For any of you who do not know, Johnk is the owner of KCS loudspeakers.
He designs all kinds of loudspeakers to spec or by commission. You can check his website in the Industry Directory on Audiogon. Johnk favors horns despite the fact that he has designed and owned nearly every other format.
Ralph Karsten owns Atma Sphere, a designer of OTL amplifiers who has risen to the top of the industry over the past couple of decades. He has stated a preference for horn loudspeakers because he feels strongly that they provide desirable characteristics which cannot be duplicated by any other available option.
Duke LeJeune is the owner of Audiokinesis, a high end audio dealer. Duke has established himself as an authority on the parameters of loudspeaker design and has helped literally hundreds of people through his unselfish and tireless contributions on this and numerous other forums. His own speaker designs have won unstinting praise from all corners of the audio universe. Duke favors horn usage and will gladly tell you why if you contact him.
I have worked in audio in a number of different capacities on and off since 1974. I have no resume of interest and cannot claim to be an expert. I'm just another audio schlub who, through some accident of providence has stumbled across the best mid range sound reproduction currently available. This makes me proud and delighted and eager to share my discovery. Some here seem to feel that I am guilelessly lurking here as the head of a dangerous horn cult from which they are duty bound to rescue you. Please be sure to thank them on your way out.
Mr Decibel showed up here brimming with enthusiasm and good will. His emotion was countered and dissed by certain all knowing disproponents of the emerging horn trend. One of them went so far as to follow him to another thread whereupon he intruded one too many times and caused MrDecibel to retreat from our presence. All of this occurs with great pomposity and claims of good intention. Results are invariably contentious and good will and forward progress always suffer.
Can we get back to horns and why we like them? Are there any news items or personal discoveries to report? Can we possibly consider the costs and other objections while, at the same time, proffer suggestions as to how these matters might be overcome via solution or compromise?
If horns are not to your liking, go talk to someone who is discussing something you do like. Spend some time on the positive side.
I believe everyone here is fully aware that Unsound and Weseixas don't like horns. Is there anyone who needs to be told again? If so, please get in touch with them via private email and ask them all about it. They may tell you and they may not. I suspect their grandstanding negativity is more about bringing attention to themselves than bringing light to our topic.
I have provided a bit of info above about the credentials of some of our contributors. Perhaps the guys who so frequently remind us of the fact that they don't like horns would be kind enough to establish their credentials so that our readers can properly measure their comments against the others. As moderator of this thread, I would certainly appreciate that illumination.