In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.3 and Cornwall IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta No.3 and Klipsch Cornwall IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Kanta No.3 and Klipsch Cornwall IV compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Kanta No.3 and Cornwall IV are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta No.3 |
Klipsch Cornwall IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Kanta No.3 features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz - 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the Cornwall IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 15" Fiber composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Kanta No.3 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas Cornwall IV has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the Kanta No.3 can go slightly deeper then the Cornwall IV's min frequency of 34Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Kanta No.3 and Cornwall IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kanta No.3 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Cornwall IV's is at 102 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch Cornwall IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Kanta No.3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Kanta No.3 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Cornwall IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Kanta No.3.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Cornwall IV features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.3 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Focal Kanta No.3's and Klipsch Cornwall IV's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.3 has external dimensions of 1280.0 x 386.0 x 521.0mm ( 50-3/8inch x 15-3/16inch x 20-1/2inch ) whereas Klipsch Cornwall IV has external dimensions of 966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm ( 38 x 25-5/16 x 15-1/2inch) .
Klipsch Cornwall IV is 314mm shorter and 127mm less deeper than Focal Kanta No.3 but it is also 257mm wider.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Focal Kanta No.3 is approximately 2011.1cm2 / 311.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Cornwall IV is approximately 2533.4cm2 / 392.7inch2. The Kanta No.3 requires 21% less surface area than the Cornwall IV which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Focal Kanta No.3 weighs 46.09kg / 101.4lbs and the Klipsch Cornwall IV weighs 44.55kg / 98lbs. This makes the Kanta No.3 3% heavier than the Cornwall IV.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.3 and Cornwall IV's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grilleOutrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discsUser Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch Cornwall IV?
Here are the items that come with the Cornwall IV:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 GrillesOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
2011cm2 (386x521mm)
vs
2533cm2 (643x394mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
102 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
966mm
vs
1280mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
6598USD
vs
10998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Kanta No.3 |
Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV |
| Brand |
Focal |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-400 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
102 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
34-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Fiber composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz - 2500 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1280.0mm (50.4") |
966.0mm (38") |
| Width |
386.0mm (15.2") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Depth |
521.0mm (20.5") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
46.09kg (101.4lbs) |
44.55kg (98lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |