What Horn loaded speaker/ speaker system for $10k'ish and under


I’m looking to go potentially go back to a horn loaded speaker, or hybrid budget under $15k. I’ve had LaScala’s in the resent past (prior to my current Spendor D9.2’s that are for sale now) and loved them but I feel there is better out there for similar money.

JBL horns like the 4367 or 4349, S3900, S4700? Volti? LALS? others I’ve forgotten or not known.

I’d like to have efficiency above 90db,

extension to 35hz or close to it, I could live with subs though.

I’m not apposed to used in good condition, I will not buy black speakers though.

 

glennewdick

Showing 4 responses by larryi

I am a horn speaker fan, but the really nice stuff is considerably more costly than $10k.  But, the Cornwalls can be quite nice with the right tube amps.  Something like the Volti Rival is nice too.  Although not a conventional horn system, I’ve heard the single-driver (back loaded quarter wave) Charney Audio systems deliver terrific sound; I heard the Companion system which is way beyond your price range, but the sell less-costly models.   

Both the Volti and Avantgarde Duo suggestions are interesting.  They both deliver the dynamics and liveliness that is particularly attractive about horn-based systems.  I like them a lot.  But, like all systems, they have some limitations, and I find them both to have the same issue--the bass driver and the rest of the system do not blend seamlessly, and the bass does not seem to have the same nimbleness as the rest of the frequency range.  Still, on balance, terrific systems.  

As for JBL horn-based systems, I like the sound of the Everest systems and a couple models below the Everest that I heard (cannot remember the names/numbers).  The sound is reasonably smooth and lacking in harshness while having the positive attributes of horn systems.  The overall tonal balance was, for my taste, a bit thin in the upper-bass so the sound seemed to lack a little bit in weight.

My favorite horn systems are custom-made systems utilizing vintage drivers.  There is nothing like the old vintage Western Electric drivers, except for some Western Electric inspired drivers and some direct clones of such drivers (e.g., G.I.P Laboratories from Japan).  But, these exotics are many times the price range for just a pair of one type of driver.

The Rethm Maarga is a good call. Someone looking for a speaker in the $3,000 range should consider their Bhaava model.

The term “horn” has several meanings, so it is a bit tricky determining what is a horn system.  Some drivers may have a wave guide in front of the driver cone or dome and that may qualify as a “horn” to some people but not to others.  I tend to think that a horn system as having compression drivers plus a long throat and a waveguide.  Others will look at the cabinet the speaker is in, and if it has a long folded channel for the backwave that increases in cross section to a large opening, that makes the driver a back-loaded horn.  Rethm speakers, like Charney speakers are back-loaded horns.  The large, single full or wide range drivers, like those in the Rethm and Charney and Cube Audio speakers, have wave guides coming off the center part of the drivers which, depending on one’s definition, can also be considered “horns” (those smaller cones are also intended to vibrate so they do much mor than act as wave guides).