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Klipsch Cornwall IV vs Klipsch Heresy IV Comparison

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Klipsch Cornwall IV

Passive Floor-standing | 34-20k Hz

Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV
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Klipsch Heresy IV

Passive Floor-standing | 48-20k Hz

Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV
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Klipsch Cornwall IV Klipsch Cornwall IV
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Klipsch Heresy IV Klipsch Heresy IV
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Klipsch Cornwall IV
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Klipsch Heresy IV
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Klipsch Cornwall IV vs Klipsch Heresy IV Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Cornwall IV and Heresy IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Klipsch Cornwall IV and Klipsch Heresy IV first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Klipsch Cornwall IV Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" horn-loaded Tweeter
  • 1.75" Midrange
  • 15" Fiber composite Woofer
  • 34-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 102 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 100watts
  • Weight:44.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 966.0" x 25-5/16" x 15-1/2"( 966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm )

Klipsch Heresy IV Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" horn-loaded Tweeter
  • 1.75" Midrange
  • 12" Fiber-composite Woofer
  • 1.75" Midrange
  • 48-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 99 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 100watts
  • Weight:20.45kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 631.0" x 15-1/2" x 13-1/4"( 631.0 x 394.0 x 337.0mm )

Cornwall IV and Heresy IV are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Klipsch Heritage Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Klipsch Forte IV
  
Floor-standing 38-20k Hz 99 dB8Ω 1 x 12"
Klipsch Cornwall IV
Floor-standing 34-20k Hz 102 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch La Scala AL6
  
Floor-standing 40-19k Hz 103 dB8Ω 1 x 12"
Klipsch Heresy IV
Floor-standing 48-20k Hz 99 dB8Ω 1 x 12"
Klipsch La Scala AL5
  
Floor-standing 51-20k Hz 105 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7
  
Floor-standing 34-19k Hz 103 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch Klipschorn AK6
  
Floor-standing 33-20k Hz 105 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch Heresy III
  
Floor-standing 58-20k Hz 99 dB8Ω 1 x 12"

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Cornwall IV and Klipsch Heresy IV compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Cornwall IV and Heresy IV are 3-way speakers.

Driver Klipsch Cornwall IV Klipsch Heresy IV
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 1.75-inch 1 x 1.75-inch
Woofer 1 x 15-inch 1 x 12-inch

Cornwall IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 15" Fiber composite Woofer . On the other hand, the Heresy IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite Woofer .

Frequency Response

Cornwall IV has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas Heresy IV has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the Cornwall IV can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Heresy IV's min frequency of 48Hz.

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

Cornwall IV
Heresy IV
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Klipsch Cornwall IV
Klipsch Heresy IV
Min
Average
Max

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

Cornwall IV and Heresy IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Cornwall IV sensitivity is rated at 102 dB and the Heresy IV's is at 99 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch Cornwall IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch Heresy IV, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Cornwall IV
Heresy IV
Min
Average
Max

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.

Cornwall IV and Heresy IV has the same power range of up to 100 watts.

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

Both Cornwall IV and Heresy IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 Klipsch Cornwall IV's and Klipsch Heresy IV's external dimensions. Klipsch Cornwall IV has external dimensions of 966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm ( 38 x 25-5/16 x 15-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch Heresy IV has external dimensions of 631.0 x 394.0 x 337.0mm ( 24-13/16 x 15-1/2 x 13-1/4inch) .

Klipsch Cornwall IV is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 249mm wider, 335mm taller and 57mm deeper than Klipsch Heresy IV.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Cornwall IV and Klipsch Heresy IV in scale.

Klipsch Cornwall IV vs Klipsch Heresy IV Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Klipsch Cornwall IV and Klipsch Heresy IV Size and External Dimensions

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 Klipsch Cornwall IV is approximately 2533.4cm2 / 392.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Heresy IV is approximately 1327.8cm2 / 205.8inch2. The Cornwall IV requires 91% more surface area than the Heresy IV which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Klipsch Cornwall IV weighs 44.55kg / 98lbs and the Klipsch Heresy IV weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the Cornwall IV 118% heavier than the Heresy IV.

Here is a comparison of how Cornwall IV and Heresy IV's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Klipsch Cornwall IV
Klipsch Heresy IV
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Klipsch Cornwall IV?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Cornwall IV:
  • 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • Owners Manual
  • Congratulations letter
  • Klipsch brochure
  • What's in the Box of Klipsch Heresy IV?

    Here are the items that come with the Heresy IV:
  • 2 Floor-standing loudspeakers
  • 2 Detachable grilles (installed)
  • 2 Base risers (installed)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • 4 Jumper-straps (installed)
  • Owners Manual
  • Congratulations letter
  • Klipsch brochure

  • Reasons to choose Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV over Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV
    Sensitivity 102 dB vs 99 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 15 inches vs 12 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 34 Hz vs 48 Hz Generates deeper bass

    Reasons to choose Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV over Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV

    Height 631mm vs 966mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 1327cm2 vs 2533cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 3198USD vs 6598USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Klipsch Cornwall IV vs Klipsch Heresy IV Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV
    Brand Klipsch Klipsch
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range up to 100 watts up to 100 watts
    Sensitivity 102 dB 99 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 34-20k Hz 48-20k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 15" 12"
    Woofer Composition Fiber composite Fiber-composite
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Treated cloth
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type horn-loaded horn-loaded
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 1.75" 1.75"
    Physical Specs
    Height 966.0mm (38") 631.0mm (24.8")
    Width 643.0mm (25.3") 394.0mm (15.5")
    Depth 394.0mm (15.5") 337.0mm (13.3")
    Weight 44.55kg (98lbs) 20.45kg (45lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood veneer MDF/Wood veneer
    Available Colors Black Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 10 Years 10 Years
    Labor Warranty 10 Years 10 Years

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