Attention Horn Owners

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.