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
Jimspov,

 Gramophone stores in Maryland recently added Klipsch Heritage and had a few models set up for demo. Nice add!

As I mentioned above, I recently heard Klipsch Forte and Heresy 3 models there.   Both passed with flying colors for me.   Heresy 3 are perhaps the lowest cost horns I have heard that I could live with.   
Acapella, Westlake, Avantgarde to name a few. Magicio Ultimate if you have 600k lying around.
A few off the top off my head that offer horn systems at all price ranges. Cogent, GPA, Volti, CAR, BDesigns,Azura, AudioKinesis,Avantgarde,Klipsch,Autotech,GOTO, OceanWay,Acapella,VIVA,OMA,Tune Audio,JBL,Simon Mears,Vitavox,Living Voice,Vienna Physix,Cerwin Vega,Fostex,Cessaro,Zingali,Magico,Tannoy,Opera lots of others many pro models that can be used in home systems like Danleys. A good num of custom builders. Still many into horns DIY or mod vintage. On ebay and craigslist many old PA and vintage horns about for extremely low prices that with a few mods can near equal the costly horns. As far as audioshops not stocking horn models I find it difficult to find shops that cater to tubes let alone specialty audio like a horn. And while I love my local shop they just end up ordering what I want from the PC as we chat. What most stock is safe bet sales generic major name brand audio and I cant blame them with today's online markets.
@mapman I was very pleasantly surprised by the Heresy 3. I could live with those.
I also was pleasantly surprised by the Heresy IIIs. I took a pair home at the insistence of a dealer who shares my taste in most gear. I expected to hate them due to my experience with some Best Buy models years ago. However, they’re nothing like the cheap tower models. The Heresys manage low-volume dynamics better than all other relatively affordable speakers I’ve heard, many of which approached $5K. In most other respects they easily hold their own at their price point.
I find the Heresy to be a puzzle. A slow, air suspension, 12 in. woofer, mated to a midrange and tweeter horn. But yet, it works. The Epic series, same thing, but these were bass reflex enclosures. The Heresy's were desighned by PWK, and the Epic's by Roy Delgado, another brilliant Klipsch engineer. I had them all, but, I am so much happier with the Lascala design ( with modifications and upgrades ). The Simon Mears Ucello are based on the Klipsch Belle, and the big Voltis ( Vitori I believe ), are based on the Klipsch Lascala, both taken to extreme levels of superiority. Nothing like these full range horns, imo, even though help is needed at the last octave. I have not heard either the Ucello or the Vitori, but I can imagine how wonderful they both are. But amazingly as it sounds ( no pun intended ), when I listen to my system, I am so happy with the " total " presentation, as, they do just what I want, and, this is why we are all individuals and personalities at this. Funny story : I was at the "96 Stereophile show at the N.Y. Waldorf, as the demo guy, and a presenter, of the Jadis room. A friend of mine was the importer, and owned the gear. He and his partner asked me to do it ( I was honored ). Owning another pair of Lascalas at the time, and, was a public speaker in the audio field, they though I would be an asset. The designer and engineer of the Eurythmie 4 way horn loaded speaker was there, as well as two other Jadis designers and engineers. I was in heaven, let me tell you. But, it was so difficult setting up the system, and, as it turned out, the walls of the room, could not handle the volume and dynamic range this system was capable of. I brought many of my cds ( only source ), green marked, and damped, and of my many selections, two were standouts selected by the speaker designer. The Harper Brothers " Remembrance, Live At The Village Vanguard ", and, Roger Waters " The Pro's And Con's of Hitch Hiking ". Two of my reference, for the music, and, for system set up ( and capability ). Well, turns out , the speaker designer, throughout the many days of the show, would have me play tracks 4 and 5 of R.W's, TPACOHH, but, he took over of the volume controls ( the most gorgeous and smooth feeling controls I have ever experienced, btw ), and let her rip. How many times we were asked to turn it down, by hotel management, and other exhibitors. Why am I telling this story. Well, I spent time ( before, during and after the show hours ), to listen to a Jadis " top of the line ", completely " all tube " electronics front end, a horn system ( although the woofer sections were not horn designs ),the most beautiful, at that time that I have ever seen, or heard ), in a room, that was so poor, I, by the end of the show, I had one takeaway ( actually, two ). 1st take away. I had, in front of me, a system that cost more than my house ( more of a reality, than a takeaway ). 2nd take away. A system like this ( or even a more modest system like mine, which was horn based ), can uncover things to recorded music, that can create a lifelike representation of the real thing, unlike anything else ( to these ears ). Two caveats : Keep the volume moderate, and, to have the best designed room available. Done for now, and, thanks for reading. MrD