I have heard a lot of horn-based systems (mostly DIY or custom builds) and I own a "sort-of" horn system (compression driver and horn for midrange, twin 12" drivers in an Onken bass reflex cabinet, and a bullet tweeter). The compression drivers are Western Electric 713b's that were made around 1939. I say it is a sort-of horn system because the bass cabinet is a variant of a bass reflex cabinet and are not supported by a horn. Still, it has the attributes of a horn system, including a 99 db/w efficiency that allows use of low-powered amps (my favorite kind).
I agree with johnk that there are not that many off-the-shelf horn systems that sound really good. I happen to be fortunate in that a local, Washington DC-area dealer, Deja Vu Audio, makes their own custom designed systems built around compression/horn midrange drivers, and for top models, compression field coil tweeters.
I have heard a really good, and reasonably priced, system that has the sonic attributes of a good horn system, but, it doesn't use conventional compression drivers or a typical horn waveguide. The speakers I heard at a show that really impressed me are made by Charney Audio. The use a full range driver firing forward, and the back of the driver fires into a quarter wave back-loaded horn cabinet. This system has the immediacy and dynamics of a horn system with minimal horn coloration. It is, like real horns, very efficient (around 100 db/w), but unlike most horn systems, it is quite compact in size. It might be hard to audition, but, I think it is worth search for and giving it a try.
I agree with johnk that there are not that many off-the-shelf horn systems that sound really good. I happen to be fortunate in that a local, Washington DC-area dealer, Deja Vu Audio, makes their own custom designed systems built around compression/horn midrange drivers, and for top models, compression field coil tweeters.
I have heard a really good, and reasonably priced, system that has the sonic attributes of a good horn system, but, it doesn't use conventional compression drivers or a typical horn waveguide. The speakers I heard at a show that really impressed me are made by Charney Audio. The use a full range driver firing forward, and the back of the driver fires into a quarter wave back-loaded horn cabinet. This system has the immediacy and dynamics of a horn system with minimal horn coloration. It is, like real horns, very efficient (around 100 db/w), but unlike most horn systems, it is quite compact in size. It might be hard to audition, but, I think it is worth search for and giving it a try.