Why not horns?

IME, horns are capable of producing a very good sound stage, but not very good imaging.

Plainly there is no consensus on the desirability of horns in this discussion. However, it is equally plain that most of us see horns as a viable alternative. A few have no taste for them at all and a couple are hell bent on discouraging others from exploration.

I would posit however, that those who are encouraging newcomers to try horns out and see if they like them hold a higher position than those who claim to be protecting newbies from such exploitation. After all, they are the same individuals who retreat to arguments about the primacy of personal taste every time their other gambits appear at all shaky.

Clearly horns are not everyone's answer but to some of us they hold a position that known alternatives fail to challenge. How is that a problem?

LOL.. John the Irony !!!
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06-19-10: Johnk
Agree with gawdbless on this making bold all encompassing statements. Sad part of it all is the huge disservice these types due to audio by keeping people with limited experience from trying something new. Since they read the all this is that or that is only for hi-fi not music or all this does that. Just BS anyone with experience can see but those new will just take this as fact. And its not just horns TT CD SET PP SS amps Ribbons Planar STATs cones domes all have detractors. I see this daily in forums all [insert name here] users are deluding themselves only the [insert name here] is capable of accurate music reproduction. Have a open mind for once remember no absolutes, nothings perfect and if you do not like something does this now means that its crap for all? Or maybe you just do not enjoy it ever think of this? Maybe you never owned a recently constructed horn so your listening bias is from casual listens not real hands on experience. I for one know its possible to design very good sounding accurate loudspeakers of most any design and transducer type so why not with horns?

Atmasphere , Suprise comment coming from one of your back ground...

You are comparing a monopole to a dipole , they cannot sound alike or have the same presentation and never will, it is technically impossible.

talk about absurd !



If you cannot get the speaker far enough from the rear wall, the first comment is moot. Duke has built systems that are rear-firing and they seem to work fine...

The second comment is simply absurd! Horns image and present soundstage images as well or as badly as any other speaker technology.

Atmasphere


My comments on Horns and how they image, poor tonal balance, and poor sizing still stands, I'm not sure why you would mention Duke building speakers which are rear firing, as this has nothing to do with my opinion and suggestions, as many have done so before Duke and many will after .

Look i can understand those that have migrated to the sound of horns, they do it for the power !

less be frank the hi end is froth with really , really bad products , i would easily say 90% of the speakers available to the public is just plain crapola. For years dealers et al have marketed and pushed junk in exchange for big bucks and when the bidniz went A/V , it was easy for most to jump as they were never really happy with their 100K garbage systems.

Horns have allowed many to just enjoy the music from a power perspective , gone were the days when the had to listen to that wimpy sound from their 40K speakers ,playing the same 10 songs that worked over and over. You know those guys , you know the ones with 10 cd's !

There is a lot here to say , but my typing is bad and i'm lazy. I was involved in the audio field for 30 yrs, and with all respect for the parties involved , spare me the condescension of telling me about Duke's speakers, been there done that and a ball of wax...

I can prove all that has been stated, funny how when the weak ones are challenged they resort to personal fire !

I will say again .....

The Horn guys have Challenged before , my good associates at Audio note and Jadis did so 15 yrs ago when i was involved, Less just say i proved my point...

Can you ?