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High Efficiency Speaker Asylum: REVIEW: Horn Shoppe Model 1 (The Horn) Speakers by Capt. Z

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REVIEW: Horn Shoppe Model 1 (The Horn) Speakers

65.41.190.27


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Model: Model 1 (The Horn)
Category: Speakers
Suggested Retail Price: $850 per pair
Description: Single driver, rear loaded, folded, corner horn loudspeaker
Manufacturer URL: Horn Shoppe

Review by Capt. Z on September 26, 2010 at 17:31:02
IP Address: 65.41.190.27
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for the Model 1 (The Horn)


Well, I got my Horns from Ed about 1 ½ years ago.



Actually I started off with this single driver speaker thing after I bought a used Bottlehead SEX amp. Having only 1.8 Watt per channel I needed some more efficient speakers, which led me to the Omega XRS 3 speakers. What a difference in approach of reproducing music. I was amazed on how much a cross over will interfere and take away from the actual audio signal. However, I never was really happy with the Omega 3s, mainly due to the issue that it would ‘shrink the size of some instruments to a much smaller size. I remember hearing some snare drums through the Omega that sounded like a small tin can, orchestral (classical) music sounded like it was coming out of a small transistor radio (kind of). I asked the designer of the Omegas for help, so he helped me to upgrade the 3’s to the 5’s level. I also posted on audiocircle for advice on set up of the Omega speakers. Well, low and behold I got an email from Ed Schilling, telling me why I heard what I heard. Since I live only about 1 ¼ hours from his house he invited me to come over to listen to his Horns. Shortly after that I re-visited him during the Horn Fest 2009. The more I listened the fonder I grew of these Horns. To see how the Omegas would compare to the Horns side by side I went back to Ed for a 3rd time, this time with the Omegas ‘under my arms’. We compared the Omegas side by side and I was amazed at how much more I heard. Better and fuller lower extension, a lot fuller mids (the Omegas 3 are pretty lean) and no over pronounced highs. I did feel that the Omegas where way to strong in the highs. There was sooo much ‘more meat on the bones’ of the musicians with the Horns. To make a long story short, I finally placed an order for a set of Horns.



After I picked up my horns I placed them in my listening room knowing that they would need a long time to break in. In my case, they took about 500 hours of ‘soft’ breaking in. During that break-in time I wondered if I made a mistake in buying the Horns. Just had some issues with the frequency balance. But after 500 hours the Horns did become pretty well balanced and I caught myself listening a lot more to the Horns than my 20 year old other speakers (which I still love).



Then came the announcement from Ed that Fostex stopped producing the 126E driver and that they were replaced by the 126 EN driver. Besides that, Ed mentioned that these new drivers could/should sound even better than the old version. Being open minded I thought I’d give the new driver a try, dreading the new long break in time.



Shortly after that announcement came the offer of the T90 Super Tweeter. Well, since I always wanted some more highs with my Horns I did go for the Super Tweeter, played with different cross-over caps, but returned to the 0.33 uf cap that Ed recommends and uses himself. Just got some ‘premium audio grade’ Obbligato 0.33 uf caps on order.



Again, during the break in time I wondered if it was all worth while. Well, after about 3 months I logged about 500 hours on my new drivers with Super Tweeter.



What can I say? 99% of my listening time is done through the Super Horns – Super Horns because I am talking about the Horns with the Super Tweeter. Love that Super Tweeter so much that I haven’t disconnected it to see how the Horns would sound without them.



Also one thing that the Super Horns did to me was that I cleaned up my vinyl rig and start listening to LPs again. Now I finally understand why many people prefer LPs over CDs. Interestingly, I never heard that so clearly before with my other speakers.



Well, I am not going to go into comparing the Horns with other speakers. I will leave that for someone who has had more exposure to more speakers and is better in pointing out these things.



What I will say is that the Super Horns are just so involving that I spend a lot more time listening to music than I did for a long time. One of the major things the Super Horns do so well is capture the Spirit and Soul of the music and bring them right into your listening room.



Also, the bass goes unbelievable low for the size of the driver and there is plenty of bass without being overbearing. Bass is always very tight and super fast. Mids are also plentiful, but not overdone, giving the Horns a warm sound, warmer than the older 126E version. Highs are well extended without any harshness and without calling attention, thanks to the Super Tweeter.
I am still amazed at the large sound these small 4 inch drivers can throw. Occasionally I also check if my subwoofer is on, since that small driver delivers low notes you would not attribute to a small 4 inch driver.



Soundstage is very good and the Horns kind of disappear. Transitions are super fast and note attack is very powerful. I have never heard any loudspeaker that could reproduce kick drums, banging against a guitar corpus any stronger than the Horns. The Horns will kick some serious butt. Not to mention that the Horns can play extremely loud. I have heard the Horns peak over 115 db at Ed’s house. In my smallish room the Horns will overload the room waaaaaaaaaay before they reach their limit.



I also catch myself many times turning the volume of the Horns up - not because my hearing is going bad, but because sound becomes more life-like. Funny thing is, even though I like to play the Horns loud, they don’t sound loud, just a lot of fun and like live music.



When I now switch back to my old speakers I do miss soul, detail and coherency, things I didn’t know I missed before.



Amp used: Transcendent T16

Pre-amp used: Ed’s Truth

CD player: Cary 308T

TT: Old Merrill Heirloom with Triplanar IV arm and Shelter 501 MK II

Phono-pre: EAR 834P


Product Weakness: .
Product Strengths: Totally engages you in the music. Sound is very live-like. Speaker disappears. Great sound-staging. No beaming from the single driver.


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: Transcendent T16
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): Hornshoppe - The Truth, EAR 834P
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Merrill Heirloom
Speakers: Hornshoppe Horns with Super Tweeter
Cables/Interconnects: Morrow
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, Classic Rock
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Horn Shoppe Model 1 (The Horn) Speakers - Capt. Z 17:31:02 09/26/10 ( 4)