What are the Top Horn Speakers in the World Today? Vox Olympian vs Avantgarde Trio vs ???
- Thread starter caesar
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I would add that I see no reason DSP cannot be used to good effect on the bass section only, except that some purists will not like having paddle shifters on that particular gear
100% agree that an SE tube amplifier and an exceptional passive crossover are preferred for the mids and highs. At Trio's, Angie Lissi, the North American importer, utilizes Phasemation, although I have only heard that combination paired with the smaller Avantgarde offerings, and I really liked it. Ron has listened to the AG Trios in a dedicated room in LA and raved, albeit I'm not sure what the amplification is.
Vassill of Taiko NA and Chicago HiFi has an exceptional hybrid horn system with Cessaro's, which he has modified and continues to fine-tune, especially with his bass system. We will be testing his system with some new GM-70 amplifiers from Trafomatic later in the year. I'm a believer that most horns, regardless of efficiency, can benefit from a few more watts. Ron has also heard that system, but not recently, due to upgrades to the bass system and especially the room treatment.
100% agree that an SE tube amplifier and an exceptional passive crossover are preferred for the mids and highs. At Trio's, Angie Lissi, the North American importer, utilizes Phasemation, although I have only heard that combination paired with the smaller Avantgarde offerings, and I really liked it. Ron has listened to the AG Trios in a dedicated room in LA and raved, albeit I'm not sure what the amplification is.
Vassill of Taiko NA and Chicago HiFi has an exceptional hybrid horn system with Cessaro's, which he has modified and continues to fine-tune, especially with his bass system. We will be testing his system with some new GM-70 amplifiers from Trafomatic later in the year. I'm a believer that most horns, regardless of efficiency, can benefit from a few more watts. Ron has also heard that system, but not recently, due to upgrades to the bass system and especially the room treatment.
I tend to lean slightly toward conventional, boxed speakers, but overall I agree with your perspective.
A couple of weeks ago, I joined a friend to audition a Vivid speaker for his system. About two months ago, I had a deal lined up for a Kharma Exquisite Galileo 3.0, but unfortunately it fell through. I’ve recently purchased the Stenheim Alumine Five instead.
I very much like Kharma Exquisite series especially with Kondo electronics and cables.
IMHO/IME the problem with AG was plastic horns and flimsy support rods. They updated support rods with a more sturdy and stiff design and most probably solved the wobble issue. I don’t know what else they did to upgrade but newer AGs sound very good to my ears, especially the new AG trios.
Even the new Uno sounds very good and I haven’t really liked it much in the past.
What electronics are you driving the 5s with? Here in Switzerland they tend to demo with crappy electronics and they always underperform. On paper it looks like a really good speaker but I haven’t heard a demo yet that reached their potential.
I use Kondo electronics and cables to drive Stenheim Fives.
Amplifiers and other components really need electricity flowing fast and uninterrupted. Once you manage the electricity, woofers get all the push they need.
In fact, anyone who understands and addresses the issues related to electricity can achieve good sound quite easily.
I haven’t heard plural evo the big Zellaton statement was excellent with FM acoustics. I wouldn’t go by how it sounds in Munich.
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Not sure how this thread turned to a discussion of dynamic speakers
Cesar started this thread over three years ago. Perhaps now a few members think that some dynamic speakers sound as good as the best horn speakers with similar open and effortless sound, startling dynamics, and natural tone without any of the unpleasant collaborations.
No criticism of Caesar intended, whom I have followed for some time. I have dipped in and out of the thread. Even though I am involved in the manufacture of dynamic speakers (von Schweiker's), I love horns, and single-ended amplification, Destination Audio Nika's and Odeon Semper's among them. I'm all for people realizing that a handful of dynamic speakers (not always the usual suspects) can do all those things. I totally agree and believe the best of each transducer type can make one lose oneself in the music and forget they are listening to a hi-fi system. That's precisely what I am doing as I write this reply
No but there are many bad efficient speakers, the best cone speakers sound better than the many bad efficient speakers
In this regard, the Phasemation MA 5000, which @dcc uses with the large Stenheim, could be interesting. 2 x 45 W from one pair of WE211 each. But is it enough for the Stenheim 5? I don't know.
Unfortunately, I've only heard Stenheim in Munich on Nagra and DartZeel – neither of which were good for me. But in a home or at a dealer's, with plenty of time to put together a system that has really grown, the result can be much better, I realise that.
In my case, however, I prefer really loud speakers
whether with a horn (LM Iconic) or without a horn (LaVoix).Similar threads
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