Attention Horn Owners

I could bring my trombone :)

That might be ear fatiguing! Lol

Just be careful what you offer. A trombone also can infer another item! Lol

Any horn speaker with horn honk is ether not properly designed or improper setup and partnering equipment. Your AN speakers are very nice, they have some of these horn characteristics, great dynamics, big sound, sense of performers in room, musical, probably my favorite box speakers, and one of the good ones regardless of design. 

Horns will allow use of 300b, 2a3 or perhaps 45 tube amps, I do like Voltis, use his tractrix horns in my highly modified Khorns. Voltis are refined horns, they won't shout you out of the room.

Thanks sns. Perhaps it might be easier and/or cheaper just to try a sub. I’m trying to downsize but selling and buying without listening, although I could fly to Tennessee, is appealing. 

Not appealing 

+1 Volti

Thanks Kennyc. I’d love to get a listen from somewhere up here on Long Island.

You really need to get some seat time and not just a quick demo- listen to a variety of material. I made the transition from decades of electrostats to a horn type (Avantgarde) in around 2006. Very revealing of what's up-chain, not just noise, grounding anomalies, etc. but you will hear significant differences in tube rolling as well as other changes in the system. Get it right and they can be marvelous. It took me time to "evolve" this system- from amp changes to line stage and phono stages to cartridge changes. All got me closer to my ideal. I do add bass reinforcement as part of this. 

NY metro used to be one of the centers of hi-fi in the US if not the world. I lived there for decades. Well worth visiting a few dealers and if you can find them, system owners (as you have posted). I'm in Austin now, so can't help you out but if you are willing to put in the time before you buy, you'll spend your money more wisely in my estimation. Have fun!

Thanks Whart. A trip into the city is easy enough. Great idea. Not set on horns but want efficient speakers with substantial bass. 

Not set on horns but want efficient speakers with substantial bass. 

That will require large speakers see here 

@earthbound,

 More impact see here

Mike

Thanks for the reminder. I read that years ago and forgot. Well I need to hear the Volti horns with a 15 inch driver. My brain says it has to have more impact. Science may say otherwise!

You may find you'll want or need subs with the Volti's to get full impact of the lowest registers. Even with custom woofers and extremely careful and air tight seal my Khorns benefit from subs, two best for consistent in room response.

Why buy one when you can get 2 at twice the price! 

Perhaps you can consider a speaker from Charney Audio. They have wonderful sound with a horn design. Depending on the model, you will have all the bass you need and a wonderful sound. I have the Companion with AER BD-3 drivers. Bass goes down to 32Hz. I use a pair of SVS subs all driven by an Aric Audio Motherload XL pre and Radu Tarta Custom 45 DHT and could not be happier. The Concerto goes down to 20 Hz. Sensitivity is around 106, so my 2 Watts is more than enough to make them sing. They are in Sumerset NJ, so not too far of a drive to hear them for yourself. 
Other than owning a pair, I have no affiliation with Brian Charney

I like Volti but I bought Charney Companion.

I really love the Charney Companion too, particularly with the AER BD 3 driver (I also heard them with the Voxativ driver option).  I do generally prefer them over any of the Volti speakers I heard (and I like Volti a lot too), but, they are not the most punchy sounding speakers in the bass region.  The Volti might offer a bit more in that area of performance.  Still, it is well worth a trip to New Jersey to hear them.  The Charneys are more efficient than any Volti model, so they will play nicely with pretty much all low-powered tube amps (the best kind of amps).

Dseltz, how do you run 2 subs off of the Motherlode? What jacks do you use?

Thanks guys. I will check them out. And also, thank you very much for to listening offer. My head is spinning right now with indecision regarding selling everything or tweeking. 

I’ve really enjoyed my Volti Rivals for almost 3 years! I’ve owned Avantgarde Unis & Duos years ago & they were also very good but challenging to get their subs to integrate smoothly w/the midrange & sound right. The Rivals are much better in that regard & sound great in my big room especially w/ tube amps. They image well in terms of width & height but a bit lacking in depth compared to other quality speakers I’ve heard. They’re scary dynamic like few others near their price range & sound live like live music, not scientifically accurate “hifi”. The mid range & tweeter are slightly adjustable by changing out the high quality resistors w/slightly different values & are  supplied by Volti w/ instructions- very quick & easy. 
 

I think Volti offers good value for your $ as they are sold direct w/ no intermediate markups typical to most others. Of course the down side to that is you either need to go to Volti in TN or hear them in a show which I did. I think they’re worth the effort! 

Thanks. I hope I get to hear them at some point. Not sure if there are any shows in the Northeast. If and when my gear sells, necessity will push me to make some decisions. 

Come on out to TN and we'll show you a good time. Volti is maybe 2 hours south of the airport and we have plenty of audiophools around Nashville who can open their doors for you.

My number one pet peeve about speaker manufacturers is the lack of driver controls on multi-way speakers.  Do they really think the levels they chose are optimal for all listener preferences, all rooms, all locations of the speaker, all upstream equipment choices?  I know that some manufacturers hated controls not just for the extra cost of an L-Pad, but also because it is too easy for owners to mess up (the optimal choice often involves making incredibly small changes, and change in one control often also requires changes in the control of another driver.  Still, I require such control.  It might well be the case that Volti's way of allowing control, but not making it easy, is a good choice.

I too like the Avantguard speakers but was trouble by the lack of bass integration.  Voltis are much better in that regard, though it is a bit of an issue with their speakers too.   

One of my least favorite things to do is get to LI. Once there, quite nice.

In reverse, LI to NJ, if you would like to hear a Vintage Pair of Horn Speakers with 15" woofers (no subs), that include a pair of level controls to adjust them in any space, driven by a tube preamp and tube amp, you are invited here. 

You could have a good book, take the train, I'll pick you up at Netherwood, NJ on the Raritan Valley Line, or drive your favorite car. I'm retired, generally available.

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/9511

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11516

I think you’ve gotten some good input, @earthbound and have not heard the Volti, agree that the bass on the Duo (at least my era, perhaps later too) was difficult, and was only solved by adding 15" subs with the system in a different, larger room (I moved) and DSP’ing them in addition to dialing them in and changing cartridges to something with much more bass gravitas (a Koetsu stone, which does bass in a much more filled-in, dimensional way than previous high-end cartridges in the same table/arm), but my main point to underscore here-- and something I did not mention but which @larryi did-- is the ability to use SET amps if the speakers are really high efficiency. One of the first steps in getting my Avantgardes to come closer to the sound of real musical instruments was to switch the amps to Lamm ML2s-- that was a big step and made possible because of the sensitivity of horns. 

Apologies to @sns, who also mentioned this by tube type. 

@earthbound  I read your post and I think we have somewhat similar taste, although hard to say for sure.  I’ve also been interested in horn speakers and Volti speakers. Unfortunately, like you I haven’t had the chance to hear either. My current system includes a SET amp and tube preamp with Cube Bliss C speakers.  A different direction with single driver speakers and no crossover.  To me they have a unique pure kind of sound I really love. With 8" drivers they don’t go that low in the bass. I added a relatively inexpensive REL subwoofer, and besides extending the bass it improved the overall sound including soundstage and image size in a very positive way. Not exactly what you’ve been looking for, but it produces a nice sound without brightness that I’ve been very happy with, after many changes over a long journey. I live on LI, so if you have any interest in hearing another option, and hearing what a subwoofer can add, let me know.

Thanks so much Elliott and bugredmachine for the invites. When the gear gets sold off, I might just start making some trips. Greatly appreciated. 

I think it's wounderful audiophile are opening thier systems to listen to .enjoy the journey

I have had excellent results with Klipsch horns, in the Heritage line.  I use LaScala's, with a single sub in a solid state setup in my TV room, and Cornwalls in my study with a tube setup (no sub).  That's it for me.  All I could want or hear with my senior ears!

As per the post from therandyman, I recall Greg Roberts of Volti speakers suggest that prospective buyers go to a dealer that sells Klipsch Heritage speakers, which he claims are not as good as his speakers, but give you an idea of what the Volti (horn) speakers sound like.

Reviews of some say they tend to be bright, which is a no go for my sensitive ears. Reviews did mention that Volti are not bright. So, any comments regarding ear fatigue and horn speakers or Volti speakers would be fantastic. 

@earthbound There's no reason a horn speaker should be bright. There's plenty of reason that if you combine the wrong electronics with a horn that it might be perceived that way. So you have to be careful. 

What sort of amplifier do you have?

Hi, 

As an owner of an AN system, my suggestion is to move up in the AN-E range. Sell the LX and buy AN-E SPE HE. The Hemp woofer will change your life. Also, remember this are meant to be well in the corners. I have gone from AN-J to AN-E, then to AN-E SPX HE Alnico and now to the new AN-E-LTD Field Coils. 

There is no going back from AN sound....Don't make that mistake.

Best

Atmasphere. I have an Aric Audio Custom 300b PSET and Aric Audio Super 6sn7 preamp. 

bb. I do love the sound. Part of me just wants to try adding a sub and see what happens. May be a simple fix. I just have so many boxes and wires now. And if it works, I know I will want another!

more boxes is better sound

But not when you have to move into a smaller space! Lol

I had AN/e but could never get the placement right in my listening room; thought they were pretty great though. I now have a set of heavily moded Altec Valencia that I really wish I had come across earlier. Just an amazing speaker paired with moderately powered tube amps. Was sold the second I heard them - not everyone's cup of tea im sure but I already had the right electronics so took a shot & so glad I did.  

OP

IMO, i have heard the Audio Note at the recent THE SHOW and i am impressed. going to another type of speaker, may or may not be a good move. listen first to a HORN speaker. i use a Klipsch RP600M2 and I did not like Horn speakers in general, BUT I kept it as it can present music in a different way. for certain types of music, it is wonderful.

Giving up your AN and moving to HORNS is a commitment. i suggest purchasing an inexpensive Klipsch horn (amazon) and listen for yourself if the presentation of a Horn sound with suit you.

Thanks Joey. I have the same fear. There’s so much to like about the AN’s. After deliberating for the past few days, I think trying to integrate a sub would be the most prudent choice. If it adds just a little oomph that I’m looking for, it would be a tremendous win. Fingers crossed. Now the endless debate about subs or no subs and which brand. Lol

@earthbound 

I have a pair of SVS 3000 Micro. These are very affordable and work very well with the Charneys. My listening room is less than ideal and about 28’x32’ with 14’ ceilings. An old double shotgun that was converted into a single so area has my kitchen, DR and living room. The combo has no difficulties filling my space with sound. My system is wired XLR up to the SET amp (then it is RCA as I understand to put balanced inputs into a SET amp complicates the build and may affect SQ) I use the XLR outputs of the Motherload XL to the amp with XLR to RCA adapter cables and use the RCA outputs in the Motherload XL directly to the subs. When using the XLR out, the RCA remain fully active so the signal goes to both subwoofers and to SET amp. But it took me forever to figure out I could do that. I am sure Aric can give you guidance, as I am not familiar with the intricacies of the custom 300B he designed.

As a side, I also own a pair of Atmasphere Class D monos and rotate them into my system. They are really awesome and sound pretty close to a flea watt amp in my system. Obviously, they have no trouble driving my speakers, but for someone interested in the magical sound of a flea watt system without a sensitive enough speaker system, I would not hesitate to recommend trying the Class D by @atmasphere And they are very reasonably priced even new.

I wouldn't run SVS w/Audio Note - not a good fit. I suggest no sub and trying an amp with more jam. I used an Audiomat Solfège Reference with mine and the low end was exceptional. You won't be able to integrate a sub the way you hope. Solfège is 40 watts of class A 6550 muscle. Just my experience 

@earthbound I too would not be so quick to ditch the AN. Coincidentally, I just so happened to read an Art Dudley review of the AN-E Lexus Signature in Stereophile, May 2006 issue. Dudley loved them, I seem to recall some version of them was his reference for some time. Anyway always positive reviews of this speaker, and from what I've heard at audio shows they'd be a real contender for me. 

I also recently became a convert to the AN sound via recent purchase of Quest 300B monoblocks, I'm really impressed by the sound quality, I do believe the transformers in these really special.

Cool dseltz. I looked into the SVS and the adapter “issue” gave me pause. Glad to hear you’re impressed with the sound. 
I did look heavily into the Atmasphere a year or so ago. I really like and respect Ralph. Will they have punch using a 90db speaker? How are they with bass?

Bgross, funny that you should say that. Was just on the phone with Vu from Deja Vu. He had some suggestions for me to look into and think about. 
You are not the first to say that regarding subs and AN speakers. It’s why I’ve shied away from buying Rel’s. $$

I had an el34, push pull amp that really rocked. I don’t think it’s the amp but my choice of 300b set amp. The sound is otherworldly on some tracts. It’s just not versatile enough for me with heavy metal or 80’s rock sometimes. It’s a me problem for sure. 

Sns, I know they are sweet. Might try to take the jump up the signature se, or whichever one Vu suggested to me in the past as the next logical move up. I might just have to drive to Virginia and do some listening. The Soros amp is integrated, so helps my space issue that’s coming with the move. Could be a perfect, expensive fix! Lol

meanwhile, not horns, but full range 4 way, renewed woofers, not far from you

https://longisland.craigslist.org/ele/d/west-islip-vintage-jbl-way-speakersnew/7861925162.html

I'd want to hear them if easy. 

They do look cool. 90db sensitivity. Made in the 80’s. Everything was good in the 80’s! 

@earthbound 

The Class D have 100W into 8 Ohm and 200W into 4 Ohm. I am not sure if it is a logarithmic scale, but somewhere between 100 and 200W should have no trouble with pushing a 90dB speaker. AN lists your speaker at 94dB, btw. 

The Class D have great bass, imo. 

If I had less sensitive speakers, I think I would be 100% satisfied with the Atmasphere Class Ds. I have, however, owned 97+ dB speakers since my first foray into real HiFi, MidFi if you are going by price??, but I would put my system up against about any other for my taste. Rethm Maarga were my first real speakers. 

here’s a pair of 12" subs that might be your answer

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650228823-vera-fi-audio-vanguard-caldera-12-subwoofers/images/5738150/

seller on this site

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbb944-vera-fi-caldera-12-500-watt-rosewood-sibwoofer-is-a-monster-subwoofers?creative=&gad_campaignid=17191022312&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADQhP4qR8NI29vUfPKhY_sCpkC6Ng&gclid=CjwKCAjw7MLDBhAuEiwAIeXGISDGTK3S_-2F2_ZS1U6AIe6eiLM8hRDpj5wifTxb5VdNA6KlKS61YRoCffYQAvD_BwE&keyword=