Good, Affordable Horns?

Seriously, the appeal of a horn loaded speaker to me are those things that make them distinct and unique, ie the design and nature of the midrange. I don't necessarily need a pair of horns that best my Ohms or other speakers, as long as they do not do the other things badly and infringe upon the strengths.

Lonestarblues reminded me that I have heard one good Klipsch/SS combination where the synergy was good: A pair of KHorns with an SS McIntosh amp (can't recall which)...so I do believe it can work, but synergy is critical, and if you go wrong with SS the sound can drive you out of the room looking for the Advil (which seems to be Krellm7's experience of them). They are much more tube-friendly, than with SS amps. I've heard Carver stuff, but never really thought they sounded remotely like tubes in the various systems I've heard them in. I haven't heard your system, of course. I'd strongly disagree with Lonestarblues' opinion that there might be no lack of bass using LaScalas. In my experience with them, which is is pretty extensive (two pairs, many modifications and comparisons, many different amps, various sized rooms), no matter what you do, short of adding a sub, those speakers will drop off sharply around 50hz or just below. You can squeeze a bit more out of them via room placement (corners), but neither system components nor driver replacement will get you much lower. If that's as low as you like your bass to go, then I guess there'd be no lack of bass. Don't get me wrong, I love the Scalas. Their magic midrange does make up for any lacking downstairs. But if you compare them to KlipschHorns (in corners) or Cornwalls you will see just how much bass they are missing. I don't think they do bass "badly", but if you are counting on real-world bass I would look to other choices.

You are talking about Klipschorns I am talking about Klipsch in general. The heritage series is constructed a little better than all of there other stuff.

OK, they ring or resonate like a thin piece of wood, not a bell. They are still in production because people still buy them. People still buy them because they still like them & they bring back that sound people heard as a kid.

Klipschorns can sound very good in the right room with the right equipment, and as long as you have good corners and proper distance between them.

I can think of a few electronics that people still rebuild or you can still by as new that are 50-60+ years old. Dynaco, McIntosh, Eico...ect

Speakers, JBL, Klipsch, Altec...ect

Jax2,

HAving lived with Carver tube simulation technology for many years alongside the solid state, I'd say that it effectively "takes the edge off" the sound, or smooths it out dynamically perhaps as tubes might. It would probably help with horns, but I suspect I'd feel like I'd still be missing something much more enjoyable.

You are talking about Klipschorns I am talking about Klipsch in general. The heritage series is constructed a little better than all of there other stuff.

Mapman started the thread by asking specifically about LaScalas which are part of the Heritage series. Your immediate response was to criticize the construction of Klipsch speakers so I assumed you were referring to the same speakers that the post addressed. If you responded directly by addressing a criticism at Klipsch in general, I'm not understanding how that applies to what the post was asking about. Which Klipsch speakers have you tried and with what elecronics? Which ones ring like a bell, er, like thin wood?

I can think of a few electronics that people still rebuild or you can still by as new that are 50-60+ years old. Dynaco, McIntosh, Eico...ect

Speakers, JBL, Klipsch, Altec...ect

Which one of those you companies you mention has a product that has been in continuous production for 60 years and is still produced to this day? You are talking about stuff folks rebuild, or that has significantly changed over the time. That is not the same as KHorns. We are talking about a product that a major manufacturer has seen fit to continue to produce for 60 years continuously with only minor changes over that time period. A product in a consumer tech market which still enjoys great success amidst the competition of products that take advantage of all kinds of advances in technology. It is not a re-issue, or an anniversary model, or a special edition. Again, I don't think it's perfect, but it's an extraordinary achievement. Also, I'm not arguing that the Heritage series is constructed better or worse than other speakers. I have said what I thought of their construction, and it is pretty much in line with what you've said - they are deliberately utilitarian in design and could benefit from additional internal bracing. As far as Klipsch, the company in general, is concerned, the Heritage series is the only speakers I've heard from them, other than perhaps the Forte's and Chorus, that are worth listening to IMO. I have not heard that new $13K Klipsch P-39F Palladium they recently announced though.

Mapman - I've not heard Carver + Klipsch Heritage, but my guess would be you could do better with tubes. The downside of experimenting in the direction of trying a LaScala, or KHorn are that they are large and difficult to move around, and may be more of challenge to turn over should you not choose to keep them. Cornwalls may be a bit more manageable, but not by much. It's a major commitment, in other words, in spite of the relatively reasonable price. I wonder if you could find a local A'goner who has a good horn setup that you could listen to...that or a dealer or one of the shows could give you some sense of what, in very broad terms, to expect. In general, the advantages of horns is that they are lightening fast and very dynamic. They can be champions at soundstaging, and in my experience have an almost airy quality to their presentation. On the downside they can be very forward sounding, and even aggressive with the wrong amp (forward is otherwise not necessarily a bad thing). Some folks have described the sound they get from them as "shouty" like someone speaking through cupped hands. I have not had that experience of them other than poor combinations with SS amps. They are also very efficient in general, so require less power and can be driven by lower powered triode and single-ended amps.

Marco