I just uploaded a first look at my new Viking Acoustic Grande Voix speakers under willgolf's system. I hope to take delivery next week. It has taken a year to build. I can't wait to get them. A nice X-mas present for me. |
The other factor I have is I am building a large listening room. It will be 20 x 35 so the speakers need to fill the space.
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I did visit Deja Vu in San Diego and learned all about their horns. I am currently looking at Avantgarde and the Horns Universum from Poland.
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Has anyone from around the world heard the Horn Universum 3 way that are made in Poland? There are none in North America.
Second question, audio stores are telling me you need to use tube amps with Horns. Do you agree? I recently purchased Mola Mola Kaluga amps with the Makua Pre amp. I was going to use them with a totally different speaker, but the Horns have really caught my interest. What would I be sacrificing if I didn't use tube amps? My current system is a Raven Audio Reflection MK2 tube amp with Sonus Faber Amati Tradition Homage speakers. I sold that system with my house sale.
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Handicap is 4. I am building a somewhat modern home so believe it or not the speakers must not only sound great but must be good looking also. Boxier vintage style horns will not pass the eye test. AvantGarde is a contender. The Uno XD is more in the range of what I want to spend but I have been told the Duo XD are CLEARLY better. Yes money does matter even in this price range especially when you are talking another $10k. With my room being about 19'W by 30'L, I have been told the Uno's are not big enough. I am not sure I buy that statement as my listening area is 12'-14' away. The Concerto by Charney looks interesting also. Other than you tube I don't know how it sounds.
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I did go to Deja Vu in San Diego and I had an extensive listening session with them. I also have been to shows in New York and LA. I just got back from a week in LA and San Diego with the sole purpose of listening to speakers. I am going to Dallas and Florida in the near future to do the same. My wife does not like the look of Charney and Deja Vu. If I decide not to go with Horn speakers I am considering Evolution Acoustic Maestoso which is not out yet but I heard a demo of while I was in LA last week. By the way, I love all of the feedback I am getting on my search. This is a big change as I am moving out of Sonus Faber Amati Tradition Homage speakers, which are fantastic in their own right.
kosst...the speakers would be at the base of the long wall. My room now is 25 x 40 and I sit 15 feet away and the sound is still incredible. I don’t doubt that the Duo’s would sound better but I am not sure in my room I could hear $10k difference.
Rodman... why Avantgarde? |
Larry....yes the Avantgarde's I would say are on my finalist list. I have heard the Uno Fino. Just need to find the Uno XD and the Duo somewhere around the country. As stated before, I just purchases Mola Mola Amps for another speaker. If they do not work out I will go back to a tube amp. If I do that then I will buy again from Raven Audio....great integrated tube amps with some of the bast tubes available and outstanding customer service.
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Larry - the whole AER website is pretty cool. The PNOE on You Tube was really great sounding albeit You tube. LOL. The price is way above my league, but I did like the look. It seems they are either $65 - $ 90k or under $20k.....nothing in between. Have you actually compared Charney to Avantgarde?
Can anyone comment on the Diesis horns who have them?
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Hal9k...have you owned or heard the Odeon speakers? If so, which one?
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This is a crazy hobby that we have. Here I am looking at $30-40k speakers for my new house, and then I think I have a loaded 2019 Mustang GT that costs less than $45k. Somehow that does not make sense.
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Right now I have Mola Mola Kaluga mono amps which will deliver more power than I could possible need.
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I appreciate everyone's feedback. It has truly been eye opening and interesting. I have studied each and every suggestion made. While I am no where near to making a decision, I am going to eliminate a few of the recommendations. I have eliminated Klipsch, JBL and any other full box horns. I know they are all great speakers with outstanding sound, however, they will not fit with the design of my new home. I also have a very strong feeling that I will be buying another Tube Amp. So besides, Avantgarde, Odeon, hORNS, Charney, PureaudioProject, please continue to let me know any other suggestions that I should consider, or influence my decision for a particular brand. |
MrD --- i will have a totally separate theater room in my new home which will be acoustically perfect. Unfortunately, my two channel room is a combination great room and kitchen. That is my current set up and the music still sounds incredible. I understand it is not going to be acoustically perfect but I know when I am sitting 15 ft away from the speakers, I will totally enjoy the music. It is also why I have to have the speakers close to the rear wall.
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A lot of love for Klipsch speakers on this thread. Hmmmm, I wonder why there are so many for sale on the US audio mart website? |
As the OP, how I started on this adventure was because I heard the Avantgarde Uno Fino. I had never heard any horn type speaker before. That prompted my question and the wonderful learning experience from reading everyone's post. I am embarking on building a modern house. Consequently, a true horn will not fit our decor. That means Klipsch, JBL and any big box vintage looking speakers are out.
So if that means I would not be getting a true horn so be it. At the end of the day if i buy a hybrid horn and I love the sound then I will be totally happy.
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If i were doing a mid century modern, Volti, Audio Kinesis, Classic Audio would all fit, but I am not. Right now it is down to Avantgarde, hORNS Universum or Symphony and Pure Audio Project. Others could be added.
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soundsrealaudio....will on Torus work? There has not been much news online since 2007 on this item. Are you a dealer? How much are they now including the amp?
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Mahlman....trust me, I will not sacrifice sound for looks. How I got on this horn search to begin with was hearing the Avantgarde Uno Fino. That was the first horn I heard and in the same room I heard, Meridian, Eggleston, Vivid, Stenheim Alumine, Vandersteen. My wife and I both loved the sound of the Avantgarde better than any of the other speakers.
I was shocked that my spouse would accept the look of the horn.
I am going to listen to the Avantgarde Duo in October. IMO they are overpriced but we will see. I still like the hORNS Universum and the Symphonies. I just had an opportunity to buy a used pair of Cessaro Liszt for an unbelievable price but at 980 pounds a piece, I just thought that would not work in my room.
The biggest question I have now as I am about to embark on building my new house is, should I add to in wall subwoofers. Even if I don't use them at least I have them ready. With Horns being so fast, I would need a very good subwoofer. My wife has laid the law down and said they have to be be in wall subs like I have in my current house.
Also, beauty is a matter of opinion. What might be a great looking speaker to me may be ugly to others. So, if I can find great sound and good looking speaker, then I am a happy camper.
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That is another reason I like the What's Best Audio and Video forum. Pictures and graphs do help.
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Today I had the opportunity to listen to JBL 4367's. They sounded good but not a game changer or one that I would put on my finalist list. I thought the bass was lacking and voice clarity not as good as Avantgarde. They were driven by a Class A Ayon Triton amp. |
Dromme....I wish it were that easy. The hardest part of my journey is hearing a speaker today that sounds good and then in three weeks you go listen to another speaker. It is hard to remember the differences in sound from the different speakers over time.
In answer to your question, as I have said many times in this thread that looks are important. Whatever speakers I choose will not be in a dedicated listening room but will be a focal point in my great room. If all of my choices were in the same room and I was blindfolded and Klipsch sounded the best, I think my spouse would acquiesce to my desires but she would not be happy. So, yes I would buy them and save a ton of money. But a happy wife is a happy life....so I am told LOL.
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Actually, My spouse loves the look of the Avantgarde speakers and hORNS Universum. I am lucky.
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dromme - hardly....at the budget I am talking about I sincerely doubt the sound quality or function as you say will be compromised. Have you compared Avantgarde versus Klipsch or JBL? Are you open minded to Odeon, hORNS, Avantgarde, Anima? |
keithtexas - do you know if the those speakers are sold? It was an old ad.
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I am adding AudioKinesis and BD Design Sigma's to my list of possibilities.
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mrpaul....I am curious what is on your short list of horn speakers?
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It has been awhile but I thought I would update everyone on my speaker purchase. After going through an exhaustive period of research and listening I have decided on Viking Acoustic Grande Voix. I am custom ordering them in a black main cabinet with the horn being a natural wood. They take around 4 months to build. They have just picked out the timbers for the horns.
Now my next steps will be to try and sell the Mola Mola Amplifiers I purchased and never used for a different speaker and match a tube amplifier with the Grande Voix.
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The Mola Mola Kaluga and Makua's are gone and I have settled on amps for the Grande Voix. On order is the Canary Audio Grand Reference 2 Monoblocks and the C1800 two chassis Pre-amps. Hopefully, this will be my be all end all system with my Lumin X-1 and Inakustic 3500P power conditioner.
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Johnk---they are time aligned....see spec
Facten1 ---to funny, I did not know what you were talking about until I went to the website and saw Pro Studio. He uploaded my speakers to the website yesterday. I will have to ask him. I do know I requested a few upgrades.
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Pro Studio relates to the paint treatment I requested and a larger resonator than the original design. My speakers were voiced to accommodate my cavernous room. It is 20'w x 35'L with ceiling starting at 12' going to 16' at peak. Horns can have a tendency to be extremely bright and forward. In my case, the sound will be slight less forward which is perfect for my room. I will be able to maximize my low level listening when combined with my Canary Audio Grand Reference 125wpc 300B tube amps. By the way, the Amps have a combined 16 300B tubes. Having a massive 18" subwoofer will provide me a perfect complement of bass.
As soon as I receive and hook up all of the new equipment I will be providing a detailed analysis. |
A new update as of this week. I am changing all of my equipment. Gone will be Canary Audio Grand Reference 300 B Monoblocks, Canary Audio C1800 PRe Amp, Viking Acoustic Grande Voix Speakers, and my Lampizator Horizon DAC. I have to say this was an outstanding system for me and my wife loved the speakers.
In will be an all Aries Cerat Line-up with the exception of my Lucas Audio LDMS Music server.
Aries Cerat Essentia Monoblocks
Aries Cerat Ageto Preamp
Aries Cerat Kassandra 2 Reference DAC
Aries Cerat Aurora Horn speakers.
I started this thread a couple of years ago and my journey has been fun and great but this system is my LAST system period.
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@roxy ---Yes, relatively new in the last 6 months. The Aries Cerat needs some major updating. WBF has an Aries Cerat Thread showing pictures and talking about the Aurora. I believe there is only one pair in the USA right now. I was able to listen to them.
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