What are the Top Horn Speakers in the World Today? Vox Olympian vs Avantgarde Trio vs ???

[bonzo75]

Would you put these speakers in your living room?

Nothing beats the aesthetic of WAMM.

I think you should also look at Audionec Evo 2. They will go well with 20w plus SETs and low watt push pulls, as well as your CH.

 

[PeterA]

Would you put these speakers in your living room?

A good question and I think one of the reasons speakers and systems sound so different now.

 

[Legolas]

What did you think of the WE horns in comparison to modern horn systems?

The WE 1930s horns sound superb within their limitations. i.e. pretty narrow bandwidth, mid bass to mid treble is spot on, but no sub bass and little treble extension. So a warm cuddly kind of sound. But that midrange to die for, and vocals are superbly realistic. Along with an enormous soundstage and realistic dynamics. At Munich the WE room was always packed, and few wanted to leave, which tells you something.

Most modern horns do full bandwidth, but IMO few get the midrange magic of the WE's. That is why I rate Aries Cerat horns, they DO the WE magic plus have the bandwidth, speed and accuracy of live music. So back to the reason we are on this thread in the first place is IMO Horns do some (most) things no other type of speaker can do. Though the size and cost can be an issue for some.

 

[AudioHR]

Yes, you only understand the concept of dynamics, right? By placing TAD in the Horn league, lol. Those who had TAD and switched to horns like AG have realized what dynamics and liveliness truly mean. Your opinions are only beneficial to you and to increasing Pioneer’s profits, not to anything else.

Speakers with low efficiency, complex crossovers, difficult impedance loading, and over-damped cabinets, even with good AC power and no ground noise, do not produce a lively sound or an overall good sound at low volumes because they lack the ability to properly move the air and deliver natural dynamics at lower levels. The design compromises, such as excessive damping and challenging impedance, limit their ability to maintain coherence and energy, resulting in a flat, lifeless sound at reduced volumes.

I prefer a sound that is soulful and tactile, one that gives you the feeling of being there, over a lifeless, analytical speaker that only delivers an impressive studio sound. If someone values more bass extension with DeVore, this can be achieved by adding subs, which is what Jim Smith did by adding REL subs to Tannoy/Fyne Audio two-way speakers. This improved both bass extension and spatiality, giving more depth to the sound. However, the issue of lifeless and analytical speakers that are ultra-neutral and only impress the listener, turning them into an analyst rather than someone who connects emotionally with the music, cannot be solved by anything. You just need to be careful not to fall into the trap of the "wow" factor created during the first listening session.

Yes, these theories are good for those who want to avoid the deceptive, high-tech speakers you mentioned and, instead of listening to overpriced, market-pleasing devices, directly connect to the music on a simpler path.

TAD has such a significant impedance spike that it goes off the graph! A speaker that focused a bit more on driver matching rather than marketing wouldn’t have such poor impedance and phase response. In comparison, the phase response of the Wilson Alexia V is more controlled and flatter than the TAD, which exhibits more extreme phase shifts, suggesting less than ideal driver matching or integration.

View attachment 157138
View attachment 157139

LOL, is the papyrus fiber, which comes from the stem of the Egyptian reed, plastic?! Maybe they've been injecting microplastics into these reeds recently, and we didn't know about it! It's like saying fast food made from processed ingredients is more organic than plant-based food.

Almost hate to comment as I respect the comments from both Amir and Kozak. It is clear that both are passionate about good sound but in this particular case they are coming from different perspectives and perhaps experiences. Personally I find myself more aligned with Kozak's thinking as I find far to many of today's speakers clinical and devoid of naturalness.

I am not the one to judge who is right, I don think I have the depth of experience of either. I know what I like though. Obviously at this point it seems important that one be right as it is becoming personal. Perhaps there is more in play than the actual speaker/amplifier interface, I hope these two critical thinkers will step back a touch.

 

[Kozak170]

Will never be able to sound good as a 5k tannoy gold, used Devore O96, or this speaker that cost a bit over 5k

In that price range, it’s not surprising that you might prefer the AG Colibri C2 over the Duos, as the Colibri C2 is a two-way passive speaker that offers high efficiency and dynamic performance. It lacks a built-in DSP but offers the option to add a subwoofer.

 

[Kozak170]

At Munich the WE room was always packed, and few wanted to leave, which tells you something.

The main reason is that theater horns like WE or Bionor have much wider dispersion compared to modern horns like Avantgarde, hORNS, and Cessaro, allowing more listeners to enjoy the sound from any location in the room. Unlike horns with high directivity and narrow sweet spots, such as AG, hORNS, and Cessaro, you don’t have to be in a specific spot to experience all the benefits of the sound. That’s why, as soon as you enter a WE room, the sound immediately surrounds you, and you enjoy it. However, in an AG room, you need to find a seat in the middle row to be in the sweet spot and achieve optimal sound. Additionally, spherical horns like AGs require more time for placement and adjustments at exhibitions due to their narrow sweet spots, while radial horns like WE are less sensitive to placement and provide good sound from most areas of the room.

These are the main characteristic differences between radial and spherical horns, and these features explain the appeal and popularity of the WE room at shows.

 

[gleeds]

I have recently listened to Odeon horns from Germany and been impressed. Despite their relatively good efficiency, they seem to open up dynamically when used with higher power SE amplification in the 40--70-watt range. I find their tonal balance (perhaps derived from their solid plywood spherical wave horn) quite natural, with the display of spatial information some of the best I have heard from a manageably sized horn loudspeaker. Their materials and build quality are also of a high standard, and their cost are competitive. This speaker is IMO a welcome addition to the US scene. In full disclosure, I will be collaborating with the US distributor at one or two upcoming shows by supplying Trafomatic Audio tube electronics to power them.

Carnegie | Odeon Audio - Lautsprecher handgefertigt in Deutschland

www.odeon-audio.com

 

[KeithR]

Yes, you only understand the concept of dynamics, right? By placing TAD in the Horn league, lol. Those who had TAD and switched to horns like AG have realized what dynamics and liveliness truly mean. Your opinions are only beneficial to you and to increasing Pioneer’s profits, not to anything else.

Speakers with low efficiency, complex crossovers, difficult impedance loading, and over-damped cabinets, even with good AC power and no ground noise, do not produce a lively sound or an overall good sound at low volumes because they lack the ability to properly move the air and deliver natural dynamics at lower levels. The design compromises, such as excessive damping and challenging impedance, limit their ability to maintain coherence and energy, resulting in a flat, lifeless sound at reduced volumes.

I prefer a sound that is soulful and tactile, one that gives you the feeling of being there, over a lifeless, analytical speaker that only delivers an impressive studio sound. If someone values more bass extension with DeVore, this can be achieved by adding subs, which is what Jim Smith did by adding REL subs to Tannoy/Fyne Audio two-way speakers. This improved both bass extension and spatiality, giving more depth to the sound. However, the issue of lifeless and analytical speakers that are ultra-neutral and only impress the listener, turning them into an analyst rather than someone who connects emotionally with the music, cannot be solved by anything. You just need to be careful not to fall into the trap of the "wow" factor created during the first listening session.

Yes, these theories are good for those who want to avoid the deceptive, high-tech speakers you mentioned and, instead of listening to overpriced, market-pleasing devices, directly connect to the music on a simpler path.

TAD has such a significant impedance spike that it goes off the graph! A speaker that focused a bit more on driver matching rather than marketing wouldn’t have such poor impedance and phase response. In comparison, the phase response of the Wilson Alexia V is more controlled and flatter than the TAD, which exhibits more extreme phase shifts, suggesting less than ideal driver matching or integration.

View attachment 157138
View attachment 157139

LOL, is the papyrus fiber, which comes from the stem of the Egyptian reed, plastic?! Maybe they've been injecting microplastics into these reeds recently, and we didn't know about it! It's like saying fast food made from processed ingredients is more organic than plant-based food.

That 2 ohm impedance at 100 hz in the upper bass is a nightmare though. The TAD is easier to drive.

 

[Rob181]

I have recently listened to Odeon horns from Germany and been impressed. Despite their relatively good efficiency, they seem to open up dynamically when used with higher power SE amplification in the 40--70-watt range. I find their tonal balance (perhaps derived from their solid plywood spherical wave horn) quite natural, with the display of spatial information some of the best I have heard from a manageably sized horn loudspeaker. Their materials and build quality are also of a high standard, and their cost are competitive. This speaker is IMO a welcome addition to the US scene. In full disclosure, I will be collaborating with the US distributor at one or two upcoming shows by supplying Trafomatic Audio tube electronics to power them.

Carnegie | Odeon Audio - Lautsprecher handgefertigt in Deutschland

www.odeon-audio.com

Love the look of the Carnegie - now if only the crossover point between the mid & tweeter was around 6k or above - I'd be (very) excited...

 

[bonzo75]

These are the main characteristic differences between radial and spherical horns, and these features explain the appeal and popularity of the WE room at shows.

There are other factors that make the WE better, but if you don’t hear them, or know them, you don’t.

 

[bonzo75]

In that price range,

I am not referring to choosing in a price range, but that there are many sub 10k speakers better than the duos. Unless one wants the comfort of “I have spent more so should be better”, and the comfort of buying Trio’s sibling.

 

[bonzo75]

The WE 1930s horns sound superb within their limitations. i.e. pretty narrow bandwidth, mid bass to mid treble is spot on, but no sub bass and little treble extension. So a warm cuddly kind of sound. But that midrange to die for, and vocals are superbly realistic. Along with an enormous soundstage and realistic dynamics. At Munich the WE room was always packed, and few wanted to leave, which tells you something.

Not sure which years you heard it at Munich, but it it Munich you are referring to, above us completely incorrect. They have had subs and tweeters. Your response works for the general WE which someone can look up on Google, not for some of the Munich ones where they combined multiple speakers to have full bandwidth, playing Shostakovich 5, rock and electronica brilliantly. The power cords were coming out from the bowlers of the earth.

 

[abeidrov]

You have not heard new Duos in a controlled environment, so your opinion is just a moo point…

 

[bonzo75]

You have not heard new Duos in a controlled environment, so your opinion is just a moo point…

I never commented on new duos. The only comment I made was I hear this about improvement every iteration and have been cost many times I haven’t heard the latest

 

[tima]

I have recently listened to Odeon horns from Germany and been impressed. Despite their relatively good efficiency, they seem to open up dynamically when used with higher power SE amplification in the 40--70-watt range. I find their tonal balance (perhaps derived from their solid plywood spherical wave horn) quite natural, with the display of spatial information some of the best I have heard from a manageably sized horn loudspeaker. Their materials and build quality are also of a high standard, and their cost are competitive. This speaker is IMO a welcome addition to the US scene. In full disclosure, I will be collaborating with the US distributor at one or two upcoming shows by supplying Trafomatic Audio tube electronics to power them.

They certainly look distinctive. After having a less than optimal experience with a solid cocobola turntable, I've become wary of audio products made of wood holding up over time.

 

[morricab]

They certainly look distinctive. After having a less than optimal experience with a solid cocobola turntable, I've become wary of audio products made of wood holding up over time.

View attachment 157294

Your unusual experience notwithstanding, wood products can last literally centuries, and given most speakers are made of, wood product (not even real plywood, let alone hardwood), it seems a very bizarre angle to take.

 

[morricab]

I never commented on new duos. The only comment I made was I hear this about improvement every iteration and have been cost many times I haven’t heard the latest

No, you made comments about a number of cheaper speakers that you think are better than Duos without real experience in the latest iterations or direct comparisons. Or don’t you think a brand can improve a model over time?

 

[bonzo75]

No, you made comments about a number of cheaper speakers that you think are better than Duos without real experience in the latest iterations or direct comparisons. Or don’t you think a brand can improve a model over time?

Yes those speakers are over all the duos I have heard, upto the previous version, it never improved, despite people like you saying so each time. Most of your experience is Munich walk around the halls to get a whiff of the room, and then set up something small that is incomplete and sounds as per your videos (which you have stopped uploading, btw)

 

[andromedaaudio]

High end Audio in a Nuts(hell)

 

[morricab]

Yes those speakers are over all the duos I have heard, upto the previous version, it never improved, despite people like you saying so each time. Most of your experience is Munich walk around the halls to get a whiff of the room, and then set up something small that is incomplete and sounds as per your videos (which you have stopped uploading, btw)

This is not most of my experience…again with BS assumptions I got plenty of positive comments on my uploads despite your poor taste and feedback…