Horn Porn weekend

[marty]

It looks like Jesse Pinkman's listening room.

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Best post of the thread!!! LOL!!!! Outstanding!!

 

[Folsom]

So should I move to Italy? It would be fun to bring around new designs for a group to pass judgement on.

 

[Blizzard]

It looks like Jesse Pinkman's listening room.

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There's a man who knows how to party! Are those shun mooks I see?

 

[Argonaut]

Large open baffles may also prove quite effective in delivering that large scale relaxed presentation, these appear to be vintage Altec or Great Plains Audio copies-

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SXdOteXnfFs

 

[Ron Resnick]

Bonzo75, Thank you for showing us these numerous systems. So where do these new auditions leave you in your decision process? Has your speaker preference ordering changed?

 

[bonzo75]

Bonzo75, Thank you for showing us these numerous systems. So where do these new auditions leave you in your decision process? Has your speaker preference ordering changed?

No. But it reinforces what I told you earlier and what Pepe57 is doing. There is no one system that gives the best sound, no matter how much you pay. You plateau after a level, and it's best to have multiple systems with different voicing. Assuming you have the budget for a very expensive system, you have one for lower cost multiple systems

 

[Argonaut]

No. But it reinforces what I told you earlier and what Pepe57 is doing. There is no one system that gives the best sound, no matter how much you pay. You plateau after a level, and it's best to have multiple systems with different voicing. Assuming you have the budget for a very expensive system, you have one for lower cost multiple systems

I quite concur with you on this point Bonzo, thank you for introducing me to such a novel experience

 

[DaveC]

I agree. I always thought looking for a system that'll do intimate music/female vocals and also do large scale music, both at "world class" levels, to be impossible... one end of things will be compromise. When I recommended one of the best speakers possible for small-scale (Lotus Grenada) that also can do larger music with some competency and was told it wasn't big enough I thought this quest was bound to end in disappointment. The TAD REf 1s are another, but both recs have been largely ignored... not sure why I'm even bothering to post this actually...

For small scale/female vocals you need a speaker that approximates a point source and looking at huge panels and massive horn systems is a bit ridiculous imo. If you want to do both small and large scale music, both at world class levels, you need two systems... simple as that. If you want a compromise system look for a point source with great dynamic and high SPL abilities, like the TAD Ref 1s.

Today's monster speakers are made mostly to be large and expensive, not because they are better. There is a market for the largest and most expensive speakers that can be made and the point isn't the best SQ possible.

 

[Purite Audio]

Disagree completely, the loudspeaker does not know what it is playing a good loudspeaker is a good loudspeaker and will play everything .
Keith.

 

[DaveC]

Disagree completely, the loudspeaker does not know what it is playing a good loudspeaker is a good loudspeaker and will play everything .
Keith.

I get it, if Bruno is involved everything's perfect and the speaker makes no compromise. DSP is pretty amazing...

You're starting to sound a lot like Blizzard with your constant statements about how perfect this kind of thing can be.

 

[bonzo75]

I think valves and stats are great for intimate vocals and baroque kind of music, but I don't see much mileage in getting more expensive stats. Quads and acoustats are great. People them chase bigger panels to get more dynamics and bass, but the strength there for me is horns, for some it's Wilson Alexandria type huge cones. The third thing is immersive, like auro 3d and atmos. It does things a 2-Ch never can.

Actually, a lot of people follow this strategy in analog, by getting different sounding cartridges

 

[DaveC]

Especially if it measures flat

'cause there's nothing more to it than that.

 

[Argonaut]

I get it, if Bruno is involved everything's perfect and the speaker makes no compromise. DSP is pretty amazing...

You're starting to sound a lot like Blizzard with your constant statements about how perfect products you pedal can be.

I hope that you will allow a slight addendum DaveC.

 

[Blizzard]

I get it, if Bruno is involved everything's perfect and the speaker makes no compromise. DSP is pretty amazing...

You're starting to sound a lot like Blizzard with your constant statements about how perfect this kind of thing can be.

Sounds like Keith is on to something. You'll catch on one day Dave. You're a smart guy. I have faith.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I agree with bonzo's main point: That no one speaker can be the best for every type of music. My personal objective is to build the best single system for the type of music I listen to primarily, and expect (i.e., hope) that it will do passably well with all other types of music.

I certainly can understand in theory having one system based on something like MartinLogan electrostatic speakers for vocals and chamber music and another system based on big Genesis or big Evolution Acoustics or big Wilson or big Rockport speakers, etc., for symphony orchestra music. But the search for one speaker system which can do everything at least very convincingly remains for me a fascinating, if elusive and, likely, unattainable, quest.

 

[Purite Audio]

I agree with bonzo's main point: That no one speaker can be the best for every type of music. My personal objective is to build the best single system for the type of music I listen to primarily, and expect (i.e., hope) that it will do passably well with all other types of music.

I certainly can understand in theory having one system based on something like MartinLogan electrostatic speakers for vocals and chamber music and another system based on big Genesis or big Evolution Acoustics or big Wilson or big Rockport speakers, etc., for symphony orchestra music. But the search for one speaker system which can do everything at least very convincingly remains for me a fascinating, if elusive and, likely, unattainable, quest.

I really do not understand this mindset, as has been mentioned countless times, a loudspeaker does not know what it is playing, a series of test tones or a symphony.
A well designed full range loudspeaker 20Hz up in a properly treated room will play everything , why would it not?
Keith.

 

[FrantzM]

Not sure about this: Great speakers simply sound great on all music in my experience... I have heard the mighty Genesis 1.1 doing small scale music: Solo voice and guitar in a way that to this day haunts me ... We may prefer some presentation to others but .. That is what a great speaker is about.
Those past 10~15 years High End Audio has moved away from the center that used to be High Fidelity aka faithful reproduction. Right now it is about flavors ... with seemingly the most expensive being the better. That has become the new orthodoxy. The new paradigm.

 

[bonzo75]

Not sure about this: Great speakers simply sound great on all music in my experience... I have heard the mighty Genesis 1.1 doing small scale music: Solo voice and guitar in a way that to this day haunts me ... We may prefer some presentation to others but .. That is what a great speaker is about.
Those past 10~15 years High End Audio has moved away from the center that used to be High Fidelity aka faithful reproduction. Right now it is about flavors ... with seemingly the most expensive being the better. That has become the new orthodoxy. The new paradigm.

Actually, different speakers means they need not be expensive. You can have a valve with quads for certain music, average cones with DSPed subs for another, extended to MCH, and a full range horn for something else.

 

[Purite Audio]

Actually, different speakers means they need not be expensive. You can have a valve with quads for certain music, average cones with DSPed subs for another, extended to MCH, and a full range horn for something else.

But why would you ?
Why not just have one well designed pair of loudspeakers and spend some time and effort optimising them in the room.
Keith.

 

[FrantzM]

Wasn't my point Bonzo...

To me faithful reproduction of music goes through the faithful reproduction of the full audible spectrum. Listening to a small Baroque quartet through a full range speaker system will tell you how much limiting the range to preferred portion of frequencies deprive the listener from lot of information that would carry more of the music meaning.
On that the audiophile with the limited range system and the kid with the 30 inch subwoofer drivers in his car that shakes all things when he drives by, commit the same sin: They distort the original to fit their preferences. One is lauded for it the other derided ...