HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-type: text/html

Can't connect to database, trying again....HTTP/1.0 200 OK Content-type: text/html

Can't connect to database, trying again.... High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

High Efficiency Speaker Asylum

Need speakers that can rock with just one watt? You found da place.

Return to High Efficiency Speaker Asylum


Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar

76.87.201.57

Posted on January 18, 2021 at 17:01:09
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 6057
Joined: April 6, 2000
Oh, man.. What a loss. RIP!

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 18, 2021 at 17:22:32
hottattoo
Audiophile

Posts: 141
Location: New York
Joined: July 30, 2011
I am glad to have met him. He personally helped me design my mid bass horn.

He was a very smart, kind person and will be missed. R.I.P. Dr. Bruce

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 18, 2021 at 17:33:06
claudej1@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 816
Location: Detroit
Joined: August 17, 2007
I have a pair of his horns with JBL drivers. Very nice.

 

Terrible news..., posted on January 18, 2021 at 18:49:50
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
RIP indeed.

His contribution to our hobby will be long remembered.





First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

Rest in peace, Bruce., posted on January 18, 2021 at 21:43:04
Duke
Dealer

Posts: 4429
Location: Princeton, Texas
Joined: March 31, 2000
And thank you for your great speakers and contagious enthusiasm.

Duke


Me being a dealer makes you leery?? It gets worse... I'm a manufacturer too.

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 18, 2021 at 21:47:28
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15486
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
R.I.P.

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 18, 2021 at 23:24:52
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2515
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
Very sad news :-( RIP Dr. Edgar

 

sad news indeed. (nt), posted on January 19, 2021 at 04:52:52
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 15995
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
October 23, 2016
enn tee
all the best,
mrh

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 19, 2021 at 04:59:27
Steve Schell
Manufacturer

Posts: 1440
Location: So. California
Joined: December 16, 2001
Bruce passed last Wednesday, 1-13-21. He had been living in a board and care home for some months along with his wife, who survives him.

What a character he was! I saw him blow away many roomfuls of folks with his demos at various audio shows over the years. We laid mattresses against the walls for acoustics by day, and on the floor to sleep on by night. So many of us afflicted with the lifetime "horn fever" owe a debt of gratitude to Bruce. I regard him as the Father of Modern Hi Fi Horn Design. He took his vast knowledge of aerospace technology and applied it to audio, with stunning results. To say that he made his mark is an understatement; we should all be so fortunate.

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar - Very sad news..., posted on January 19, 2021 at 08:14:52
vacuumtube1954
Audiophile

Posts: 245
Location: GA
Joined: December 24, 2009
A wonderful man and put horns back in the forefront. I had his System 100 with Seismic Jr that had a 15". Rest in peace and condolences to his wife and friends.

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 19, 2021 at 08:47:52
Rod M
Web Geek

Posts: 16199
Location: So. California
Joined: March 1, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
March 1, 1999
Bruce was such a generous and brilliant man. When I bought his salad bowls and bass bins, Bruce sourced drivers for me and crossover parts including some military surplus oil caps and even came down to my place to help me get everything tuned in. His passion was horns, not particularly making money, but educating and developing the state of the art and sharing his knowledge with the community.

He was a giant in the industry and he'll be sorely missed.

RIP, my friend.




-Rod

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 19, 2021 at 09:06:45
Don Reid
Audiophile

Posts: 886
Location: Rural NW Georgia
Joined: February 2, 2001
Contributor
  Since:
April 1, 2010
I never met Dr. Edgar, but I did exchange e-mails with him, and I found him to be a most knowledgeable and helpful person. I am saddened by his demise.
I dream of an America where a chicken can cross the road without having it's motives questioned.

 

Very sad news!, posted on January 19, 2021 at 11:42:14
Paul Eizik
Audiophile

Posts: 2120
Joined: September 15, 2001
Back in the day in the 80's information about horn loudspeakers was rather hard to come by for the average DIY kind of guy. That was until Bruce Edgar showed up with some ground breaking articles in Speaker Builder magazine. Working from his original tractrix horn article I built a pair of tractrix mid horns from fomecore. While the glue was drying on them on the radiator in the dining room our daughter said of the the little white pagodas "That really looks like something". They quickly crowded out the big McCauley cast aluminum PA mid horns I had been using, which themselves replaced some EV 8HD's before them. It was hard to believe that you could just build something that worked this well right away! Later I fell in with a group called the Chicago Horn Club and I had an epiphany at prez Tom Brennan's house listening to his Altec A5 horn rig. I had this ideal sound in my head, and I sometimes wondered where it came from. I referred to it in my head as "that big sound" when I heard things I liked, but I wondered where this preference came from. Hearing Tom's rig I realized that it was the sound at the movies of the Altec speakers behind the screens that had been hard wired into my brain from an early age. Horns had a difficult time starting in the 70's when ever more powerful transistor amps appeared and speakers got correspondingly smaller and could do "the soundstage" thing. Horns were dismissed by the then rather underground at the time audio magazines like Stereophile and The Absolute Sound, and you would have had a hard time being taken seriously by the readers of these rags if you had DIY horns. It would have been like claiming that you had built a high performance sports car out of Peterbuilt truck parts. Things changed dramatically in the 90's when Sound Practices magazine exploded on the scene and brought in a tidal wave of interest in horns, and the idea that horns were the ultimate speaker type when driven by SET amps. Bruce was ready to ride in on this wave, but not without some resistance from the soundstage nerds. Many of the CHC guys headed off to the Midwest Audiofest in Lima Ohio back in '02 when it was announced that Bruce Edgar would be there with his Titan horns. You just couldn't miss that, and it did not disappoint. The first thing most people saw there was a home theater demo in the room just off the lobby, our club would rent that same room at the next year show. They had a 100 inch projection screen with unremembered HT direct radiator speakers and a big subwoofer. At one point a video was playing of an approaching storm in what looked like a midwestern plains state like Iowa. You would see the lightening flash in the distance, then the sound would catch up to the camera a few seconds later with a very impressive rumble. Around the corner in the Edgar room Dr. Bruce put on a CD, and all of a sudden there was a huge BANG! It was a recording of a lightening strike, and it didn't just sound impressive, it sounded utterly real! You could feel it through the folding chairs you were sitting on! I brought in my fave pipe organ CD: Jean Guillou doing Pictures at an Exhibition. I thought it sounded better than on a $100,000 Wilson system I had heard it on in the 90's, but Bruce said he thought it sounded "a little loose". Sometime later I ran into Bruce again and he said "You might want to bring that back Paul, we found we had the subwoofer reversed wired". Even with incorrect wiring on the sub the Titans could easily beat the Wilson system costing about ten times more! The Titan speaker system was a virtual bargain compared to some of the one-seat-wonders like the Magicos which cost nearly three times as much.

Bruce had said at a certain point that he realized that a lot of his effort was going to go into dispelling many myths people had about horns, and he did this at several of the presentations I saw him do. Once I asked him about the reactance annulling thing which I just didn't get what was reacting with what. He just said that the mass of air in the horn was moving back and forth in-mass and interfering with the bass low end, and not having the sound moving through it as you would want.

Mark Knopfler's song is going to be running through my head: "Raise your glasses to the Doctor, to a stand up guy"!

Paul

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 19, 2021 at 12:00:23
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6587
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since:
July 4, 2007
On at least two occasions Dr. Edgar loaded up his vehicle and drove south to make presentations to the San Diego Music and Audio Guild. I suspected he didn't necessarily expect to make any sales, he was just delighted to share some knowledge on horn design and demo a pair of his smaller speakers. He just seemed like a great guy who was happy to pass along some of what he'd learned and possibly provide a spark for others who might not know about or understand good horn systems.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 19, 2021 at 15:37:07
mnawaz3@aol.com
Audiophile

Posts: 502
Joined: March 28, 2002
sad news. one of the few people who could creat a coherent full horn system that rivalled (or beat) anything

 

All true, and more..., posted on January 19, 2021 at 15:55:03
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
Thanks to you and Rich, I ended up with Chris' Cocobolo Edgar Titans when he bought the Cogents at RMAF so many long years ago.





They went into storage when we moved to Santa Fe in 2017 but they are up and running again and filling the 400 sa. ft. 'Casita' attached to our home here with wonderful sound on a daily basis.

Over the years, and to the surprise of no one who knew him, Bruce was as supportive of me and the horns as if I had purchased them from him directly.

We have lost a true treasure and I will always be grateful for his friendship and his willingness to share his vast knowledge with anyone and everyone who but asked.












First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 19, 2021 at 17:23:06
JLH
Audiophile

Posts: 742
Joined: June 25, 2000
So sad to see this news. If it wasn't for Bruce, I would have never gotten into horns.

 

He was a wonderful man, he'll be missed , posted on January 19, 2021 at 19:42:11
gonefishin
Audiophile

Posts: 1067
Location: Joliet,Ill.
Joined: August 27, 2000
prayers for him, his family and friends
enjoy the music!

 

RIP Dr. Edgar.. , posted on January 20, 2021 at 08:02:51
All these obituaries for very special audio people are getting down right saddening.

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 20, 2021 at 09:31:00
Tom Brennan
Audiophile

Posts: 5853
Joined: January 2, 2000
Too bad. He was vital in the regrowth of interest in horns.

 

And Sounds of Trains?, posted on January 21, 2021 at 11:34:08
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001



Seem to recall the first time I visited his room at CES/T.H.E back in the early 2000's he liked to play one of the Mobile Fidelity 'Sounds of Trains' CDs.

At least that's as I recall it.

Also recall one year at CES he was kind enough to play the Faure Requiem CD for my wife. claimed it to be one of his favorites as he had sung it in his younger years.

Better stop now as I'm about to tear up. :-(





First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 22, 2021 at 08:18:46
Jim D.
Audiophile

Posts: 854
Location: FL
Joined: October 26, 2000
I met Bruce once at VSAC and talked to him by phone on several occasions. He was always helpful and willing to share his knowledge. His passion for horns was contagious. My main system is still anchored by his salad bowls with JBL 2441 drivers, and Bruce's crossover of which he sent me all the parts. Hopefully his family gets to read about the positive impact he had on so many of us here.

Jim

 

Start up of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp WW2 Hellcat engine, posted on January 22, 2021 at 14:15:31
Edp
Audiophile

Posts: 4479
Joined: September 23, 1999
On the flight line experience

More felt than heard


Dang Man! On the loss of the Good Dr

 

RE: And Sounds of Trains?, posted on January 22, 2021 at 15:44:21
Paul Eizik
Audiophile

Posts: 2120
Joined: September 15, 2001
Ivan

The Titans with the Seismic sub were definitely a "play anything rig" as long as the room wasn't too small. Float like a butterfly, sting like a battleship! Some years ago in an interview Bob Dylan admitted that he liked to listen to sound effects records with a nice drink in hand, which went a long way to making this a not-so guilty pleasure.

Paul

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 22, 2021 at 16:06:55
hpc
Audiophile

Posts: 72
Location: IN
Joined: March 16, 2002
I, too, miss Dr. Bruce! I visited him in 2002/2003 at the shop. He built
my Titans and Seismic Subs which he showcased at the 2004 Midwest Audiofest in Lima, OH.

Bruce, Cy Brenneman, and Ray Mazeika (Chicago Audio Club) brought the
system from the show to my home in Indiana; helped haul those beasts
inside and downstairs; and setup and tweaked them. Ray made the speaker
cables (Cardas) which I still use.

My wife and I wish Mrs. Bruce Edgar the very best and we're very sorry for
the loss of a fine gentleman and husband!

I can only imagine what Bruce is building "upstairs".

 

RE: Start up of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp WW2 Hellcat engine, posted on January 22, 2021 at 16:29:56
Paul Eizik
Audiophile

Posts: 2120
Joined: September 15, 2001
Eep

I'll have to check that out when I get my amp off the bench. Back in WW2 my uncle was in an engineering bridge outfit connected with Paton following the D-Day invasion. He was on a truck with a 50 cal. Brockway on a ring mount on it, and one day he had anti-aircraft gunner duty while the other guy had ammunition duty. They were trained to listen to the sound of the aircraft engines, and the German engines were rougher sounding than ours, "kind of like a truck engine" he said. He spotted a plane just below the tree tops and it had the right sound or so, but it fired some rockets at a convoy on the ground. As the plane rose above the tree tops he fired the Brockway and saw the tracers go into the belly of an american P47 Thunderbolt! Our planes didn't have rockets at that time, but they told him he was going to the brig. He said "Where you going to put me, there's nothing but Germans around here!". So they took him back to what was headquarters, and there were a couple of German prisoners already sitting there. It seems that they were in the P47 he shot down, it had been captured some how and the Germans took the radio out of the area behind the pilot seat so it could carry two people, and they had rigged it up with some of their rockets. Also we had high octane gas which the Germans never did, and they never did figure out why all of a sudden our planes seemed to have more power than before. If the Germans had gassed up the captured P47 with their gas it would have likely sounded a bit different too.

The Double Wasp did duty after the war in the TWA Constellation where it was not so popular as it left oil trails on the wings of the Conny I've heard. In the original Airport comedy movie they are in a jet airliner but when they cut to outside scenes of the plane flying you hear the very sonorous tones of what sounds like an 18 cylinder Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp for comic effect.

Paul

 

RE: Start up of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp WW2 Hellcat engine, posted on January 22, 2021 at 19:31:53
Bill Fitzmaurice
Industry Professional

Posts: 5370
Location: New England
Joined: October 20, 2002
The difference in the sound would have been between air cooled radial engines and water cooled engines. The radials rattled, like the air cooled engines in VW bugs. But we, the British and the Germans all used both. As for the gas, it's why our Mustangs and Thunderbolts were faster than the Me 109 and FW 190. We ran 150 octane, which allowed very high manifold pressures. The German Mercedes and BMW engines were better, but they only had 89 octane gas, so they couldn't crank up their superchargers as much as we could.

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 24, 2021 at 13:15:04
EduardG
Audiophile

Posts: 284
Location: So. Cal
Joined: May 30, 2002
I've been rubbing elbows with Bruce since the late 80's and talked to him on the phone about two weeks ago. I helped Bruce in building many of his projects and in the process learned a lot about horns. He will be sorely missed.

 

Here are some interesting links about Bruce's passing...., posted on January 25, 2021 at 19:35:49
Rod M
Web Geek

Posts: 16199
Location: So. California
Joined: March 1, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
March 1, 1999
Thoughts from other sites:

Klipsch Community
itishifi.com


Very interesting articles from the man:

Postive Feedback Interview (2003)
Bruce interviews Paul Voigt

If you want to check some of the other links about other Inmates that have moved on, you can them below.

-Rod

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on January 26, 2021 at 12:17:22
PeteRiggle
Manufacturer

Posts: 35
Location: Kennewick WA
Joined: April 27, 2004
Bruce was wonderful. He was one of those who jump in with both feet. What I needed to know to build with friends my Monster In The Attic subwoofer horn (29 feet long, 6 foot x 10 foot mouth) I learned from Bruce's articles. He gladly shared his knowledge. Thank you Bruce.

 

RE: All true, and more..., posted on January 26, 2021 at 16:50:39
Steve Schell
Manufacturer

Posts: 1440
Location: So. California
Joined: December 16, 2001
Ivan that was 2006! Your coco units look fantastic. Glad to see that you're not a member of the speaker of the month club. The big pyramid horn sub from RMAF 2004 still graces my living room; never could sell those mamas despite their performance due to SAS. Your phenomenal phono pre really saved our bacon back then.

 

Thanks for sharing Rod - nt..., posted on January 27, 2021 at 21:40:10
gonefishin
Audiophile

Posts: 1067
Location: Joliet,Ill.
Joined: August 27, 2000
nt
enjoy the music!

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on February 5, 2021 at 15:22:48
Posts: 2
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 5, 2021



RIP.....

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on February 5, 2021 at 15:31:55
Posts: 2
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 5, 2021
this is 2007 Southern California Horn Group Meeting in my place....

 

RE: RIP Dr. Bruce Edgar , posted on March 26, 2021 at 16:00:56
EduardG
Audiophile

Posts: 284
Location: So. Cal
Joined: May 30, 2002
Yes, making money wasn't Bruce's forte. As somebody who knew and worked with Bruce for over 30 years I can say that he sucked at money...

 

RE: Start up of Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp WW2 Hellcat engine, posted on March 27, 2021 at 10:12:22
PakProtector
Audiophile

Posts: 12356
Joined: May 14, 2002
The Germans also thought that a trace amount of Indium from the bearing analysis was a contaminant, and not a design feature. Also, there is a fair gap in the capability of the cast head R2800's and the forged, milled fin variants. Got to love the Jug, my car's tag is P47TBLT.

cheers,
Douglas

Friend, I would not hurt thee for the world...but thou art standing where I am about to shoot.

 

Page processed in 4.067 seconds.