image dynamics horn drivers

killerb

i never heard a car with horn drivers. just how good are they?

exalted512

If you want to spend the money, and make one bad **** installation, theyre great speakers.
-Cody

MacLeod

Theyre loud. Thats about it.

Toxis

they image naturally better than any other component set I've heard... but the install is a son of a ****. They get loud as hell yes but I love their SQ.

Installer4life

Actually the install is not to bad. I have ran the Image Dynamics entry level horns in 3 different automobiles. I used 8" midbass with the optional passive crossover. The higher up the model chain you go with these the harder they are to tune. They better they sound and they play louder but you will need a seperate amp and a very good EQ. I found that you could tune the entry level setup with the Bass Engine Pro setup in older Alpine HU. If you go that route get a headunit with time correction. Good Luck

killerb

i always wanted to try horns. could i use my sr6500's for midbass,or would you go with image dynamics drivers?

Jstas

Horns need space. The closer to the listening position they are, the more harsh they can be. Consequently, horns are usually mounted far under the dash, as close to the firewall as possible. Horns are very directional from a near field listening position. The farther away you get, the more room the sound has to expand. Horns live and die on reflections also. They require a ton of effort to set up but if you want clean but LOUD, they are the way to go. They are usually much more efficient than other dome-type drivers.

However, horns make a good case for tube power. Solid state power can make them seem harsh if you don't have some real high quality gear backing them up. However, horns powered by tubes benefits greatly from the tube amplification circuits "shortcoming" of the progressive distortion rates. Tubes reach peak distortion gradually, solid state stuff is rather abrupt. That hard clipping and distortion manifests as pops and crackles like in any other speaker but because of the "bullhorn" effect of a horn, it ends up coming across about the same way as static and feedback on a megaphone comes across or, about as comfortable as nails on a chalkboard.

Horns are not bad, not bad at all. They just require much more investment and commitment in the way of time and effort in installation. Otherwise, horns are an awesome alternative!

lightman1

Anybody remember the Speaker Works Buick Regal Grand National From the late 80's early 90's. Two subs, two mid bass and two horns. Unreal sound stage in a car.

lightman1

http://www.usdaudio.com/sw/cars/buick/ics
Some pics

audiobliss

lightman1 wrote: »

http://www.usdaudio.com/sw/cars/buick/ics
Some pics

Link doesn't work. And I wanted to see it!

Installer4life

I heard the Grand National after Richard Clark purchased it at the Georgia Masters in the early 1990's. Best sounding car I ever heard. Period. You can use the SR6500 midbass in with the horns. I went with eights because they played louder. The first truck I put them into was a 1994 Toyota Pickup with 6.5" in the doors. Used the same horns in all vehicles.

Face

http://usdaudio.com/sw/cars/buick/page2.php

lightman1

Thanks Face