Cornwall IV vs. Volti Rival, Razz; Razz v. 1, 2, 3 -- what changed?

@roxy54 Dynamics are the aspect of audio which are unexplored. Pretty sure they’re not more important if decent tonality is sacrificed. Hoping to hear some Avant Gard horns in town at some point -- the babies, not the super expensive ones. They would be in reach for my wallet.

Comments like the one in this review of the JBL 4367 do give me pause to think about my priorities, however:

The late and sorely missed Art Dudley used Altec Valencias (and later the nearly identical Flamencos) as his reference speakers, but it's no secret that some of his readers, and even fellow contributors, considered his choice quixotic. When I began writing reviews for this magazine, the editor, Jim Austin, emailed to politely ask whether I was planning to evaluate new, perfectionist audio equipment using 55-year-old speakers that you connect to speaker cables with tiny, slotted-head screws.

I wrote back explaining that while a lot of factors went into the complex phenomenon of musical engagement, what mattered most to me about the sound of a hi-fi was dynamics. Anyone who's stood next to a drum kit when someone begins playing it knows how startling live instruments can sound. To me, the ability of a hi-fi to startle is the main source of drama in reproduced sound.

Pretty persuasive prose!

@james633 Thanks for the JBL 4367 reference. Will look for them.

@kennyc I don’t need super efficient speakers; what I’d like is to try speakers that are much more efficient than my current ones, which are around 90/91 but with a great impedance curve

I’ve heard the Cornwalls a few different times & own the Volti Rivals. I prioritize dynamics that imo only highly sensitive speakers can offer effortlessly making it easier on both the amp & speakers & offer a “live music” sound. 

The Rivals are on another level compared to the Cornwalls in terms of driver & crossover quality, detail, imaging, bass extension & much less fatigue. They should be as they cost 3 times the price! The Razz( which I’ve heard)  gets you a good part of the way there for a lot less $ & size & the brand new Lucera probably splits the difference ( have not heard). 

If you value a more “live” sounding system over really nice “hifi”, then the Rivals & all the Volti’s are worth serious consideration. 

I can say owning a pair of horns has changed what I feel is important about hifi. The highly dynamic speakers just sound more real, as in less reproduced. I struggle to enjoy my other speakers now. 
 

I think the thing to understand with horns is the difference vs standard speakers is the controlled directivity, not so much the efficiency. Efficiency comes with the controlled directivity as less energy is spilled into the room and directed at the listener. The dispersion differences greatly affects the sound stage and it will be important if you enjoy it. 
 

other types of speakers can achieve similar results in dynamics/controlled directivity without a horn (line source etc). I know for me I will probably never let the JBLs go (lol…I know…I know). I might add a wider dispersion speakers sometime to rotate in and out. 

I am also a fan of horn speakers because of the superior dynamics, vivid sound and ability to deliver a soundfield that is large an enveloping.  Most horn systems, even though they are large in size, can fit well into smaller rooms because of their controlled directivity.  The higher efficiency of horn systems allow one to use the very best sounding amplifiers which are, in my opinion, low-powered tube amps.  The combination is magical.

Horns are more efficient not just because of their directivity, but primarily because they allow for more efficient transfer of the force of the movement of the diaphragm to the air.  Air is very light and offers very little resistance so energy cannot easily be transferred (think of how hard it is to throw a feather).  The mechanical resistance of the air is increased by confining it in a space to be compressed by the diaphragm.  Compression drivers utilize a small chamber behind the diaphragm to greatly increase this resistance and improve transfer of the energy (not all "horn" drivers are compression drivers, some have horns to act primarily as a wave guide).  Higher efficiency means lower amount of current running through the crossover and voice coil for any given volume level.  This reduces heating of these components.  Heating results in "thermal compression" where the higher temperature means increased electrical resistance and less current flow, and therefore less speaker movement than if the wire is subject to less heating.

There are other types of high efficiency speakers that share many of the good attributes of horn-based systems.  One can find single driver systems in quarter wave backloaded horn cabinets that are remarkably close to delivering a full spectrum sound and reasonably high volume levels.  I have heard, and like very much systems by Songer Audio, Charney Audio, and Voxativ.  I have also heard impressive systems utilizing fullrange drivers in multi-way systems so that another driver, or two, handles the extreme lows and/or highs.  The Cube Audio Nenuphar Basis is a good example (fullrange for mids and highs, powered woofer for the lows).

As for the choices mentioned my the OP, I like all three choices.  The Rival, in particular sounds good.  The Volti speakers are particularly nice sounding, although the Razz does not quite do integration of the woofer and the upper range quite as well as I would like (still, a minor issue to me given its virtues).  The Cornwall can be a touch rough sounding, but, it, like all three of these speakers, can be made to sound very good when using the right amplifiers (meaning good, low-powered tube amplifiers).  These are not speakers to stint on the quality of the amp.

I really appreciate the thoughtful and detailed responses and explanations about why and how horns work as they do. Thank you so much for thinking, writing, and posting!