Axpona

Yes, the Volti/Border Patrol and Muraudio rooms both sounded fine at Axpona. Ditto the new Legacy V. Among omnis I also liked the two MBL rooms with RTR sources-- though the smaller 116F on Jolida tube monoblocks amps seemed often to surpass the larger 111F on MBL 1000wpc Class A amps. By Sunday the gaps between many rooms had narrowed or closed.

You all may be right, but strong conclusions were hard for me. A lot of rooms played too loudly (like MBL to get over the sound of the HVAC), so there was too much room interaction with sparse acoustic treatment. The antidote for the dry sound at Axpona, along with Volti, I think was Harbeth/Vinnie Rossi. They had that system really dialed in. Good sound is more careful execution and taste, and maybe not so much technical features, although those products have merit. And some like big Wilsons and YG I thought were outstanding.

Volti are gorgeous looking horns. I've heard them and liked them. The sound was definitely towards the warmer side that one often associates with box horn designs.

If Cathedral speakers in Virginia is still around, take a look at those. I loved those when I heard them and a much better value than Volti. You'll either love or hate the looks though and they are not small. These were perhaps the best value larger horn designs that I have heard, last time I checked. Its been a couple years though and Cathedral is a small operation so not sure what the current status is.

Link To Cathedral Website.

This is first place I would look if I had an extra $10 or less perhaps and a place for large horn speakers like these.

05-07-15: Don_c55
This is what is hear way too much of in the "Big Buck" systems at shows, over the last decade!

Exaggerated high frequencies and etch = "detail"!

Biting unnatural attacks = "fast transient response"!

Unnaturally dry bass = "taut" and "tight"!

Absolutely right

But it is the way it is and this is the "Standard" now (especially when the MSRP is high enough that the distributor can pay all ads with one sold item...followed by the usual Fanboys give support because they got something cheaper, not because it is good, they kneel in front of the price tags usually...)

Understanding And Enjoying Audio Reviews

When they say...
(They mean ...)

In spite of the measurement anomalies, this speaker is clearly
a state-of-the-art product.
( It didn't SOUND broken when we gave it our top rating )

It was definitely borderline Class A.
( It isn't that good, but it's sooo expensive,
and they're letting me keep it --- G-d I feel So cheap! )

Better than amps costing three times as much.
( I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I like the amp )

Light years ahead of the competition
( The competition won't give us a review sample )

Despite it's slight problems at the extremes, the products strong point
was it's rendition of the all-important midrange.
( This thing has no bass and treble that actually hurts! )

We hire only the best writers.
( We'll hire any audiophile who recognizes a pencil two out of three tries )

This is an incomplete but promising design from a talented young designer.
( The product sucks but he has some money left in his advertising budget )

This product had me pulling one record after another from my collection.
( I listened to all five of my records )

The images in the soundstage had that elusive and seductive sense of palatable presence
( I haven't had sex since my wife left me and I'm starting to hallucinate )

This product lacks some of the subtle refinements we've come expect from a designer of this caliber.
( The product stinks but we don't want to piss off this famous manufacturer )

Better than amps costing three times as much
( I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I like the amp )

This preamp is the new reference
( We aint giving it back, and we aint paying' for it either )