Can you suggest a few good horn models?
Charney Audio Maestro and Companion
http://charneyaudio.com/speakers.html
Charney Audio Maestro and Companion
http://charneyaudio.com/speakers.html
Horn based loudspeakers why the controversy?
As just another way to build a loudspeaker system why such disputes in forums when horns are mentioned? They can solve many issues that plague standard designs but with all things have there own. So why such hate? As a loudspeaker designer I work with and can appreciate all transducer and loudspeaker types and I understand that we all have different needs budgets experiences tastes biases. But if you dare suggest horns so many have a problem with that suggestion..why?
Showing 4 responses by rodge827
As noted many of the main stream mags stay away from horns here’s a tid bit from Art Dudley for Stereophile on Charney Audio at CAF last month... “After the Capital Audio fest vintage seminar and my visit to Vinyl Revivers, I looked at my phone and saw that time was running out: I had just over three hours left to cover seven or eight more rooms. Time to get cracking! I remembered Charney Audio from a previous show: based in Somerset, New Jersey and run by designer Brian Charney, they specialize in horn-loaded, full-range speakers and low-power amplifiers—and the last time I heard their products, I thought the company had considerable promise. Based on what I heard at CAF 2017, Charney has upped his game even further: the sound from the company's Companion Mk.II loudspeaker ($12,000/pair as shown, with optional Voxativ AF 2.6 drivers and maple veneer and hardwood accents; other versions start at $5850/pair), driven by a pre-production Charney amp and fed by a Japanese Sparkler Audio 503 CD player ($1500), with cabling by Jena Labs, sounded clear, detailed, and very tactile and present—but without the shout that plagues other Lowther-like designs. The system had a somewhat light balance, but was richer than the last Charney system I heard—and actually did a creditable job on a recording of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in d. Worth checking out.” Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/art-wraps-it-caf2017#c3RxZYCjpA4YObBG.99 |
Yes they can...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNc5LWH4lhE Obviously there are limitations to SQ due to the cheap mic on the video camera. |
@oddiofyl - The Lowther DX4 driven Concerto at 22k is a complete speaker pair, that are mesmerizing with good to great electronics . Adding custom veneer is strictly cosmetic and is expensive due to the nature of the design...no squared off boxes here! They can be ordered in any color, and a number of solid hardwoods for the speaker mount, for decor matching. The Voxativ as a "better" driver is more about a sound preference than an improvement. Sure it’s 5x more in cost than the Lowther DX4 but "better" is arguable. I have listened to both and prefer the Lowther to the Vox hands down! So to each his own... @mapman - Yes the Charney Audio line are works of art that sound fantastic. Beautiful to look at for sure. Every time a friend or family member walks into my room there is always the obligatory "Oh wow these are beautiful" Followed with a close inspection of the impeccable workmanship, and look around with a host of questions. Each of his designs go through hundreds if not thousands of hours of listening and tweaking before release. @johnk - You would have to contact Charney to discuss how he came about to build the Concerto. Charney was a long time owner of the Carfrae Little Big Horn but had always felt that integrating the bass was problematic. So he purchased a C&C machine and dove into the tractrix theory. The result is on his website and the horns he builds. Each of the designs are built to support the drivers used. None of them need subs, but room size does come into play, as it does with just about every other speaker out there. Each design creates an exceptional 3D landscape with clean clear highs, sublime mid range, and bass (oh the bass) is deep and articulate. Charney horns couple with the room when properly set up. This doesn’t take long and once done there are no room nodes! Treating the room is done to taste. Fact is that I removed some treatments and the sound improved. Not trying to sell anything here just being informative. Heck it took me a few visits before I committed to the Maestros. At first I was awed at what I listened to. But the practical side of me took over and I needed more assurance. Like most of us I’m budget minded and had to figure a way to afford a complete system change and it was well worth the time and effort. |