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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?
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Showing 2 responses by simonmoon

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simonmoon
483 posts
 
In response to the OP, I think the 'controversy' goes back quite a few years, when the majority of commercially available horn speakers had a honky, nasally sound.

I had this impression myself, from years of working in mid-fi and only being exposed to what was available at that level. 

More recently, I have had the pleasure of hearing quite a few of the high end horn speakers (Avantgarde Acoustics, Cessaro, Acapella, and others) at audio shows, and my mind has been changed.
simonmoon's avatar
simonmoon
483 posts
 

most of the worst speakers ive heard was horns.

when horns sounds coloured, nothing else in the audio world is so unbearable to my ears

This has also been my experience.

I can tolerate a colored sounding non horn speaker much easier.

But to me, and the things I look for in audio, even when horns are done right (AvantGarde Acoustics, Cessaro, Acapella*), there are other, non horn speakers at the same price points, that to my ears, still sound better.

Early in the pandemic, my cousin bought a pair of Klipsch Heresy IV, but then was trapped in Europe unable to get a flight back to the States, He asked me to take them to my house and break them in for him. I was all excited to get to listen to them, but that did not last long.

They just came off sounding like a ’blunt instrument’ to me. The tended to give any music I played through them, a veneer like it was being played through a PA system. Maybe not a bad thing when listening to rock, but when I listen to classical, I want it to sound like the instruments are coming unamplified, in front of me.

And yes, to all the naysayers, I was listening to them through high quality tube gear.

And yes, I have also heard Klipshorns for extended periods, and while they are certainly better, they still do a lot of things wrong, to my ears.

 

*Although, that plasma tweeter Acapella uses is frighteningly good!

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