Khry, you are someone else who hears the same sound from these speakers as I do. I have heard these at three CES shows, and although the show is no place to make a final decision, I did not hear enough of what I wanted to pursue it further. I do plan on listening again this next week, the show begins on Saturday. I would like to note, that I came from a background of horns, having been the technical rep. for JBL commercial. I began my career with Klipshorns and Electro Voice, when horn systems were required, due to the lack of high quality, high powered amps. The original horn speakers, like JBL, are true compression drivers, that is, the driver is a small phase plug configuration, driving into a horn load, designed for that frequency. The Avantegarde is actually a CONE speaker, with a horn set in front of it. The horn adds a distinct direction, and intensity (efficiency), but this is not a "true" horn speaker. And, before anyone gets mad, speakers are all about the sound you like, and the space you listen in. If they work for you, it does not matter what others think. Best to you!
