In this review, we will be comparing Cornwall IV and kO-R2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Cornwall IV and Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Cornwall IV | Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" horn-loaded | Compression Horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 1.75" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Fiber composite | 15" Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-20k Hz | 39-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 102 dB | 97 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 44.55kg / 98lbs | 54.65kg / 120.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 38" x 25-5/16" x 15-1/2"
966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm | 45-1/2" x 25-3/8" x 22-1/4"
1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm |
|---|
Cornwall IV and kO-R2 are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Heritage Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Cornwall IV is a 3-way design whereas the kO-R2 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Klipsch Cornwall IVKlipsch OJAS kO-R2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch Cornwall IV |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
1 x 15-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 kO-R2 features a " K-706 driver Compression Horn Tweeter and 1 x 15" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 760Hz.
Frequency Response
Cornwall IV has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas kO-R2 has a frequency range of 39-20k 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 kO-R2's min frequency of 39Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Cornwall IV and kO-R2 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 kO-R2's is at 97 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch Cornwall IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch OJAS kO-R2, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
kO-R2 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Cornwall IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the kO-R2.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Cornwall IV features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. kO-R2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 OJAS kO-R2'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 OJAS kO-R2 has external dimensions of 1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm (45-1/2 x 25-3/8 x 22-1/4inch).
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 2mm wider, 190mm taller and 171mm deeper than Klipsch Cornwall IV.
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 OJAS kO-R2 is approximately 3644.3cm2 / 564.9inch2. The Cornwall IV requires 30% less surface area than the kO-R2 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 Klipsch Cornwall IV weighs 44.55kg / 98lbs and the Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 weighs 54.65kg / 120.2lbs. This makes the kO-R2 23% heavier than the Cornwall IV.
Here is a comparison of how Cornwall IV and kO-R2'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 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
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
102 dB
vs
97 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
966mm
vs
1156mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
2533cm2
vs
3644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
6598USD
vs
8498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
102 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-20k Hz |
39-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber composite |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded |
Compression Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
760Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
966.0mm (38") |
1156.0mm (45.5") |
| Width |
643.0mm (25.3") |
645.0mm (25.4") |
| Depth |
394.0mm (15.5") |
565.0mm (22.2") |
| Weight |
44.55kg (98lbs) |
54.65kg (120.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Horn Loaded |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
13-ply Baltic birch plywood |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Red Oak, Hammertone |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Klipsch's Heritage series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch Cornwall IV digs deeper - 34Hz against 39Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch Cornwall IV is more sensitive (102dB vs 97dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 takes more power (300W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch Cornwall IV is easier to place; Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch Cornwall IV: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch Cornwall IV is cheaper - $6,598 against $8,498, about 22% less. |
A Klipsch Cornwall IV B Klipsch OJAS kO-R2
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Klipsch Cornwall IV is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 39Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch Cornwall IV is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.