History of the Klipsch Cornwall
History of the Klipsch Cornwall, Cornwall II, Cornwall III
This is a timeline for the evolution of the Klipsch Cornwall speaker from inception in 1959 to the current date. Date Event Media
October 1959
The Cornwall is introduced as the world's second commercially produced center speaker. A speaker with higher output capability than the Heresy was needed when used in three speaker arrays between Klipschorns®. Component designations: Woofer EV 15WK, Midrange K-1000 Horn and University SAHF Driver, Tweeter K-77
Late 1959
Transition to the K-33-J Woofer (Jensen)
1959-1961
Sporadic transition to the K-55-V mid-range driver (Atlas).
January 1963
The K-1000 diffraction type midrange horn was replaced with the exponential K-600 horn with a lower (600 Hz) cutoff
September 1967
Transition to the K-33-M. The records are not clear as to the origin of this driver but it is believed to be an Eminence driver with an Alnico magnet.
January 1968
Transition to The K-33-P Woofer (CTS Paducah KY)
1974
- The horizontal version of the Cornwall is discontinued.
- K-56 mid-range driver (Electrovoice 1828) is used for a short period as a temporary replacement as the supply of K-55-V drivers was interrupted.
1975
Transition to The K-33-B Woofer (CTS Brownsville TX)
1975-1879
K-33-E (Eminence) and the K-33-B were used interchangeably. The records are not specific about the actual start date for the K-33-E but it is believed to be in the early to mid 1970's
1979
The Eminence K-33-E woofer is used exclusively
June 5th, 1981
The updated B2 network, with steeper crossover slopes is phased in with no changes to the K-33-E, K-55-V and K-77-M driver compliment.
October 19th, 1981 - March 1983
The transition between four different iterations of the midrange driver from revolving sources occurs during this period. The original K-55-V was changed to a K-51-V (10/19/81) This marked the first time in the Cornwall's history that it used a driver set that differed from that of the Klipschorn®. The K-51-V was then changed to the to the K-55-G (essentially a ceramic magnet version of the Atlas Alnico K-55-V). The K-55-G was then changed to the Hepner built K-52-H and finally the Klipsch built K-52-K.
March 14th, 1983
The B-3 network and the K-52 midrange driver starts to be used in this model. Component designations were: Woofer Eminence K-33-E, Midrange K-57-K (K- 600 Aluminum horn and K-52-K driver with snout), Tweeter K-77-M and B-3 network.
January 1986
The Cornwall II is introduced featuring front mounted drivers to reduce baffle induced diffraction effects. Component designations were: Woofer Eminence K- 34-E (K-33-E with a dressy pad ring), Midrange K-57-K (K-601 plastic horn and K-52-K driver), Tweeter K-79-K (K-75-K horn and K-79 driver) and CW II network.
1990
The Cornwall II is discontinued.
March 2006
The Cornwall III is introduced marking the end of the Cornwall's 15 year absence from the market. This version utilizes the Klipschorn® woofer, the horn and driver set from the Heresy III (featuring Titanium diaphragms and a ® tweeter horn) and bi-wire inputs. Component designations are: Tractrix Woofer K-33-E, Midrange K-53-Ti (K-701 horn and K-53-Ti driver), Tweeter K- 107-Ti (K-79-T horn and K-100-Ti driver). Information originally provided by Jim Hunter and Mark Kauffman of Klipsch Audio Technologies, LLC