How come Horn + woofer designs are not more popular?

Dear all, sorry for a long post here - but here is some experience, using a horn system with OTL amps - Audiokinesis Dream Maker and LCS speakers and Atma-sphere MA-1 amps.

I have no commercial connection whatever with the manufacturers mentioned here, I am just a listener who has paid for what I’ve got. It has been a long time, a long trial period, adjusting a system to a quite large 27 x 20 feet living / listening room. The system in our room plays best from the 20 feet short side, whatever the speakers or amps.

Our former system was a more "pinpoint" solid state system with a big Krell FPB600 driving Dynaudio Consequence speakers. We selected the Consequence speakers, their flagship at the time, after some speaker testing with the Krell amp in 2002, involving B&W Nautilus, Proac, and others. However it was only later that we realized that the Consequence speakers were so power-demanding that they needed two Krell amps. I had invested in Krell amps upwards in capacity over ten years, but I now became sceptical. The FPB600 sounded "shouty" especially on mid-level volume. Probably mostly due to the non-optimal match with the speakers. The Krell amp only kicked into full state A solid-state at a very high level. That’s when my neighbour knocked on the door!

In other words, the system was great, except for needing a high volume level, and even then, the Consequence speakers were designed for an even more massive amp than the Krell FPB600.

We lived with this, for some years, getting a better phono preamp (Aesthetix Io) and, and eventually a tube preamp (Einstein The tube). But it wasn’t quite what I wanted. I even got a Velodyne DD18 sub, but the integration was so-so.

Twelve years ago I invested in an OTL amp in my desktop system (Auditailor Jade). I felt so much sonic comfort that I decided to change the amp in my main rig also. I invested in Atma-sphere MA-1 monoblocs, and eventually upgraded them into v 3.2.

I also followed Atma-sphere’s advice regarding speakers. Very happy that I did.If you don’t get speakers that are specifically good for tube and OTL amplification - you are wasting your money. Believe me. I tested several 8 ohm designs, Yes these speakers could do the job (somewhat better with zero transformers - that however contradict the principle of OTL and gave a bit of veil). But to sound really excellent, OTLs like MA1 needs higher ohm and high sensitivity speakers.

So what is my verdict, now?
Does my system sound "shouty"? No. Actually less so, than my former Krell / Dynaudio system. Is it "pinpoint"? Maybe a bit less. Depends on the definition. Not sure. Much depends on the speaker positioning. Audiokinesis advices that their speakers cross a bit in front of the listener. I find that the Dream Makers sound best, a bit more conventionally toed-in, crossing a bit behind the listener. The LCS effect speakers do make an improvement, but they need to be tuned down in volume, not attract attention to themselves. Besides more "air" and "room" with the effect speakers connected, the benefit includes a more smooth bass response. I seldom miss my Velodyne DD18, even if it went a bit further down in frequency.

Mijostyn wrote:  "Audiokinesis, I would like you to tell me how you would make a two way hybrid horn speaker."

I'm leaving for an audio show in a few hours and don't have time to write you a decent reply right now, but will attempt to do so in about a week.

Duke

@mijosyn 

Audiokinesis, I would like you to tell me how you would make a two way hybrid horn speaker.

Not meaning to be glib, but the short answer is 'very well'. Duke's Dreammaker loudspeaker is a 2-way employing a woofer and wave-guide style horn, with a rear-firing complement as well. Its easy to drive and wide bandwidth; very neutral and musical. 

I'm not being facetious guys. I am trying to learn here. Way back I had Heresys and I loved them. In 1970 we did not have much for power. With a Dynaco Stereo 120 these things would rock. No deep bass but then nobody knew about sub woofers. They were three way. So let's assume we are using a 12" woofer infinite baffle and cross at 1000 Hz to a horn, what does it take to make a horn go from 1 to 20K with reasonably even dispersion and not sound like a goose honking. Duke's Speaker has multiple other drivers including three tweeters firing out back along with whatever is in the LCS box. It is anything but a two way hybrid horn speaker which to me means one horn and one woofer. I have never heard Duke's speaker and I am making absolutely no comment on their performance. So please Audiokinesis if there is a way to do this I would love to know. Like I said before my knowledge of horn technology is limited. Hear from you when you get back. 
Another issue that bothers me a little is the assumption that horns are more dynamic than other speakers. Horns are more efficient than most other speakers for sure but any speaker can be just as dynamic given enough power and power handling capacity. Horn speakers may have an absolute higher volume level at a given distance but very few of us listen at those levels. Our ears do have a pain threshold. In the end horn speakers are point source radiators and I personally do not think they present the music in as realistic a fashion as an ESL or Planar linear array. Maybe someone will build a horn version of Bob Carver's Ultimate line source. Think what that would look like:)

Maybe look like this:


https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQqpiyaSILlE-Pn08uX5QCVqzd5e0O5a52YRr5xAxUTXZ29...