Are advances in technology making speakers better?

The very high efficiency, and thereby all-horn systems of yore weren't really intended for a domestic environment - the likes of cinema speakers from RCA, Altec, Western Electric, Klangfilm and Vitavox - but they arguably were and still are among, if not the very best expressions of true (i.e.: all-)horn speakers around, while sounding great in a home environment if one wills their inclusion here. They were also very big (apart from being brilliant, sturdy designs), which is a vital aspect and accommodation for horns to be their best. Once domesticated into smaller and less dedicated iterations from Klipsch and others, horn-hybrids among them, problems arose. Since then technology has certainly assisted in making what are essentially horn designs too small into sounding somewhat better, which seems to be a particular trademark in the use of technology today: making something smaller sound better - as such. Still, take a much older horn design properly sized, even with (or likely because of) the drivers of the day, and it'll run circles around their smaller, modern brethren. A tweeter assisted (like with a JBL 2405) Vitavox Thunderbolt system (and they aren't the biggest horn speaker systems around), not least actively configured, simply mauls any modern direct radiating and popular, even expensive typically horn-hybrid speakers from JBL and others into the ground with its fleshed-out presence, tonality, dynamics, resolution, scale, etc. Truly, it's no comparison. Maybe one doesn't fancy such "a sound" because they've never heard live-like dynamics and insight this fully formed (and compared to the habitual exposition of the "molasses" imprinting of typical low eff. speakers, one understands the shock that may follow here), fair enough, but don't tell me it's a dated, shrill sound that comes from a place of nostalgia. If anything modern speakers by comparison sound overly processed/filtered, dull, malnourished and quenched of life, and they're the ones out of place in a time when we should at least have recognized the importance of adhering to size and high efficiency with a design that brings music to the fore relatively uninhibited. 

phusis,

This is a terrific summary of the kind of systems that cannot be matched by modern systems.  They cannot be placed in anything but the largest rooms and are quite impractical, but, they are magnificent.  I've heard a few modern versions that utilize very rare drivers and other parts, as well as systems using ultra expensive reproduction drivers from G.I.P. Laboratories in Japan.  There have been other companies that made drivers and horns intended to copy old Western Electric designs, and some of these copies are very good.  The still existing companies, like ALE, Cogent and Goto make drivers that cost more than most people's homes (Magico used such drivers in their horn system which was their ultimate system).

I have a small slice of that kind of setup.  I have twin 12" alnico drivers with pleated fabric surrounds in a Jensen Onken cabinet, a modern bullet tweeter (Fostex) and a Western Electric 12025 horn with Western Electric 713b drivers.  I think the 713b is one of the finest compression drivers ever made.  This system is tiny by horn system standards, but, it is very good nonetheless.  I drive them with what is essentially a stereo rebuild of Western Electric 133 amps (uses vintage parts, including the authentic Western Electric input and output transformers).

 

 

And now I'm being told to upgrade

Who's telling you to upgrade?  Is there a deficiency  that needs to be addressed?  Is an upgraded speaker the only way to overcome that deficiency?  If that's the case then you'll need to upgrade.  If it's not the case newer isn't always better. (it sometimes even true if that is the case)

hmmm ... history AR-2 Rectilinear III ADS 730 Joseph RM25XL Joseph Perspective2 at every step, noticeable difference (I think I'm done and quite happy with the latest) and then there are Magnepan LRS in the basement and waiting for LRS+ but that's a whole other way of approaching one's music

@larryi

I think we are just emphasizing different perspectives. Mine mostly comes from observation of the sound achieved across the spectrum of speakers that have been on the market over that time. Granted I did build some enormous speakers in the 1970’s based on ideal infinite baffle design, I was young and stupid… so it really doesn’t count.

I agree, of all the different components in audio, they are the easiest for someone with a saw and a concept to manufacture, with far less education. They evaluate and buy parts, crossovers, do some woodworking, and put them on the market. No question… the proof is in the market place… more speakers than any other component. But the available components have improved enormously… and a number of companies make they own drivers.

Maybe it comes down to price category as well… in the < $5K range it would have been easy to make the same sound decades ago… in a larger box size.

On the other hand, the electronic designers are crafting their sound as well… so to in MBL, Audio Research, B&W, and Boulder… with their choice of caps and resisters as well as design determine the sound. If I was to pull a speaker to be an example it would be Magico. They have pushed the envelop in enclosures… probably other aspects as well.

I did not bring up Amati as an example of a speaker that leads using cutting edge technology, although compared with 30 or 40 years ago, sure it is. I only brought it up for the “paper cone” point.

I get your point. But, what I hear is so much better… decade by decade. I just can’t attribute it to fashion.