Why not horns?

Amen, Herman! Hey, I'm not poking a stick at digital xovers. I'm just hoping to impress on the uninitiated that there are several ways to go. Yes, everything is a compromise. No argument there.

Another compromise that can be found is that with bass horns. It is possible to get low enough with a folded bass horn. The Edgarhorn Seismics that I use are such a design and they are about the size of a refrigerator. These get down in the low 20s and can be EQ'd lower.

I'm surprised there was no comment about the link I provided for a small DIY Tapped Horn design that is said to reach 25 Hz. in room. It's footprint is about 7 inches by 20 inches and it stands 30 inches tall. Here's the link again:

http://www.techfx.us/web/insubnia/Exodus%20Anarchy%2025hz%20TH.pdf

Klipschorns are pretty large and they reach down to about the mid 30 Hz. range. They are designed to be placed in corners so only certain rooms can actually accommodate them properly. The idea is for the walls running out from the corners to serve as extensions to the bass horn. It works pretty well. The K-horn can be found pretty cheaply used ($2500/pr.) and aftermarket upgrades to crossover, wiring, horns, drivers, connectors, etc. are widely available. There is much room for improvement in the original execution but the upside is very cost effective. Not a bad place to start at all and quite possibly all you will ever need. But you have to have corners. I've read that some people build extra walls just to provide corners for their K-horns.

Can someone provide some general impressions regarding the difference between a horn bass, folded horn and a good modern sub woofer(s)?

Is the difference more sonic qualities, room loading or is it that only a horn can keep up with a horn?

Macrojack, the folded horn you asked about is one of a thousand variations on the same idea. I can't speak to that particular model but as a general design it works pretty well if done right but has a few problems. You have parallel side walls which means you have resonant frequencies and it really doesn't flow like a what I would call a true horn. If you look at mine it is expanding in all directions as you go from driver to mouth so no parallel walls and no sharp bends like in a folded design. However, the folded horn is a good compromise.

Lokie, as you realize it is difficult to describe sound but the best I can think of is a box is muddy compared to a horn. Not that good subs sound muddy but horns are just a bit better. I think it is usually described as the horn is faster but I'm not sure what that exactly means. If you could hear one you would understand but unfortunately they are few and far between.

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I love my Sansui sp-5500's MADE IN JAPAN! I had all the wires and crossover parts CRYOED