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Why no Danley fever?

I've never actually heard the Danley SH50 'Synergy Horn' (full-range speaker), or the Danley DTS 10 (subwoofer). However, I recently surfed into them on the web, and am a believer that 'measured specs don't lie' (and no one seems to dispute their specs): the sub will reproduce 10 htz at over 100 db!; the SH50 is nearly ruler flat from 50 htz - 20 khtz. SH50s are extremely sensitive (100db) yet able to handle 1000 watts, producing 130 plus db, if I remember correctly.

There are but scanty reviews online (non-existant really for us home theater types), geared to the pros, and these are extremely positive.

The unique SH50 horn design, in which all of the drivers are loaded load the horn, is unique and theoretically far superior to that most commonly employed: attaching drivers to the face of a box.

Has anyone heard these guys?

What explains, besides the fact that they are not pretty, their relative obscurity in our neck of the woods?
pmcneil
mgrif104
47 posts
 
Bwaslo: I think you may have misunderstood my response. I think Danley makes some of the best sounding pro audio speakers out there. I spec'd Danley for a new performing arts center and they modeled out great in the analysis. The facility is being built, but I expect it to sound terrific when finished.

However...
I stand by my previous comments that their different design objectives mean certain compromises have been made in important areas such that they won't fully stand against most speakers that people on this forum would consider good.
Physics are at play here. Unless you believe that cabinets, crossovers, etc have no impact on sound,there's only so much that can be done. The design objectives are very different for the two markets.
Again, Danley's are probably the best sounding pro-audio speakers out there - and I've heard very many of them when doing sound. However, to my ears, I'll take well engineered home audio equipment for my home. Of course, my $.02 only.
Peace.
plinko
223 posts
 
You've got to supply your own crossovers...is that correct?
mgrif104
47 posts
 
you'd probably want an outboard crossover to integrate their sub with the mains, but the mains themselves do not require outboard crossovers.

Also, please be aware that the synergy horns are highly directional by design- a 50 degree radiation pattern. They do this so you can control where the sound goes - more importantly, where it does not (i.e. avoid washing the walls of a performing arts theater where the reflections might cause smearing and phase/frequency cancellations).

They operate as "point source" speakers because all drivers are loaded into the same horn so they appear pretty focused in that regard. However, I believe the crossovers are not adjusted for phase accuracy (my understanding though I've never really looked into it) or time aligned. So, while they sound like point source, there are likely to be some discontinuities when listened to in a living room. These are immaterial in the settings in which they're normally used - most listeners are probably 50' to 200' away. A living room is practically near field listening.
That said, they'll make a killer system if none of the above are discouraging.
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