+1 @johnk
kosst_amojan --
Stepping into the 21st century audio-wise has little if anything to do with replicating or even approaching core traits from the horn speakers of yore, but more to do with maintaining a paradigm of much smaller, more inefficient and less space-intrusive speakers. Those may have admirable qualities in regards to dynamics relative to their specific type and inherent limitations, but as poster johnk implies will fall short of much bigger and radically more efficient, fully horn-loaded speakers here.
That few (again, few, not "nobody") are using big horn speakers today could have a variety of reasons, some of which may include the impractical nature of sheer size (more on that later), and that the virtues of this segment of speakers are simply less sought after or appreciated today. It’s also a matter of priority; horn speakers usually requires of one to re-think overall system implementation, adjust to what’s typically a different kind of sound, and make a more conscious choice in the way they’re going to inhabit ones living-/listening room space.
Later decades of "advice" (i.e.: protocol, even) concerning the fitting speaker size for ones listening space seems to dictate small speakers for small(er) rooms, and by this token big horn speakers in particular would likely not fit until you had a literal barn to house them in. Personally I find this approach to be, diplomatically put, overly schooled, but of course this way the industry can find ways to cater to and justify its small-size speaker paradigm, and numb or lull the buyers into a more or less trained behavior. In effect the range of bigger speakers, the ones who are really beginning to approach live dynamics, are pulled out of reach to most buyers - if nothing else, and in addition to the reasons mentioned earlier, simply for being too expensive. Should achieving more realistic sound be an elitist boon? That would be a rhetorical question.. Sounds a bit too much like conspiracy? Well, lets not forget we’re up against an industry where catering to space constraints (and spousal acceptance) weighs in heavily, and where cost cutting of material quantity and quality comes into play, so to speak.
So, because it just can’t be done any other way? In large terms, yes - because it can’t be done any other way. As has been stated already, you can’t cheat physics.
kosst_amojan --
Yeah.... That’s why nobody uses systems like that anymore, right? Because it just can’t be done any other way? Step into the 21st century.
Stepping into the 21st century audio-wise has little if anything to do with replicating or even approaching core traits from the horn speakers of yore, but more to do with maintaining a paradigm of much smaller, more inefficient and less space-intrusive speakers. Those may have admirable qualities in regards to dynamics relative to their specific type and inherent limitations, but as poster johnk implies will fall short of much bigger and radically more efficient, fully horn-loaded speakers here.
That few (again, few, not "nobody") are using big horn speakers today could have a variety of reasons, some of which may include the impractical nature of sheer size (more on that later), and that the virtues of this segment of speakers are simply less sought after or appreciated today. It’s also a matter of priority; horn speakers usually requires of one to re-think overall system implementation, adjust to what’s typically a different kind of sound, and make a more conscious choice in the way they’re going to inhabit ones living-/listening room space.
Later decades of "advice" (i.e.: protocol, even) concerning the fitting speaker size for ones listening space seems to dictate small speakers for small(er) rooms, and by this token big horn speakers in particular would likely not fit until you had a literal barn to house them in. Personally I find this approach to be, diplomatically put, overly schooled, but of course this way the industry can find ways to cater to and justify its small-size speaker paradigm, and numb or lull the buyers into a more or less trained behavior. In effect the range of bigger speakers, the ones who are really beginning to approach live dynamics, are pulled out of reach to most buyers - if nothing else, and in addition to the reasons mentioned earlier, simply for being too expensive. Should achieving more realistic sound be an elitist boon? That would be a rhetorical question.. Sounds a bit too much like conspiracy? Well, lets not forget we’re up against an industry where catering to space constraints (and spousal acceptance) weighs in heavily, and where cost cutting of material quantity and quality comes into play, so to speak.
So, because it just can’t be done any other way? In large terms, yes - because it can’t be done any other way. As has been stated already, you can’t cheat physics.