Horn based loudspeakers why the controversy?

d2girls,

I like a lot of things about Avantgarde systems.  They are, like most good horn systems, very dynamic and sound quite good at lower volume levels.  They also don't have as much problems with nasal coloration or other types of tonal coloration associated with some horn systems. 

But, they have varying degrees of problems with integration between the horn and the bass modules; the two parts sound different.  Also, with some of their systems, the bass has a bit of a "one-note" quality.  Still, on balance, I like the systems I've heard.

Larryi1,

can you divulge which other horn systems you have heard please? 

johnK-

do you still have a website? can you please provide the link?

The bass was AWOL at 40Hz; a fact I couldn’t live with.

Bass may have been AWOL below 40Hz, but are your Focals really better in this regard, or is it just their exaggerated upper bass you’re mistaking for bass depth?

The Focals are about 5db down at 40Hz, and a very steep roll off below 50Hz:
https://www.stereophile.com/content/focal-aria-936-loudspeaker-measurements

Exaggerated bass is very common among modern tower speakers - becoming something of the norm. Many, even "pro" reviewers, mistake this for bass depth because they’re not in tune with what the two lowest octaves really sound/feel like. A lot of music has very little if any content below 40Hz. I bet those LaScalas were barely putting out anything useful below 50Hz.

Except music with a 5 string bass at 31hz for the low B, percussion overtones, pianos, the ambient sound around live orchestras, life...etc....

Not to mention the 16Hz tone of the lowest pipe organ pedal! Some of the other lower pedals also create sub-40Hz tones, as does, as wolf said, the far left end of the grand piano keyboard. Recordings made in large venues (cathedrals, churches, large theaters) often contain sub-40Hz room sound.