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Horn based loudspeakers why the controversy?

As just another way to build a loudspeaker system why such disputes in forums when horns are mentioned?    They can solve many issues that plague standard designs but with all things have there own.  So why such hate?  As a loudspeaker designer I work with and can appreciate all transducer and loudspeaker types and I understand that we all have different needs budgets experiences tastes biases.  But if you dare suggest horns so many have a problem with that suggestion..why?
128x128johnk
wolf_garcia
6,704 posts
 
The Devil has horns…as do cows. And my cars and motorcycles. I actually swapped out a buzzy little horn thing on my 2012 Bonneville for a horn loaded horn. Way louder. Doesn’t that mean anything? Discuss.
johnk's avatar
johnk OP
1,975 posts
 
Many assume horns are good for high SPL use only many assume they all need massive amount of SQFT to house and get integration many assume all horns are plagued with coloration or have no ability to image, or that horns for audio use are rare costly hard to source and not being produced in large nums but if you read reply's from owners and other audiophiles you can see most all of the passed about as facts on horns are wrong.  
wolf_garcia
6,704 posts
 
"Everything you know is wrong," Firesign Theater.

johnk's avatar
johnk OP
1,975 posts
 
Everything you know is wrong," Firesign Theater- thxs that one cracked me up..

fitzrobert
7 posts
 
I don't hate horns, but I find there dispersion characteristics to be very different on and off-axis.  If you tune them for on-axis listening then they are muddy off-axis.  If you tune them for off-axis listening, your ears will bleed when you are on-axis.  So, when properly tuned, they can be good on-axis, but they do not make good speakers for wide-field listening.
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