounding, images slightly better, and there is not a hint of brightness. Just insane levels of detail and punch. You would not really think the stock speaker is bright until you change the caps and resistors in the crossover. I could never go back. I am not changing inductors. First I don't know the values, second the speaker is voiced with that sort of inductor and they all sound different. Honestly, the speaker is amazingly good right now and I have no desire to fool with it again. If you really want to go for it, change the speaker terminals and improve the contact between the wiring and the terminals. You could play with inductors if you were inclined, but I am not. This speaker is a FAR better speaker than the stock one to my ear. Not even close. It retains all of the things you like about the stock one, but it sounds so much more like music.
The Spatial Audio X5 speakers I have also have a VCap ODAM that replaced the Miflex. They are wonderful. I will eventually put them back in the system and evaluate the difference again, but the Cornwalls need another 100 hours or more to be certain the woofers are completely run in and the ODAM caps take 100-200 hours to really run in as well. Again see my comments earlier in the thread. Different speakers for people seeking different things. This last mod with the pathaudio resistors just pushed the Cornwall IV way in how realistic the presentation of instruments and voices are. That is the strength of the X5, so the comparison will be interesting.
Again, I am NOT telling you to modify your crossovers. You will certainly void your warranty. I cannot possibly go back to stock though.... Let's just say if the people who have published reviews of the Cornwall IV had modded the crossovers their jaws would have dropped..... The guys on the Klipsh forum who attacked me for even wanting the schematic and considering messing with their "perfect speakers"... well they can listen to theirs and I can listen to mine. If you could flip a switch on theirs and turn the into these I seriously doubt any of them would go back.....unless they are deaf
