Why not horns?


I've owned a lot of speakers over the years but I have never experienced anything like the midrange reproduction from my horns. With a frequency response of 300 Hz. up to 14 Khz. from a single distortionless driver, it seems like a no-brainer that everyone would want this performance. Why don't you use horns?
macrojack

Showing 8 responses by bjpd57a1

funny...I have a few speakers ALL Horn Design, but with ALL,

the speakers, and very sensitive, even without ANY Music,

with your ear near the speakers, DEAD QUIET!

Paul Klipsch must have known a thing or two; How many

speakers do YOU know, that have been around over 60 YEARS!

Properly set-up, the Horn speaker, is capable of uncanny

realism.

Time will tell, how long these new speakers last.

They won't be making them in 60 years I know that.

We ALL hear different, but we ALL like "accurate sound"

The Horn Design, commands that certain criteria is met,

for Best results, failure to address each individual

piece in the puzzle, and you will "run for the hills!"

Well worth the effort, to gain Superior sound IMHO.

Nothing does voices, horns, and so much more, like horns,

do.

The sound is "Natural", not boomy, or shrill sounding.

Really funny, when folks see the speakers I have, they laugh, and say "you can't be serious?"

Music starts, "jaws drop to the floor!" SPEECHLESS!

They start walking around the room, as if in disbelief,

wondering how the sound is so "CLEAN!"

They go home, listen to the same CD's, and come back over,

and listen again, this time, visible upset, they usually

say something like, "never heard horns sound so real!"

A fellow listener, recently was "sick" when he compared

his 2 speakers(very nice$$$$$), to my set-up. "No comparison!"

Although using multiple speakers,when the Music starts they "disappear"!

Where his 2 speakers, left NO doubt, EXACTLY where the

Music was coming from.

Plus, they could NOT provide the Complete "Bass Lock"

on the entire room.

Imaging, Sound-stage, Dynamics, "Surround" Sound 2 channel,

front and back.

Unless You have a large Genesis or Infinity I.R.S., VR-11,Burmester, or

one of those seven foot tall speakers, no small 2 speakers,

will EVER fill a room evenly, as effortlessly, and

seem-less, with pure accurate Music reproduction.IMHO.

Altec, and JBL also have had great success, with Horn

designs, like the VOT, series.

They exist, because they make MUSIC! Something many of

the much more expensive speakers FAIL to do.

Recording Studios know.

Oh, if I hooked up my Klipsch to a 100wpc. Kenwood receiver,

THAT would be what Horn haters, refer to. "Shrill-City!"

They are like a microphone, every single sound is reproduced.

But, in my set-up, I hear details in songs, I NEVER heard!

I can hear Miles giving Rudy Van Gelder instructions

on several of His CD's, CLEARLY!

You HEAR every single sound that is on the CD, cash registers, inhale of horn players, decay in bass lines.

Barely audible on most speakers, VERY clearly audible,

on mine.

The inflection when a bass player strums a note, and the
sound of his finger releasing the strings. Amazing!

No not for everyone, but then, WHAT IS?

I Love Music!
Atmasphere:Okay...very well put. Big thumbs up.

Mapman: new Discoveries, are the Best.

Shadorne: great comments, and useful information. Thanks.

Oh, I Love that brown Leather! Beautiful listening room.

Csmgolf:Sorry, I never intend to be cruel at all; some people

do not know what a "subwoofer" is, visitors very often ask what they are.

No doubt the Horn speakers, have come a long way, and IMHO,

I think they will always be popular, to Music lovers.

I. Love Music!
Funny... If I am not mistaken, not one person, has

really explained "What they don't like about horn speakers"?

Just said, "hate, loathe,", oh and this is rich...

a violin sounding like a horn? And a comment regarding a distortion figure.
As far as noise? I squashed that notion, as I said,

even with your ear next to the Horn, it is QUIET!

Knowledge, is Power, stay in school.

The more you read, the more informed you will be.

Then perhaps, we may All benefit from actual "responses".

The Horn speaker, is as a "microphone", what ever is

recorded, will be played back, JUST as it was heard.

What specifically, is the problem?

I dislike Volkswagen "Things", because they look ugly.

They are slugs, get the idea?

"Hate, loathe" etc... why? be specific...

Because they sound Better than ANYTHING else!

Because they make your non-horn speakers sound like junk.

Because now your CD's sound "Alive!"

Okay?

I don't really care, I am just making a point.

Horns Sound "REAL", if You don't like "REAL"

Music, buy Bose.

I Love Music!
There is this device called a,

"SUB-WOOFER"

It is an amazing addition, and improves the sound in more

ways than you would expect.

Properly implemented, not ONLY is the "3d effect" THERE!

But, taking the load off of the mains, the mains can

do what they where made to do.

The Bass, is NO LONGER an issue.

The sheer speed, and visceral effects of the Velodynes,

in addition to the smoothness in the highs and midrange,

IMHO, it just does not get any better.

I Love Music!
I think those following this forum, have come to a

fresh understanding, of the wonderful world of

Horn speakers.

True, NOT for everyone.

But, if You are open, to a New way to enjoy Music.

Try 'em, there are MANY different types; so you

can't listen to one Horn speaker, and pan the

rest of them.

One can do a whole lot worse, that is for sure.

Much good information, has been shared here.

What ever, your choice....

Whether "Planar", or "Box" speakers, whatever the design

May Your Music experience be most fulfilling in every way.

Life is too short, Enjoy Your Music, to the MAX.!

Since this forum started, I think Gary Coleman, Dennis

Hopper, Simon Monjack(Brittany Murphy's husband) have

All passed away. May they Rest in Peace.

I Love Music!
It would be like a buddy who has a 89 Honda Civic, and he says that he would never own a 2010 Audi A-4, because it simply is not as fun to drive as his Honda?

Those who enjoy Horn driven speakers, that are set-up,

and dialed in properly, know how well Music can be

Presented, with a proper Horn set-up.; Just as ANY Audi A-4

owner, will attest to the fact that their Audi, is in

another League, as far as "fun to drive".

Unless you get to try out, in Your home, what folks

are talking about, how can you speak negatively about them.

Speculation, is FAR! from Reality.

And one Horn speaker, does NOT reflect the sound of ALL of

the MANY different varieties available today.

IMHO nothing gets the mid-range, or the highs correct,

like Horns do.

With the awesome variety of "low frequency" drivers, one

can easily, put together, a deadly Audio combination.

The creativity of many of your set-ups, shows this fact.

I Love Music!
for the same reason people did not want to buy a Honda car,

when they first came out.

Because they were different, they did what ALL other cars

could do, in addition, for a whole lot less gas.

Hyundai, is "Today's" Honda.

Ignorance, is All I am left to assume is the same reason here.

No disrespect intended, I only mean, not having heard,

how can someone appreciate something?

"Done Right" Horns can't be beat. Period.IMHO.

All the lame excuses, trying to prove otherwise, are

without any merit.In the situations ideal for Horn

playback

I think some people just see a Horn speaker, and their

brain says " I HATE HORNS!" ? Why? You tell me...

Oh, and yes, some can use a 3watt tube power amp. and

be happy as ever,while, some designs enjoy HUGE POWER &

HEADROOM,YOU! After all, control the volume, unless your

wife,has control.(Sorry)

Horns are NOT for ALL, But, do NOT! TRY to say that they

are not fully capable of Fantastic Audio Reproduction!

Because, that is just "IGNORANT".

And for the record: I have gotten a head-ache listening to

my fill of regular speakers, so don't act as they are

exempt. They are just as capable, of sounding like "crap".

It's like riding in a Lexus and saying, "too much road

noise! I can't take it." Now, any Lexus owner, will attest

to the fact,that they have tried to start the car, often

when it is running, because they did NOT even HEAR the

engine running! Like an "airlock" on a airliner! QUIET!

Prdprez: Amen Brother. Dan_ed: Not ALL Horns are alike.

Mapman:Again 1 Horn system,does not reflect the sound, of

ALL of the many other designs. Thanks for sharing.

Bottom Line: "Different strokes for different folks"

Enjoy Your Music, YOUR way.

I Love Music!
Lets move on,NOTHING has been settled here...

All I know is, the Klipschorn speaker has been made for

over 60 years, along with JBL, they have been making

the speakers the Studios used for many years.

That said: The "HORN" speaker, has firmly rooted itself,

into the Audio "Hall of Fame".

Name some of YOUR favorite speakers, how long have they

been around?

As I said earlier, no, Horns are not for everyone.

Life goes on.

Love them, hate them, it is YOUR choice; but to say

Horn speakers, fail to deliver superb sound, when

implemented properly, is just plain "IGNORANT".

From Japan, to Europe, and back, Klipschorn,along with

JBL, for over 60 years and counting, are still revered,

World Wide.

Somebody Loves Horns...

I Love Music!