Horns for SET: Low budget solutions


I've been an audiophile for quite some time and am about to take the plunge into the SET/Horns combination. I am a PHD student so that means that I have a very limited budget to work with. I am building a pair of Welborne DRD 300Bs which provide about 7 watts.

I'm now looking at how to best match these with horns. My goal is to get the most holographic image possible while avoiding the "shout" that horns are infamous for. I'm not too concerned about bass limitations as I have a subwoofer to help out there. Also, space is somewhat limited so I can't go with a huge speaker like the La Scala or VOTT.

I'm looking at Lowther and Fostex designs. Cains also seem to be a favorite. Can potentially build my own if necessary, but if they are less expensive I also don't mind just buying them outright. Any ideas would be appreciated.
abdou
If LaScalas are too large, then I'd look for a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls. A vintage pair can be anywhere from garage sale prices, which could be ridiculously low, to around $900 at the high end. Careful in pairing a sub off with horns. Horns are extremely fast and responsive, which can make them hard to keep up with (though certainly not impossible). There is a hybrid Frankenstein version of the Cornwalls that someone came up with using, I believe, the mid-horns from a LaScala. Appropriately the result is known as the Cornscala. I think you might be able to find some info on the Klipsch forums.

Marco
The problem is that in your budget(I'm guessing $2000.00) high effiecient horns are compromised somewhere. Either the bass,midrange is to shouty,peaky sound,highs rolled off. You'll have to pick the compromise you can live with, according to your taste of music and of course system and room.
Abdou, all of the above recommendations are good ones. One thing you really will have to consider is room size:

1) Large horn speakers with multiple drivers (Altecs, Cornwalls) certainly need space. Not just because of bass, but you have to be able to sit 8-14ft away for the drivers to integrate properly. In a huge room this would be my favorite option.

2) In a very small room, Fostex based speakers are much easier. Without sitting far away you will be able to get fairly good imaging. Good examples are the Hornshoppe Horns and Cain Abbys. Both have enough bottom-end extension to get away without a subwoofer in a small room. Also you can always add a subwoofer later. In my small room the Abbys work like a charm.

Much of the above will come down to a matter of taste as well. You should try to find audiophiles in your area that might let you listen to their system - always a good idea to make friends ;)
Don't overlook the Zu's. I have Klipsch CW's and Zu Druids. Different, but I love both.