Question is do horns, generally speaking, produce life-like dynamics or exaggerated 'life-unlike' dynamics ? As I understand, 15" woofer is difficult to make fast, maybe couple of 10" - 12" would be better ? I would not expect any $3k speakers with any source and amps to give me a real scale, $30k would be a more realistic figure, I guess. Having said that, I read some review of the Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated where the reviewer, after he had done his tests, tried this $16k integrated with $500 Elac monitor speakers, just for fun. He was close to shock - he didn't expect them to be able to play like that. Speakers need great amps. |
....because everybody wants gigantic, hulking crates for speakers, a big honky sound, and 110dB, right? This doesn't strike me as a debate so much about dynamic range as it seems about just blaring, deafeningly loud regardless of the quality. The foundation of excellent imaging is flat response across a broad range of volume. You cannot have excellent imaging without that characteristic. Huge speakers are very well known for sonically falling apart when operated below their optimum power. Speakers with smaller drivers remain much more coherent across a much wider power range at the cost of some dynamics at the their limits. It's a trade off and very few speakers deviate far from that truth. That's all I'm trying to say and have acknowledged here. |
Not going to comment on horns here because do not have enough experience beyond PA systems to add any value. I have heard some impressive dynamics and excellent imaging from medium sized tower speakers with cone drivers that can be had for under ten grand new or used. Many suggested here already. Here’s my list: Focals - 1038 Be II or Sopra 3 - used Wilson - later Watt Puppy or Sophia models - used (good choice IMO) bigger ProAc Response models - used PMC - Fact 12 - used (pair on Agon now just above your budget for nearly 1/2 price new, FYI) Monitor Audio Platinum 300-II - used Vandersteen - Quattro, maybe, preferably CT model Revel Ultima Studio 2 - used - very good with right amplification none of these are going to be as efficient as horns of course, but you will not need a monster amp to drive most of them to achieve what you are looking for. I don’t know what you are using now, but these are all very good for around ten grand, give or take a few big ones. |
@kosst_amojan There is another world out there beyond even high end home audio and you might be right to call it totally crazy but explosive it is https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M2X6jisRSk8 This studio was built only a few years ago and is similar in setup to Mark Knopfler’s studio. Those are 15 inch woofers - all of them! And that delivers up to 121 db SPL continuous at 0.3% THD. Surprisingly, the low volume performance is even lower in distortion - so big and powerful can play incredible detail too. These drivers all get broken in at the factory with a serious stress test https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEBICv7QPDM |
