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How much of High End Audio is Horn Speakers?

An audio friend of mine had been discussing my future speaker purchase. We discussed, Harbeth, Devore, Spendor, Audio Note and other more traditional speaker brands. A week or two later he called an asked me what speakers I had purchased. When I told him Klipsch, there was a little silence on the other end of the line. Our call probably ended a little sooner then usual. I could tell he was disappointed in my purchase. Is it the Klipsch name that illicits this type of response or is it Horn speakers in general? After thinking about some of the other Audiophiles in town, a good deal of them are on the low power high efficiency speaker route and more than a few I know are using Horns. Does anyone know how the high end market share is divided? Is there a stigma associated with certain lower cost Horn speakers? Or is this just Klipsch? I now own a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls and am enjoying the journey associated with tweaking the sound to my taste. Is there an unwritten rule that friends don’t let friends buy Klipsch?

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Showing 4 responses by bouncehit

Ag insider logo xs@2x
bouncehit
73 posts
 

The best part 😎

AG’s, Tune Audio, and Shinjitsu Research here. And I LOVE KLIPSCH. 

Enjoy those incredible Cornwalls!!

Ag insider logo xs@2x
bouncehit
73 posts
 

I own AG Duos, Tune Audio Marvels, and Shinjitsu Acoustics. 
I’ve also recently owned late model LavScalas.

 

i’ve also owned Pipedreams Model 21’s, MG 20’s, Sound Lab A1’s, B&W 801’s, 

Martin Logan 15a’s, etc. My good friends own Alsyvox and ML CLX’s.

 

ALL SYSTEMS are sensitive to proper set up. But good horns will tell you exactly what’s on the recording and not everyone likes to know. 😎

Ag insider logo xs@2x
bouncehit
73 posts
 

I think the Avantgarde speakers represent modern horn systems quite well--they are dynamic, engaging, and fun to listen to with no more tonal issues than any other speakers.  Yes, all speakers are voiced differently, so it may be the case that an Avantgarde speaker may not fit one's particular taste, but, none of the systems I heard were so extreme in tonal balance that they stood out in that respect.  Like all horn systems, they do require very good amplification, particularly at the low wattage levels that they will require.  I heard the Duos and Trios with both tube and solid state electronics; for me, low-wattage tube is the way to go.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>Well said!  My AG Duos do NOT have the typical horn colorations.  And for life-like sound, Klipsch is VERY hard to beat, IMO.  ;)  

Ag insider logo xs@2x
bouncehit
73 posts
 

Yes.  AG's are great "late night, low level listening speakers because the dynamics are still there, even at very low volumes. :)  BH

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