Horns are a tremendously misunderstood and under-examined speaker option.
Maybe the following article will help some of you if you take the time to read it carefully.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/hornographic1/1.html
There are many audio designers, inventors and tinkerers who have, by turns, examined every option at every level and facet of sound reproduction. They are the pioneers, the ground breakers, the independent thinkers who make new discoveries and refine older ones.
Unlike established conventional companies who are constantly peddling Mark II, Revised or Signature versions to a captive audience via bought reviews, these guys operate below the headlines doing the real work.
While it cannot be said that they all ultimately gravitate to horns, too many do just that for us to ignore the option completely.
Bill Woods is one of the most sought after loudspeaker design consultants in the world. He works for many companies on all manner of designs but ultimately the best product he can offer is a horn. Chris Brady is the ultimate DIYer. He created Teres Turntables from his home and has built his entire system with the exception of the speakers. When I met him he had EdgarHorns. Noe he has the Cogent Field Coil system, designed by Steve Schell and Rich Drysdale with design and construction assistance from Bill Woods. If you are not aware of Jonathan Weiss of Oswald's Mill fame, you really don't have a clue about "cutting edge". The best is yet to come but you won't find out about it in Stereophile or TAS. You have to open your mind and be willing to abandon cliche wisdom in order to benefit from the many possibilities which go unnoticed by the smug and conceited.
Horns may not be for you. There are many situations where they plainly do not fit. However, if you start thinking more about how to make them work for you and stop thinking that they embody inconvenience, expense and disappointment, you will discover a kind of sound reproduction your current speakers cannot ever achieve.
