Horn Speaker Recommendations


I am looking for your feedback on what Horn speakers I should consider in the $15k-$40k price range.  Please describe the rationale for your recommendations.  
willgolf

Showing 3 responses by mijostyn

Willgolf, you are blowing your horn in the wrong direction. There is no point source radiator (every horn system ever made) that will fill a room that size with a realistically sized sound stage. Only a line source will do that. If it is volume you are worried about don't. Line sources project power much better than point source speakers. You should look carefully at SoundLabs Majestics 845s if you have 8 foot ceilings and 945s if you have 9 foot ceilings. They are right at the top of your price range. They will be more powerful than a horn system (I did not say louder I said more powerful.) Their image production is in another league entirely. There is no horn system that is phase correct across the entire frequency range. The Majestics have no crossover which is always an advantage. Their distortion is even lower and their transient response just as fast but without ringing. They are not as efficient as horns so you will need more power. 200 watts a channel is sufficient for most people. 300B jockeys need not apply.   
There are quite a few of us who believe these speakers are among the best speakers ever made if not the best speakers ever made. I do not own a pair yet but it is only a matter of time. A short time I hope. 
The Volti Vittoria looks nicely made and would be a fun speaker to work with. I would get two bass cabinets though. There remains a phase/time issue between the drivers. It seems only Avantgarde addresses this by staggering the drivers but the Trios make a staggering presentation that would own any room. If you've ever seen them in person they are big! It would take a really slick guy to get these by the wife. I showed a picture to my wife and her response pretty much killed any inclination I had toward trying a set. 
The Cornwall (can be used in a CORNer or against a WALL) is essentially a big Heresy and a great sounding loudspeaker. I desperately wanted a pair when I was 17 but could only afford the Heresys. 
It has less of a phase problem than the K horn and I think images better.
Today I would plug the port and use a subwoofer.