Horn based loudspeakers why the controversy?

johnk

Well you seem to be correct when you say horns are controversial. Sorry to bring that to the fore front.

Best
Jim

I was the dealer of the month...but that must have been a long time ago. 

With all loudspeaker designs you compromise. Perfection does not exist in anything so since nothings perfect,designers take these imperfect parts and make a imperfect loudspeaker. We set it up in a imperfect room play imperfect music from a imperfect source and we use our imperfect mind and ears to sort it all out. I do think people assume perfection is possible and are in a bit of denial about how crude it all really is. I find imperfection to be comforting since it allows choice learning and variation. So embrace the imperfections in your system work to get synergy make compromises that work best for you. If horns are not your thing good that hopefully means you found your thing if still searching consider giving horns a try set up  a system with craigslist cast off if you hear + maybe pursue if not you can sell and get cash back plus you learned something and that cant be bad right?

“Efficiency just isn't as important as it used to be.”

This is not my entire argument about efficiency, but as someone who is insulating his 2200 sq ft home to the point that you can heat it with a hair drier, efficiency definitely matters for reasons other than audio, such as carbon footprints. 

johnk

I had my heart broken by quite a few horn loud speakers. The promise of heaven. Some of them really come out and grab you, then you are left alone with that hollow feeling wondering what the h$%^ you were thinking. Oh well