What speakers have most horn-like dynamics?

caesar

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From what I have heard, MBLs and YGs. I have also heard the biggest Wilsons driven by powerful SS do great with symphonies.
 

ddk

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From what I have heard, MBLs and YGs. I have also heard the biggest Wilsons driven by powerful SS do great with symphonies.

HORNS! None of these speakers are even close to a good horn design.

david

PS. Not saying that they're bad just very different from horn speakers.
 
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Rodney Gold

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Went to hear Trios the other day .. was stunned by the dynamics... but also felt under relentless attack
Came home and missed the dynamic aspect on my G1's , but to be honest , I could never live with the trio sound long term (as they were set up)..the dynamics felt unnatural ..no music I have heard sounded like that.
At any rate..if I DID have the space and the Tom , I would set up a 2nd horn based system like the Trios.
 

Mosin

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HORNS! None of these speakers are even close to a good horn design.

david

PS. Not saying that they're bad just very different from horn speakers.

Especially some Western Electric horns!

By the way, Rodney, horns can sound right. It's uncommon, but done well they will blow your mind. The downside...prepare to pay!
 

Keith_W

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From time to time, I have come across some speakers which are dynamic, but none are as dynamic as horns. If you want horn-like dynamics, there is only one way to go - horns.

But since you asked the question, my answer will be: Tannoy Prestige series. This may be a bit of an acquired taste - with the "wrong" amplification, they can sound excessively flabby with a thick, rosy coloration. As a friend once said to me, "they make me feel old". It's the Mercedes E class of speakers - very good, very competent, but instantly adds 20 years to your perceived age. However, with GOOD amplification, these speakers come alive. The thick, rosy coloration never quite goes away, but they are very enjoyable speakers to listen to.
 

bonzo75

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From what I have heard, MBLs and YGs. I have also heard the biggest Wilsons driven by powerful SS do great with symphonies.

Probably the easiest and most non controversial question on this forum. None.
 
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spiritofmusic

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This question is a bit like asking what skinny ass Size Zero supermodel in 2015 best resembles Jayne Mansfield/Marilyn Monroe/Gina Lollobrigida/Sofia Loren
 
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JackD201

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From time to time, I have come across some speakers which are dynamic, but none are as dynamic as horns. If you want horn-like dynamics, there is only one way to go - horns.

Up until yesterday afternoon, I would have agreed with you.
 

FrantzM

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KeithR

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Keith, so what have you heard?

start looking at high efficiency speakers - doesn't just have to be horns, although that seems to be the forum taste du jour. there is a good thread from two years ago on this subject.

Voxativ, Zu, Tannoy, Shindo, etc. all have big dynamics.

i feel there is a common misperception that a "zillion watts equals dynamics" on low efficiency speakers. Case in point, I went and heard Magico S5s/Vac (on the big 450 monos) followed by Shindo Latours on push/pull 300Bs - in different, but rather large dealer rooms. There was no contest on dynamics- the Shindo was bigger, more dynamic, and much more effortless. Now, tonalities of these speakers is very different as well so its only one criteria. People who love super extended Be treble won't like a Shindo and vice versa.
 

FrantzM

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start looking at high efficiency speakers - doesn't just have to be horns, although that seems to be the forum taste du jour. there is a good thread from two years ago on this subject.

Voxativ, Zu, Tannoy, Shindo, etc. all have big dynamics.

i feel there is a common misperception that a "zillion watts equals dynamics" on low efficiency speakers. Case in point, I went and heard Magico S5s/Vac (on the big 450 monos) followed by Shindo Latours on push/pull 300Bs - in different, but rather large dealer rooms. There was no contest on dynamics- the Shindo was bigger, more dynamic, and much more effortless. Now, tonalities of these speakers is very different as well so its only one criteria. People who love super extended Be treble won't like a Shindo and vice versa.

Keith

I am with you. I have come to think it is a matter of efficiency.
 

DaveC

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High efficiency speakers with large diameter drivers would be the closest to horns, the large diameter drivers are key as the mechanical impedance is closest to a horn.
 

bonzo75

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Went to hear Trios the other day .. was stunned by the dynamics... but also felt under relentless attack
Came home and missed the dynamic aspect on my G1's , but to be honest , I could never live with the trio sound long term (as they were set up)..the dynamics felt unnatural ..no music I have heard sounded like that.
At any rate..if I DID have the space and the Tom , I would set up a 2nd horn based system like the Trios.

Actually, most music is that dynamic, at classical live concerts.
 

dallasjustice

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From what I have heard, MBLs and YGs. I have also heard the biggest Wilsons driven by powerful SS do great with symphonies.

The YGs have a lot of strengths other speakers don't have. But none of the YG speakers are super dynamic. They aren't horn-like in anyway, IMO. They are sealed cabinet, low efficiency and present a tough load on most amps. I would say only the biggest YGs are dynamic speakers. And even then, one can get the low end to bottom out with some tracks at reasonably loud levels in a decent size room.

I assume you are looking for a very dynamic loudspeaker, but not horns. If that's the case, there are better choices. But nothing can play louder at low distortion like a really good horn speaker with a larger woofer. The problem with some of the more efficient dynamic speakers is the port. Once you've gotten used to hearing accurate bass, any speaker with a port will sound like a speaker with a port. It's very audible to me. Some speakers disguise the port better than others. I would say the vivid port is pretty innocuous. Some manufacturers tune the port so low the group delay is much less audible. For example, one of the biggest let downs for me was the KEF Blade II speakers. They sounded wonderful and then came that ported bass. It sounded so sloppy to me.

I really think the only way to get a speaker to be super dynamic without going horns is for the speaker designer to include a powered woofer and make it big. Even then, the room will probably get in the way of really good bass. For me, external subs has been the answer for a while now. I even got huge dynamics out of the YG anat III studio.
 

DaveC

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The YGs have a lot of strengths other speakers don't have. But none of the YG speakers are super dynamic. They aren't horn-like in anyway, IMO. They are sealed cabinet, low efficiency and present a tough load on most amps. I would say only the biggest YGs are dynamic speakers. And even then, one can get the low end to bottom out with some tracks at reasonably loud levels in a decent size room.

I assume you are looking for a very dynamic loudspeaker, but not horns. If that's the case, there are better choices. But nothing can play louder at low distortion like a really good horn speaker with a larger woofer. The problem with some of the more efficient dynamic speakers is the port. Once you've gotten used to hearing accurate bass, any speaker with a port will sound like a speaker with a port. It's very audible to me. Some speakers disguise the port better than others. I would say the vivid port is pretty innocuous. Some manufacturers tune the port so low the group delay is much less audible. For example, one of the biggest let downs for me was the KEF Blade II speakers. They sounded wonderful and then came that ported bass. It sounded so sloppy to me.

I really think the only way to get a speaker to be super dynamic without going horns is for the speaker designer to include a powered woofer and make it big. Even then, the room will probably get in the way of really good bass. For me, external subs has been the answer for a while now. I even got huge dynamics out of the YG anat III studio.

That's not a correct generalization WRT ported speakers.

I agree with you about the KEFs, but blaming the port isn't the reality of the situation. Listen to TAD speakers, they are front ported and the bass is a touch overdamped and very "fast"... It's all about implementation, and there are some advantages to ported designs like less distortion at higher volumes because there is far less excursion required vs sealed drivers. DSP should be able to minimize or eliminate group delay issues as well, making for the possibility of a cab that is better than sealed or typical passive ported designs.
 
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