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inherent design flaws with a 3 way, 15" / 8" / horn (large tower) speaker?

hello

I see precious few classic large 3-ways (15" woofer 8" mid and a large horn) being developed these days, at least amongst the speaker designers I run across.

Is there an INHERENT reason, other than size, why a large tower-style speaker can't match the musicality of what seems to be the dominant designs these days (2-way bookshelf, or MTM)?
ovaklakah
mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
It depends what waveguide is used (SEOS?). However, it is very hard to get a 1” tweeter/compression driver to blend with an 8” without having increased directivity (narrower soundstage, and maybe worse imaging). Unless using a super waveguide, I wouldn’t use a midrange larger than 5.5”.  
shkong78's avatar
shkong78
1,485 posts
 
Today I heard Western Electric 2 way 100db/W speakers with horn and 18 inch woofer in Korea.

It has the most dynamic and natural sound that I had heard for the last 10 years.

It will be my dream speakers.

But with cost of 250 K$, it is not easy to make decision to get it.

Also it is huge and heavy requiring large and high listening room.
salectric
755 posts
 
Shkong78, you are a lucky fellow to have heard those WE speakers.  Do you know which WE units these were?
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Horns fell out of favor due to there lack of color and tone .  Others called them shouty as well.  I know from experience and ownership. I own La Scalalas and Heresys  (my first '76) still match ok with small old McIntosh.  But the big ones yep 15 inch non breathable woofeers still a struggle.
roberjerman
4,319 posts
 
A 15 inch woofer can go up to 800hz easily in a two-way system. Altec A7's (VOTT). Same for the Altec 19. Why waste money on car speakers? Vintage Altec 15's can easily be found on EBay and other sites.
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