In this review, we will be comparing Silver 500 7G and Cornwall IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G and Klipsch Cornwall IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G | Klipsch Cornwall IV |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" C-CAM RST II | 15" Fiber composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-35k Hz | 34-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90.5 dB | 102 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 80-250 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.53kg / 49.6lbs | 44.55kg / 98lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-11/16" x 12-11/16" x 15-7/16"
1085.0 x 323.0 x 393.0mm | 38" x 25-5/16" x 15-1/2"
966.0 x 643.0 x 394.0mm |
|---|
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
Both Silver 500 7G and Cornwall IV are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7GKlipsch Cornwall IV
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G |
Klipsch Cornwall IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Silver 500 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 2 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer. 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
Silver 500 7G has a frequency range of 27-35k Hz whereas Cornwall IV has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Silver 500 7G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Cornwall IV's min frequency of 34Hz.
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
Silver 500 7G and Cornwall IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Silver 500 7G sensitivity is rated at 90.5 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G, 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.
Silver 500 7G can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Cornwall IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Silver 500 7G.
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.
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Silver 500 7G and Cornwall IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G's and Klipsch Cornwall IV's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G has external dimensions of 1085.0 x 323.0 x 393.0mm (42-11/16 x 12-11/16 x 15-7/16inch) 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).
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G is 320mm narrower and 1mm less deeper than Klipsch Cornwall IV but it is also 119mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G and Klipsch Cornwall IV in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G and Klipsch Cornwall 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G is approximately 1269.4cm2 / 196.8inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Cornwall IV is approximately 2533.4cm2 / 392.7inch2. The Silver 500 7G requires 50% 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 Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G weighs 22.53kg / 49.6lbs and the Klipsch Cornwall IV weighs 44.55kg / 98lbs. This makes the Cornwall IV 98% heavier than the Silver 500 7G.
Here is a comparison of how Silver 500 7G and Cornwall IV's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Silver 500 7G:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Bolts
- 4 Machine screws
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 2 Hex-keys
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Klipsch Cornwall IV?
Here are the items that come with the Cornwall IV:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1269cm2
vs
2533cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3200USD
vs
6598USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
102 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
966mm
vs
1085mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G |
Klipsch Heritage Cornwall IV |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
80-250 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90.5 dB |
102 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-35k Hz |
34-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM RST II |
Fiber composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM with Uniform Dispersion (UD) Waveguide II |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
1.75" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1085.0mm (42.7") |
966.0mm (38") |
| Width |
323.0mm (12.7") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Weight |
22.53kg (49.6lbs) |
44.55kg (98lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Oak |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch Cornwall IV costs roughly 2.1x what Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G digs deeper - 27Hz against 34Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Klipsch Cornwall IV is more sensitive (102dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G takes more power (250W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G is easier to place; Klipsch Cornwall IV is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G: bi-amping; Klipsch Cornwall IV: bi-amping. Klipsch Cornwall IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G is cheaper - $3,200 against $6,598, about 52% less; arguably a different class. |
A Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G
B Klipsch Cornwall IV
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 34Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Cornwall IV has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Silver 500 7G 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.