Horns: Why don't they image well?

@ wolf_garcia

Been there done that Wolf, check out my post 4 back.

Cheers George 

I have NO problem admitting I prefer some dynamic compression at a certain point. I'm not very interested in 120dB of dynamic range at all. It's painful. I don't perceive hyper-dynamic sound as good. It's exciting, and those Klipsch were exciting, but as I've said, I can imagine such a sound to be difficult to tolerate with material I like. I felt what soundstage was there was artificially focused beyond any reality I've ever heard. I like that my Focal take that hyper-realism and the pointed dynamics down a notch in exchange for a vastly superior soundstage. Maybe those things could be made to image better, but those things were about 30 feet short on depth and about 10 feet short on each side with a notable lack of air and ambience.  The superior dynamics probably contributed to the lack of convincing depth and the more forward sound. I enjoy massive, towering, bottomless, enveloping soundstages. That's realism in the music. When the speaker steps in and begins truncating the recording environment or intended scale of image size, I cannot excuse that to any great extent. That, to me, is a failing much more offensive than a small compromise in ear-stabbing dynamics. 

120 db spl ? Are you kidding me. You think this is why I like horns. Again, clueless. I compare systems to live, unamplified music. The further you are from the musicians, the less specific the image is of the location of the performers. 50 plus years of listening, using my ears, experimenting and setting up all sorts of gear ( home and pro ), being on stage, behind the stage, in studios, and, more homes than I can count, I am happiest with what my modified, updated and tweaked Lascalas, and what they present to " me " ( especially at the ridiculous low cost of them ). That is all that matters. There are so many aspects of sound, related to music. Arguing and discussing this back and forth is ridiculous. I am glad you guys have found your areas of happiness. Enjoy all ! MrD.

You can try to dismiss my experience with your speakers and having listened well over a thousand live acts, but it ain't gonna work. 
There was no lack at all of very specific imaging with those LaScala. It was at least as well defined as my Focal if not more so on account of the more forward presentation. I'd need to move into a warehouse before I had enough space for those speakers to begin producing any kind of amorphous soundstage. They extracted every ounce of detail and position from the recording and effortless placed it with hyper-realistic exactitude within the boundaries of those speakers.
Ralph is very right in his assertion that most often dynamics are the product of high order distortion. That's the kind of dynamics I tend to hear in acoustic theater performances. I'd much rather listen to an orchestra recorded in a proper studio or live outside. 
I'll need to listen more, but at this point I'm still convinced that if you want the best imaging possible with the most realistic, convincing dynamics, conventional speaker are your only options. 

Kosst, To each his own. I am not sure you wrote want you really wanted to say. In your latest description above, you gave Kudos to what you heard. Besides, I am not trying to dismiss anything you say, nor any opinion you have. Early on when we first communicated, you indicated you did not like the sound of live horns, as well as many other live instruments, which was interesting to me, as you, and other members of your family, played instruments. I understand the fact that you prefer hifi sound as opposed to live sound. Your last statement is amusing. Again, enjoy your dynamic speakers, as I will enjoy my horn speakers. No need to continue on this path. It is all about the music. Enjoy !MrD.