Quad Listener Contemplating Horns

I suspect you may be correct about the SP-10 being too noisy for use with horns, although it's a good sounding preamp, especially the phono stage. With regards to electrostatics vs. horns, only you can be the judge, although if you are sensitive to the 'cupped hands' effect of many, though not all, horns, you might find the latter hard to take. Acapellas, especially those with the plasma tweeters and preferably the larger models, are among the handful of horn speakers I would consider owning, if the cost isn't prohibitive. You might find other electrostatics more to your liking, however, without requiring a different preamp and taking out a second mortgage.
Brian

Yep, I've thought about bigger panels, but that isn't necessarily cost-effective either, is it?
I remember years ago listening to a Monster-sized Martin Logan, playing through big Jadis tube amps, at a shop on the Il St. Louis. The image was disproportionate to reality.
I've only heard Soundlabs in stores, never in a home.

I remember the Dayton-Wright from the 70's- but so much has changed for the better since then up the chain.

I've often thought about an HQD type system- double 57's with tweets (I still have a set of Decca ribbons and a set of Sequerra ribbons laying around in my 'stash' from earlier efforts to make a mini-HQD type system).

I also remember Pearson advocating a set of Maggie bass panels for use with the Quads (maybe even Crosby Quads, would have to dig to find it).
I'm wary of active X-overs, but haven't listened to anything modern in that area.

I think Rhapsody in NYC is a dealer for both Acapella and Avantgarde. I just don't want to waste a dealer's time if I am going to buy used- I do think these guys deserve to make a living....

A line array configuration of cone drivers is similar to a planar speaker in the way it distributes sound, and might ease the transition from planar to boxes. Albert has some of the best, but you can get a line array for less money (if that matters).

Hi Whart. Interesting thread. WOW.... from E-stats to Hi efficient horns? After reading a few posts here I thought it only fitting on my behalf to post here considering I do use a highly effecient hybrid horn speaker[Tannoy Westminsters] as well as a couple of other systems with e-stats. Considering you are already familiar with the voice of the 57's, and currently own a pr of 57's as well as the deccas..... if your room is not overly large, perhaps you should consider acquiring another pair and do the HQD system. Still an incredible experience in the right room even without a sub, and the bass panels of the 1D's really blend well with the quads and in my experience,much better than subs with cones. RE: your reservations regarding crossovers...You can experiment here on the cheap, run the stacked quads full range and just cross the bass panels with the cheap little paradigm x-30. Although the X-30 is pretty much usless for the quads,it's a very competent cross for the bass panels.Allowing you the flexibility to adjust for gain,crossover frequency and more importantly for phase.If your intent on crossing the bottom octave from the quad, the older dalquist x-over is passive on the top and active on the bottom, the earlier ARC crossovers were also passive on the top and both can be had for very little money today. The Bryston crossover is also a very good one although perhaps a little more money. I suppose I should qualify myself here... I have been an E-stat fan for most of my adult life, used the stacked 57's with 1D bass panels for years as well as various acoustats,Dayton Wrights,single x-8 MK3's, stacked xg-8's with ribbons] and Soundlab A-1's. I am still using a pr of 3 panel acoustats as well as the Dayton Wright's in another room. To be candid here: After working with various vintage altecs,Jbl's and Klipschorns in pro sound applications, I have to admit to never really being much of a fan of using horns in a typical home enviroment.

It seems to me that hardcore audiophiles often gravitate in one of two directions - either towards fullrange electrostats or high efficiency horns, as each does some things quite a bit better than we typically find with "conventional" systems. The ultimate speaker may well be an electrostat with the dynamics and efficiency of a horn, or a horn that sounds as good as an electrostat.

I've been a Sound Lab owner and dealer for about six years now (had Crosby-modded Quads before that), and it has been difficult for me to find a horn system that didn't distract me with colorations as often as it delighted me with liveliness. I would say that the front-runners in low-coloration high efficiency sytems are the Edgarhorn Titans, the eXemplars, and the GedLee Sumas. Disclaimer - I peddle the latter. I also like the Classic Audio Reproductions T-1 and Hartsfield very much, as well as well set-up Avantgardes. The PiSpeakers Seven Pi is an excellent high efficiency cornerspeaker at a much more reasonable price than the Hartsfield, but for sheer butt-shaking fun the Hartsfield is probably unsurpassed.

Anyway, as a diehard planarhead myself, yes there are high efficiency systems that I enjoy a great deal. Being a dealer I don't have to make a soul-wrenching either/or choice, but if I did I'd probably stick with 'stats.

Best of luck in your quest!

Duke