Horn speakers: Who's heard them ?

polkfarmboy
polkfarmboy Posts: 5,703
edited September 2011 in Speakers
I was looking at some horn speakers today and wonder if any members here owns a set or spent spent time with a set

What is the benefits to using them and what advantages do they have over other speakers ?

What brands manufacture them ?

Is it possible to own a problem free pair for under 2k ?

There is a pair here on the gon with a look that has stolen my heart http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?spkrfull&1317828636&/Avantgarde-Duo-original-Duos--
Post edited by polkfarmboy on
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,014
    edited September 2011
    I've heard those, excellant speaker with the right gear. For me anyway, horns demand tubes, SS gear doesn't cut it for me on horns. The low end may have to be augmented as some just lack that last bit of low end. Very clear, very dynamic, classical and jazz are outstanding. Rock...not so much, just my .02 on it. Horns also demand proper setup as they can be tricky to get just right in a room. Done right, you may wet your pants.
    HT SYSTEM-
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    Cables-
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited September 2011
    You mean they make "problem free" speakers? :tongue:
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,014
    edited September 2011
    halo71 wrote: »
    You mean they make "problem free" speakers? :tongue:

    Didn't you get the memo ? It's called Bose.....
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • thesurfer
    thesurfer Posts: 574
    edited September 2011
    The only horn speakers ive heard, were my brothers Klipch,s Hope i spelt that right, To me they were very bright, and upfront sounding,, i suppose youd have to like that type of speaker,, not bad, but not for me, Its the type of thing were you yourself would have to hear them, as lotsa folks love them,
    Not an Audiophile, just a dude who loves music, and decent gear to hear it with.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited September 2011
    tonyb wrote: »
    Didn't you get the memo ? It's called Bose.....

    Oh....I thought those were "free problem" speakers. :biggrin:
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • dcmartinpc
    dcmartinpc Posts: 844
    edited September 2011
    halo71 wrote: »
    Oh....I thought those were "free problem" speakers. :biggrin:

    Hey, watch how you use the term SPEAKER!!!!

    Klipsch tend to be bright period. I don't know that I would call all horns bright though. Crisp might be the better word. I couldn't agree more with Tony. Tubes only! I bet those Klipsch were on SS, put them on tubes and they calm down quite a bit, but these horns are in a different league than those Klipsch I would guess. :eek:
    Don
    Living Room: Adcom GFP-750 (Upgraded), Squeezebox Touch, Oppo BDP-83, Pioneer DV-79AVi, Parasound HCA-3500 (Upgraded), SDA SRS 2 P/B (Gimpod, Sonicaps, & Mills)

    Theater: Denon 4311ci, Oppo BDP-93, Parasound HCA-2205+HCA-2200II, Polk LSi9, LSiC, LSiFX, LSi7, Custom 18" TC Sounds sub with 2 18" PR, Sharp XV-Z12000, Pioneer Kuro KRP-500M (isf Enabled)

    Bedroom: HK AVR354, Pioneer DV-47a, Parasound HCA-1500a, Polk LSi9
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited September 2011
    thesurfer wrote: »
    The only horn speakers ive heard, were my brothers Klipch,s Hope i spelt that right, To me they were very bright, and upfront sounding,, i suppose youd have to like that type of speaker,, not bad, but not for me, Its the type of thing were you yourself would have to hear them, as lotsa folks love them,

    What kind of Klipsch's are you talking about here?

    Modern Klipsch speakers are very different from vintage Klipsch speakers. The modern Klipsch's can be good for HT, but it was the vintage Klipsch's that did music well. (Heresy, Cornwall, Forte etc.). Different leagues.
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited September 2011
    I have owned a few of the vintage or heritage Klipsch speakers and can say without a doubt that they are bright or over sensitive.

    I have found that horn speakers prefer tubes. The combo seems to be the best mix of warmth and sound.

    The List of horns.

    Cornwalls Worst of the group. Way to thin in the bottom and mids were unfocused or muddy to me.
    Klispchorns Should have kept them Solid all around and missed.
    LaScala Close second to the Khorns. Depth and punch but the mids aren't as focused as the khorns.
    A set of EV's that I don't remember the name of. Not bad but a bit to much rumble.
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  • thesurfer
    thesurfer Posts: 574
    edited September 2011
    falconcry72 wrote: »
    What kind of Klipsch's are you talking about here?

    Modern Klipsch speakers are very different from vintage Klipsch speakers. The modern Klipsch's can be good for HT, but it was the vintage Klipsch's that did music well. (Heresy, Cornwall, Forte etc.). Different leagues.
    Im not sure the model, i last saw him 2 years ago, as he lives in another state, He said he had them for about a year, As far as the music, he had AC/DC, back in black playing,, As i said,, they sounded bright to me,, he on the other hand loves them,, as stated, comes down to a matter of tastes, just not my cup of tea,
    Not an Audiophile, just a dude who loves music, and decent gear to hear it with.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited September 2011
    Klipsch and JBL both make wonder Horn loaded speakers.

    I favor Klipsch as until you get to Synthesis series , JBL don't impress me.
    The Benefits of owning Horn loaded speakers is most of them are very easy to drive and play extremely loud. They are a match made in heaven for theater use and if you like LIVE music they can recreate that experience in your home. Most Professional Monitors and Loudspeakers are horn loaded for better coverage and sheer force.
    If you check out the Reference series from Klipsch I'm willing to bet you will find what you are looking for.

    http://www.klipsch.com/reference

    For the sheer hell of it and if you can swing it , just check out these babies , they are actually very good and incredibly impressive.

    http://www.jblsynthesis.com/
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited September 2011
    umm... daily.

    604E061111.jpg
    openvalencia.jpg
    santiagoinsitu.jpg

    Owned a pair of Cornwalls for a decade but moved them along quickly after acquiring a pair of 846A (16 ohm) Altec Valencias. I am a sucker for Altec midrange - now using a pair of 604E Duplexes on the "real" hifi in the LR.

    A used pair of Altec Valencias or their kin (up to and probably including the redoubtable Nineteen much favored in certain circles) in outstanding condition may be had for well under $2k. The will give best results with excellent quality electronics and sources - and reward one for supplying them. "Great for tube amps", they are.

    FWIW, the Klipsch "heritage" speakers are fun but quite rough around the edges.

    Almost all JBL systems I've heard are far too shrill for my tastes. I have heard a couple of very carefully implemented DIYs that were top-class, but most JBL-sourced loudspeaker systems (i.e., their own studio monitors) just makes me cover my ears. Some folks really like 'em, though.
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  • dave shepard
    dave shepard Posts: 1,334
    edited September 2011
    mantis wrote: »
    Klipsch and JBL both make wonder Horn loaded speakers.

    I favor Klipsch as until you get to Synthesis series , JBL don't impress me.
    The Benefits of owning Horn loaded speakers is most of them are very easy to drive and play extremely loud. They are a match made in heaven for theater use and if you like LIVE music they can recreate that experience in your home. Most Professional Monitors and Loudspeakers are horn loaded for better coverage and sheer force.
    If you check out the Reference series from Klipsch I'm willing to bet you will find what you are looking for.

    http://www.klipsch.com/reference

    For the sheer hell of it and if you can swing it , just check out these babies , they are actually very good and incredibly impressive.

    http://www.jblsynthesis.com/

    The Klipsch Ref. HT system you, me and my wife listened to on McIntosh gear was REALLY Nice, I'm sure you remember, he also sold the room to that guy while we sat there too (Lucky ****).

    Dave
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited September 2011
    What's a horn speaker?
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited September 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    What's a horn speaker?
    http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=horn+speaker&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1436&bih=786&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=52113752499779943&sa=X&ei=7jdgTtezJozH0AGqsPnrDw&ved=0CJ0BEPMCMAM#ps-sellers
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited September 2011
    dave shepard wrote: »
    The Klipsch Ref. HT system you, me and my wife listened to on McIntosh gear was REALLY Nice, I'm sure you remember, he also sold the room to that guy while we sat there too (Lucky ****).

    Dave

    That was a pretty damn good demo. Klipsch are an excellent choice for one who is striving for a killer theater experience.
    With so many people going under , less and less places to Demo stuff at man , kinda sucks.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited September 2011
    dorokusai wrote: »
    What's a horn speaker?

    you have much to learn, Grasshopper...

    now, when you can snatch this EV T-35 tweeter from my hand...
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited September 2011
    If you thought I was being serious....
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited September 2011
    oh. nevermind.
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited September 2011
    I always suggest people should hear Horns before purchasing them. They are definitely an acquired taste.

    I like them a lot but not for everything.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited September 2011
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    I always suggest people should hear Horns before purchasing them. They are definitely an acquired taste.

    I like them a lot but not for everything.

    I'd agree with all three statements. Well... maybe not 100% with the latter comment, but it depends on the loudspeaker!
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  • DaveHo
    DaveHo Posts: 3,536
    edited September 2011
    I have a pair of Klipsch Forte II's. With the right gear they can sound amazing. Many people assume since they have a high efficiency, you can slap any old amp on them. Not true. Pair them with a crappy receiver or a low budget amp & they'll drive you from room, ears bleeding.

    -Dave
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited September 2011
    DaveHo wrote: »
    Many people assume since they have a high efficiency, you can slap any old amp on them.
    It is, in fact, exactly the opposite. Many high-powered amps, even some very good ones, do not perform well at levels below 1 watt - that's the rub.
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited September 2011
    I've lately become enamored with the idea of looking for some Heresy's to pair with my Dynaco ST70. I assume they would be an ideal match.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,995
    edited September 2011
    Big Dawg wrote: »
    I've lately become enamored with the idea of looking for some Heresy's to pair with my Dynaco ST70. I assume they would be an ideal match.

    well... I don't know about that. I think you'll get better sound out of a pair of Heresys with a single-ended 2A3 amplifier. Another 'synergistic' pairing with Klipsch Heritage loudspeakers that I've experienced myself are the Fisher 7868 and 7591 PP receivers (400/500B,C/800B,C). The Fishers smooth off the Klipsches rough edges nicely.
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