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?

coachpoconnor

Showing 1 response by tinear123

Here's the deal... no speaker is perfect each type has strengths and weaknesses (conventual sealed box & vented, electrostatic, ribbon, horn, and a few others).  There are so many types due to people's preferences between speed, dynamics, imaging, resolution, tonal color, frequency range, AND cost.

I have made the journey over the years between several types and top brands and have landed back with horn speakers for the last 3 years and continue to love them.  Do not be detoured by what others preferences are or brand snobs. 

This hobby is a journey, enjoy the ride and discovery along the way.