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Sound beyond Horns?

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Posted on November 13, 2021 at 13:17:58
catbert242000@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 268
Location: Puerto Rico
Joined: April 17, 2006
 I have been a horn speaker lover / owner for many years. All the better Klipsch speakers over the years. Now I have some EV Aristocrats, (folded horn Klipsch design ) and my main Altecs with 416 woofers / 811B horns. These are fairly sensitive or efficient speakers in the 95+ range.

I am happy with the sound, the mid range super great and bottom is solid. At my age, high frequency range may be futile.

But I am curious, is there another speaker world out there that I am missing? Perhaps I should look at some other modern speaker systems. Suggestions?

My current amplifier inventory includes the following ( nothing high powered )

Marantz 2238B. 38 watts. SS
MP 301 MK3. 6.5 watts. Tube
HK 7550 AVR. 105 watts. SS

What type of high end speakers might be an upgrade?


 

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RE: Sound beyond Horns?, posted on November 13, 2021 at 13:49:00
Tom Brennan
Audiophile

Posts: 5854
Joined: January 2, 2000
 For many years I owned a house and was a big time horny with all kinds of Altec, JBL, Klipsch, Edgar, EV and such gear. When I moved to a high rise apartment on the Lake in Chicago I dehorned and got Martin Logan Vista electrostartic hybrids (cone woofer below 400hz). I found them completely satisfactory and they matched my best horn systems in all areas except dynamics and I no longer needed, or could use big time dynamics. They had great tone and the extreme clarity of horns that allowed deep listening. And I thought stats were just cooler than conventional cones and domes in boxes.

The only thing I sometimes missed was the Technicolor midrange of my Altec systems based on 515, 416 and 414 woofers. But then that was an Altec thing not a horn thing. Anyway I suggest listening to some electrostats; the best stats I heard were the big Sound Labs.

 

RE: Sound beyond Horns?, posted on November 13, 2021 at 14:02:27
PAR
Audiophile

Posts: 1732
Location: South London, UK
Joined: June 4, 2019
 I think that you ought to give an idea of the music that you like. I am pretty sure that if you prefer string quartets over ZZtop you may want a different answer.
"We need less, but better" - Dieter Rams

 

if your asking just speaker, posted on November 13, 2021 at 14:21:00
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10453
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 you may have to stick with horns because you might not have enough clean power. I am partial to electrostats even after owning horns.



 

Maybe more "sideways" than "beyond" ? (nt, posted on November 13, 2021 at 15:48:25
peppy m.
Audiophile

Posts: 2242
Joined: February 19, 2021
 .

 

RE: Sound beyond Horns?, posted on November 14, 2021 at 02:24:12
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2381
Joined: September 27, 2004
 By contrast after using horns since 2002 and asking myself the same question as the OP. I thought electrostatics may be a good next system. After carefully reading reviews and visiting Showroom demos, I bought Martin Logan 13A Expressionz. Big mistake. In my big room where speakers are 12 and 15 ft forward of the back floor-to-ceiling glazed wall, they seriously disappointed compared with Avantgarde Unos.

Now looking into omni- directional systems - German Physiks or MBL. Early days but far from sure it's the answer I'm looking for!

 

RE: Sound beyond Horns?, posted on November 14, 2021 at 16:48:35
George S. Roland
Audiophile

Posts: 1470
Location: N W Pennsylvania
Joined: March 20, 2004
 Volti audi and Avantgarde are two well-regarded horn speaker makers out there

 

If you're used to horn dynamics, sensitivity, and low distortion . . ., posted on November 15, 2021 at 12:21:21
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
 . . . other types may disappoint. Conventional box and planar designs may have flatter frequency response and more coherent phase/time behavior between drivers, but they just can't get that "jump factor" that is unique to horns and can make good recordings sound scary-real.

I've not owned horn speakers myself, but have heard a number over the years, in showrooms and at friends' houses. One guy had some big Klipsches (Forte?), and while they could get a little edgy in the treble, they played big orchestral music with color and drama I've never heard elsewhere.

 

RE: If you're used to horn dynamics, sensitivity, and low distortion . . ., posted on November 15, 2021 at 12:52:41
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 New Forte IV model gets ....or rather GOT some good coverage from Stereophile which pronounced it an improvement over the III model.
Some improvements to drivers and crossover. So not a 'trivial' model number change.

I need to get up to LaLa land for a listen.....
Too much is never enough

 

RE: If you're used to horn dynamics, sensitivity, and low distortion . . ., posted on November 15, 2021 at 14:09:32
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2381
Joined: September 27, 2004
 I agree. Horns not necessarily the most accurat, but probably the most exciting type of speaker. I'm on my 3rd pair of Avantgardes. Have also owned big ATC, Martin Logan, Quad, KEF.

 

Grandinote Mach 2R or Mach 8P's.., posted on November 15, 2021 at 14:14:04
tincup
Audiophile

Posts: 234
Joined: August 20, 2016
 These Mach speakers will shock you in person !

My next speakers will be from Grandinote !

 

RE: If you're used to horn dynamics, sensitivity, and low distortion . . ., posted on November 16, 2021 at 00:36:03
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2519
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
 Yup.

I own a big, fully horn loaded system (except frequencies under 70Hz that is) in a room that is too small for them. And while I'm fully aware of their limitations in that environment (coherency between ways isn't perfect, treble can be edgy - but I'm working on it- stereo image lacks depth and isn't "pin point") they still imbue music with a reactivity, jump factor, and "front row" feeling that's sorely missed whenever I listen to other, more polite and "reserved" types of speakers.
I'm a happy camper. They might not be for everyone (clearly they aren't) but for me there's no way back.

 

RE: If you're used to horn dynamics, sensitivity, and low distortion . . ., posted on November 16, 2021 at 00:57:11
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2381
Joined: September 27, 2004
 Interesting as I find it's horn's pin-point accurate imaging that's one of their biggest attractions. I've never before had soloists sitting on my equipment rack and singing just for me. Granted if I move a few feet from my normal listening chair, this illusion is significantly lost but the sound still has its life-like sparkle. Setting up and precise toe-in angle is essential for best imaging.

 

RE: If you're used to horn dynamics, sensitivity, and low distortion . . ., posted on November 16, 2021 at 16:54:05
Tom Brennan
Audiophile

Posts: 5854
Joined: January 2, 2000
 Horns vary as much in dispersion, tonal balance and imaging as other types of speakers. My experience is that a given compression driver sounds quite different on a 60 degree horn than on 90 degree horn and different yet on a 120. Horns should be matched to rooms and needs. DIYers have an advantage here.

 

The only one that would likely meet my criteria for coherence is, posted on November 17, 2021 at 14:20:16
E-Stat
Audiophile

Posts: 37650
Joined: May 12, 2000
Contributor
  Since: April 5, 2002
 one of Tom Danley's synergy horns where all drivers radiate consistent directivity via the same "mouth".

Like many, however, I suspect that more distance to listener for optimum image size is required than my room would support.

 

Tannoy, posted on November 21, 2021 at 11:07:01
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012
 Most horn-loaded speakers don't change timbre as the volume is cranked up. That's a big attraction.

You might seek out Tannoys to demo, as they share that trait with horns. Their imaging is vastly better - point-source concentric drivers. Like horns, their tonal balance is rock-solid at any volume level. Unlike horns, their presentation of low-level harmonics is much better. Also like horns, they are very efficient.

If you can't find Tannoys, Fyne Audio was started by the Tannoy design and management team when they fled after Uli Behringer bought Tannoy. Seek them out as well.

(Yes, I know... there are a couple horn-loaded Tannoys, but most are not.)

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

Which Tannoy?, posted on November 25, 2021 at 13:19:07
Jon L
Audiophile

Posts: 6064
Joined: April 6, 2000
 I've heard some less-than-expected SQ out of Tannoys in the past. I also cannot agree with the statement "Unlike horns, their presentation of low-level harmonics is much better." This will depend on which horn speakers and which Tannoys we are talking about.

 

RE: Which Tannoy?, posted on November 25, 2021 at 19:15:14
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012
 Fair enough. The only horns I know well are Klipschorns, LaScalas, and the original Heresys.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

Daedalus Audio, posted on November 28, 2021 at 04:55:40
mikem
Audiophile

Posts: 170
Joined: September 23, 1999
 I believe all their speakers are 95db sensitive and above.. I drive a pair with 18wpc

 

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