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Amplifiers and Horn Loudspeakers

Greetings,

Wasn't sure where to post this (Amps or Speakers), but here goes.....

Horn loudspeakers of course are high in efficiency, and don't tpyically require high-powered amplifiers. Most horn users prefer tubes. With highly efficient horns, folks seem to prefer SET's.

Some solid state amps operate in Class A up to a certain point, which is said to be close in some respects to the sound of tubes. I have a solid state amplifier that puts out 250wpc (Class A/B), however it operates in Class A mode up to 25wpc. I'm curious if this amplifier, operating in Class A mode, would be a good match for a high efficiency horn system.

Thanks!
seadweller
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,806 posts
 
In my band I run transistors with horns all the time. That is not what I would do at home though. It seems that horns are far more likely to own up to the bad side of their reputation with transistors (honky, shrill) and that transistors are largely responsible for this.

OTOH I can't think of a good reason to run transistors on anything at home :)

no-sir- I don't like it!
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
It seems that horns are far more likely to own up to the bad side of their reputation with transistors (honky, shrill)

Good point. The typical resonance problems of a horn design will be fully revealed in all their glory (ugliness) with SS gear. Certainly a tube amp will reduce a horns shrill nature by balancing the harmonic content out across a number of partials rather than a honk at one frequency. A good example of synergy.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,806 posts
 
A lot has to do with the output impedance of the driving amp too. A lot of horns are highly reactive and this plays havoc with feedback networks in transistor amps...
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