I would add that it is advances in technology that allowed conventional drivers to compete with horns in terms of dynamics: ferrofluid in tweeters, massive voice coils and high powered solid state electronics. In order to compete with horn inherent high SPL and dynamics, the newer systems were often actively powered with outboard individual Crown high power amplifiers dedicated to each driver. Modern active speaker systems have evolved so that the multiple driver dedicated amplifiers are built directly in to the speaker.
What does one purchase after owning horns?
I have owned Avantgarde Uno's and sold them because of the lack of bass to horn integration. I loved the dynamics, the midrange and highs. Now faced with a new speaker purchase, I demo speakers and they sound lifeless and contrived. The drama and beauty of live music and even the sound of percussion insturments like a piano are not at all convincing. I have an $8k budget for speakers give or take a thousand. My room is 13'X26' firing down the length. Any good ideas will be appreciated. My music prefrences are jazz/jazz vocalist.
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Here is a history Main Monitors Horn systems have also improved and modern Westlake's with TAD drivers are amazingly good too as are JBL's or Meyers. My comments here are not to bash horns at all! Just mentioning alternatives - that is all. Although I would add that you can do far far better than an Altec 604 these days. Altec 604 is no longer competitive IMHO. |
- 375 posts total