Seems to be more love for horns today I have a Facebook forum with 15k horn lovers many posts popping up even in audiogon forums on horns. I see many popular loudspeakers sporting waveguides. Klipsch is gaining in popularity among audiophiles and music lovers. Dance systems are sporting horn loading of bass many classic horn designs have replicas available and the pro-audio market has dozens of greatly improved drivers designed just for horn loading so less need to run vintage drivers in full horn systems. I even see a few audio reviews on horn systems even if it's the sad entry-level types still I see hope ahead.
Horn based loudspeakers why the controversy?
As just another way to build a loudspeaker system why such disputes in forums when horns are mentioned? They can solve many issues that plague standard designs but with all things have there own. So why such hate? As a loudspeaker designer I work with and can appreciate all transducer and loudspeaker types and I understand that we all have different needs budgets experiences tastes biases. But if you dare suggest horns so many have a problem with that suggestion..why?
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I can easily understand why horns in the tweeter section, say from 9k up is gaining popularity, as dome tweeters just don't capture that upper ambience producing a sheen to the delight of the senses. The only dome tweet I know which can compete witha tweeter horn is the Seas Exotic T35 rated a TRUE 94db. But my guess is, ((guessing here as i've not acutally heard either the Seas T35 Exotic nor a midrange horn, ever, neither) the midrange will be voiced far superior ina horn mid, vs the Seas T35, So whats the point adding the Seas T35 whena horn easily beats out the T35??? Why? Sensitivity 94db aint too shabby, I'll adnit Buta horn, , most come in at 97db++\ = Higher sens always beats outa lower sens,. Always. Sens is everything. The old probing question **How does the speaker sound?** Is a mute point. The new 21st C question we should all be asking *whats the sens** The true sens, not the fudged sens, China fudges all its speakers at least 2 points. = more sales. Thing is most of the good sounding horns were made in the 1960;'s american engineering. And they are becomming less frequent up for sale |
I never thought I would ever consider a horn until I went on a 1 year speaker hunt. After listening to 30-40 different speakers around the country ( Magico, YG, Vivid, Meridien, SF, Wilson, Eggleston, Stenhiem), I heard an AvantGarde Horn and loved the sound. I ended up with Viking Acoustic Grande Voix dual horn speakers. I am super happy with my purchase. I need to look up the facebook page. |
My guess is a the new FR drivers will surpass the old midrange horns. Its a guess, But I'm cinfidenta test will prove the shootout, where the horn will take a fatal hit. Why? Newer technology. Cones always beat out a mechanism. Cones will sound more realistic in the upper bass vs a mechanical horn. Close But no cigar. + the lower bass region is a huge bonus witha a new high tech FR cone. I'll admit, horns do have a place, in the ultra highs, say 10k+ hzs. I am using the Magnovox alnico tweeter horn. Real nice. Completely annihilated the famous Seas Millennium tweeter. Domes just can not compete with horns. Millennium 87db vs Alnico horn @ 97ish db. |
I ended up with Viking Acoustic Grande Voix dual horn speakers. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Found it $28k, weight..who knows, I am sure well over 100lbs each speaker. has dome tweeter https://www.viking-acoustics.com/grande-voix-1 |
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