While I have no experience with the newer Klipssch Horns, I have sold/owned/dealtwith the older stuff in the past. Last Klipsch's I owned was the SB1's/2's, driven by tube gear. Let me first say that I like what Horns can do in terms of pressence and dynamics onthewhole. For dirt cheep entry level speakers, these things sounded freaking fantastic on my tube gear!!! I used them on both a Scott 72b(?) and a Jolida 501 integrated. The sound was really too good for the money!...seriously! And before that, I'd sold/tore down my expensive system, including Sonus Electa Amators, Threshold SS amp, Pass Labs pre, etc!
The Klipsch's I was used to selling, before I picked up a couple pair of the SB series stuff being "disco'd" at a local chain store(Still available at Best Buy), were the older KLF series stuff, and next higher line up(not ref series with gold drives), the better one's. While I can't say I liked the KLF's so much, as they were a bit too warm and plain sounding(not harsh or bad though), I just found them a bit lacking in that "something special sound".
Anyway, I've always admired the benefits(as far as passive speakers go) of Horns, when executed proplery(note:Avantgarde horns, which are way refined, but beamy). Still, most have left me lacking for enthusiasm.
when I came across the SB's at a chain store, hooked to a receiver set up, I thought to myself, "I bet these would sound way better on tubes!" I was right. They sounded way too good...especially the SB1's!
While I didn't get to try the promising sounding SF3's, I thought these speakers were a great buy for a budget try. They simply worked marvelously on tubes.
I think some of the higher end and vintage line Klipsch stuff still would excell much better in terms of Dynamics at the very least. I'm sure the cheep drives have their limitations on the SB stuff you can pick up at "Best buy". But, I wouldn't mind hearing the above mentioned speakers.
Think I'll go check em out.
I'm in the above camp a bit, in that I've relaxed my stringent requirements a bit over the years, and like anything that's cheap yet sounds great!...basically overachieving. I too with audiohpile spekeakers would have more pressence, impact, and involvment for the likes of HT and rock and such. These are area's I've always thought traditional monitors could improve for home use. Yet, you're listening close up anyway, so it sometimes works ok, using high end that is.
I'd like to see more high end horn options, indeed.
Otherwise, my next project is to pick up some old SF electa amators/minima amators and try to pop in an electronic crossover, making em active! That might sound great. We'll see.
