Horn based loudspeakers why the controversy?

@mapman I was very pleasantly surprised by the Heresy 3. I could live with those.

I also was pleasantly surprised by the Heresy IIIs. I took a pair home at the insistence of a dealer who shares my taste in most gear. I expected to hate them due to my experience with some Best Buy models years ago. However, they’re nothing like the cheap tower models. The Heresys manage low-volume dynamics better than all other relatively affordable speakers I’ve heard, many of which approached $5K. In most other respects they easily hold their own at their price point.

I find the Heresy to be a puzzle. A slow, air suspension, 12 in. woofer, mated to a midrange and tweeter horn. But yet, it works. The Epic series, same thing, but these were bass reflex enclosures. The Heresy's were desighned by PWK, and the Epic's by Roy Delgado, another brilliant Klipsch engineer. I had them all, but, I am so much happier with the Lascala design ( with modifications and upgrades ). The Simon Mears Ucello are based on the Klipsch Belle, and the big Voltis ( Vitori I believe ), are based on the Klipsch Lascala, both taken to extreme levels of superiority. Nothing like these full range horns, imo, even though help is needed at the last octave. I have not heard either the Ucello or the Vitori, but I can imagine how wonderful they both are. But amazingly as it sounds ( no pun intended ), when I listen to my system, I am so happy with the " total " presentation, as, they do just what I want, and, this is why we are all individuals and personalities at this. Funny story : I was at the "96 Stereophile show at the N.Y. Waldorf, as the demo guy, and a presenter, of the Jadis room. A friend of mine was the importer, and owned the gear. He and his partner asked me to do it ( I was honored ). Owning another pair of Lascalas at the time, and, was a public speaker in the audio field, they though I would be an asset. The designer and engineer of the Eurythmie 4 way horn loaded speaker was there, as well as two other Jadis designers and engineers. I was in heaven, let me tell you. But, it was so difficult setting up the system, and, as it turned out, the walls of the room, could not handle the volume and dynamic range this system was capable of. I brought many of my cds ( only source ), green marked, and damped, and of my many selections, two were standouts selected by the speaker designer. The Harper Brothers " Remembrance, Live At The Village Vanguard ", and, Roger Waters " The Pro's And Con's of Hitch Hiking ". Two of my reference, for the music, and, for system set up ( and capability ). Well, turns out , the speaker designer, throughout the many days of the show, would have me play tracks 4 and 5 of R.W's, TPACOHH, but, he took over of the volume controls ( the most gorgeous and smooth feeling controls I have ever experienced, btw ), and let her rip. How many times we were asked to turn it down, by hotel management, and other exhibitors. Why am I telling this story. Well, I spent time ( before, during and after the show hours ), to listen to a Jadis " top of the line ", completely " all tube " electronics front end, a horn system ( although the woofer sections were not horn designs ),the most beautiful, at that time that I have ever seen, or heard ), in a room, that was so poor, I, by the end of the show, I had one takeaway ( actually, two ). 1st take away. I had, in front of me, a system that cost more than my house ( more of a reality, than a takeaway ). 2nd take away. A system like this ( or even a more modest system like mine, which was horn based ), can uncover things to recorded music, that can create a lifelike representation of the real thing, unlike anything else ( to these ears ). Two caveats : Keep the volume moderate, and, to have the best designed room available. Done for now, and, thanks for reading. MrD

In response to the OP, I think the 'controversy' goes back quite a few years, when the majority of commercially available horn speakers had a honky, nasally sound.

I had this impression myself, from years of working in mid-fi and only being exposed to what was available at that level. 

More recently, I have had the pleasure of hearing quite a few of the high end horn speakers (Avantgarde Acoustics, Cessaro, Acapella, and others) at audio shows, and my mind has been changed.

Just an FYI. Peter Noerback, of PBN Audio, introduced recently, a " horn " hybrid loudspeaker, using JBL pro drivers. He has used all of his listening and engineering prowess, to build a cabinet and crossover, to accommodate these drivers, resulting in, what he says, is the " best " he has ever designed. I think this says a lot about horn designs. Reminds me of the Epic CF4s I was owned ( although a D' Appolito design ) as, they have been mentioned in this post by another, claiming of all the speakers that have come and gone, these has stayed the longest, and he gets the most satisfaction out of them. No one here is claiming that horns are perfect ( I sure am not ), but I still say, with all else being excellent ( room, equipment, tweaks and such, horns do more good, than bad, in recreating a live musical event, if this is the sound you want, and this, is what you feel it should sound like ( of course, still personal ). Still, not for everybody. I value listeners, of all backgrounds and experiences, to select what they like. Again, this is what our hobby is all about. Sorry for my posts today, I suppose, I am in a passionate mood ( unfortunately ), I do not have a woman with me at the moment. MrD

I should have " prrof " read my last post, as I see some errors, lol.