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

[Hornsolutions Swen]

Yes, many start non-horn loading midbass down

Exactly, Kedar.

Around six years ago, we conducted precisely 1,000 frequency response measurements across ten different musical genres. Importantly, we did not use synthetic test signals such as pink noise, but only real music – including classical, jazz, rap/hip-hop, R&B, electronic, metal, a cappella, and so on. For each genre, 100 frequency response measurements were taken, and the results were absolutely conclusive: nearly 80% of the total musical energy is concentrated within less than 2.3 octaves, specifically between 170 Hz and 680 Hz.

To be honest, this makes it rather difficult for me to regard a loudspeaker as a true horn speaker if it only becomes fully horn-loaded at 700 Hz, or even not until above 1,000 Hz.

Best Regards S

 

[Al M.]

Exactly, Kedar.

Around six years ago, we conducted precisely 1,000 frequency response measurements across ten different musical genres. Importantly, we did not use synthetic test signals such as pink noise, but only real music – including classical, jazz, rap/hip-hop, R&B, electronic, metal, a cappella, and so on. For each genre, 100 frequency response measurements were taken, and the results were absolutely conclusive: nearly 80% of the total musical energy is concentrated within less than 2.3 octaves, specifically between 170 Hz and 680 Hz.

To be honest, this makes it rather difficult for me to regard a loudspeaker as a true horn speaker if it only becomes fully horn-loaded at 700 Hz, or even not until above 1,000 Hz.

Best Regards S

Interesting info.

So why then should people go for the alleged dynamics of horn speakers when most "horn speakers" are not even horn speakers? Shouldn't only real horn speakers qualify for even the suggestion? But those take a good amount of space, obviously.

 

[bonzo75]

Interesting info.

So why then should people go for the alleged dynamics of horn speakers when most "horn speakers" are not even horn speakers? Shouldn't only real horn speakers qualify for even the suggestion? But those takes good amount of space, obviously.

They shouldn’t. That’s why 95% of them are to be avoided.

 

[Hornsolutions Swen]

Interesting info.

So why then should people go for the alleged dynamics of horn speakers when most "horn speakers" are not even horn speakers? Shouldn't only real horn speakers qualify for even the suggestion? But those take a good amount of space, obviously.

Of course, only fully horn-loaded loudspeakers should really be called, promoted, marketed, and sold as horn speakers. Anything else is simply a hybrid system – nothing more.

As for your second question, which I guess was meant more rhetorically: yes, they do take up space. But that wasn’t the point of my original comment. What I was getting at is that before jumping into a discussion, it makes sense to clearly define the terminology. That way we can actually stay on topic instead of drifting so far off that the original question gets lost along the way.

Best Regards S

 

[Al M.]

Of course, only fully horn-loaded loudspeakers should really be called, promoted, marketed, and sold as horn speakers. Anything else is simply a hybrid system – nothing more.

Thank you for the clarification.

As for your second question, which I guess was meant more rhetorically: yes, they do take up space.

For me that was not a rhetorical comment. I don't have the space for large, real horn speakers (room dimensions L 24 ' x W 12' x H 8.5').

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

Mine are fullrange hornloaded

 

[Audiohertz2]

This is a bit disingenuous, because I've never suggested that favoring a musical genre is something that a designer conscientiously designs into his/her loudspeaker.

I think Ron is trying to say some systems favor certain recordings more so than others , not that it was designed intentionally to do so …!

 

[Audiohertz2]

I have been an amp first guy for a pretty long time now…

Cart then Horse , makes sense …!

 

[Audiohertz2]

It’s not the power per se that’s the issue…it’s the topology typically used to make that power.

Transfer Function much ..?

 

[Audiohertz2]

My Hornings speakers have essentially no filter (only a cap on the tweeter) and 98dB. Sound glorious with a 3.5 watt 2A3 amp.

Isnt cap on tweeter a filter ..?

 

[Kozak170]

I’d like to return to the original question at this point. The Vox Olympian is essentially a 4- or 5-way loudspeaker, with only two of those five ways being horn-loaded. By contrast, the Trio GT and its predecessors are 3-way designs, with bass reproduction handled in a more conventional manner.

The Vox Olympian is a 4-way horn-loaded satellite: midbass horn, midrange horn, high-frequency horn, and a super tweeter horn. When paired with the optional Vox Elysian sub-bass units (each with dual 12" drivers front-loaded by a 4.6 m folded exponential horn), the system becomes effectively a 5-way all-horn design. By contrast, the Trio G3 is a 3-way horn satellite, with optional bass modules that can be horn-loaded (Basshorns/SpaceHorns) or conventional (Sub 231). The claim that the Olympian has “only two horn-loaded ways” is incorrect, and it’s equally misleading to imply the Trio always uses “conventional” bass , it depends entirely on the bass module selected.

 

[Audiohertz2]

There are horns with rear wave. The Bionor you heard has a rear wave, there are some dual FLhs with midbass below having a rear wave. While it may not be same as ribbons or stats, it can lead to wall reflection affecting, positively or negatively depending on distance, your listening

Rear wave from the horn? you would need two horns to be bipolar …!

 

[Al M.]

I think Ron is trying to say some systems favor certain recordings more so than others , not that it was designed intentionally to do so …!

Indeed. There is no question that some speakers/systems favor certain genres.

My system has to be able to handle all music well, within the limits of my room dimensions.

 

[bonzo75]

Rear wave from the horn? you would need two horns to be bipolar …!

No like I said they are not same as ribbons or stats, they send sound at the back that allows for more reflection of the front wall than if baffle at the back is closed. The placement has to account for that

 

[Al M.]

The Vox Olympian is a 4-way horn-loaded satellite: midbass horn, midrange horn, high-frequency horn, and a super tweeter horn. When paired with the optional Vox Elysian sub-bass units (each with dual 12" drivers front-loaded by a 4.6 m folded exponential horn), the system becomes effectively a 5-way all-horn design. By contrast, the Trio G3 is a 3-way horn satellite, with optional bass modules that can be horn-loaded (Basshorns/SpaceHorns) or conventional (Sub 231). The claim that the Olympian has “only two horn-loaded ways” is incorrect, and it’s equally misleading to imply the Trio always uses “conventional” bass , it depends entirely on the bass module selected.

And also these humungous speaker systems will fit into very few listening spaces.

 

[DasguteOhr]

Rear wave from the horn? you would need two horns to be bipolar …!

Bionor is a open baffle system
With a horn mouth( waveguide), this gives the KL L 405 bass greater efficiency. The curvature increases the baffle width without increasing the external dimensions. It operates very linearly down to 50 Hz.
P.S
Of course, it improves the radiation characteristics so that many people sitting in front of it can enjoy the sound (cinema)

 

[bonzo75]

I think Ron is trying to say some systems favor certain recordings more so than others , not that it was designed intentionally to do so …!

Certain systems of speakers definitely are but his vehement point over time has been horns are for classical and jazz lovers and not for rock and vocals focused audiophiles

 

[AudioHR]

This Coherent Audio sounds very good.

Coherent Audio GR18 The One and Only of it's Kind

Learn about one of the finest speakers available. Coherent Audio GR18 Ultimate High Efficiency Speaker at True Audiophile

trueaudiophile.com

As I own a pair of the Coherent Audio 18 I am of course biased but I would say they sound quite nice! They are certainly well worth listening to if you are looking for a high sensitivity/efficiency speaker to pair with a low wattage SET.

Don't let the 18" driver fool you, it is not a one trick pony with boomy bass, they are dynamic and articulate, with for me just the right amount of natural warmth. Personally I find many of today's lower efficiency speakers clinical and lacking life.

Perhaps a little difficult to audition. They are popular at the Canadian shows in central Canada and I hear the Asian market has noticed them. As far as I know there is no European distribution but obviously there are some dealers in the United States.

 

[morricab]

Isnt cap on tweeter a filter ..?

There is none on the mid or woofers… thus the word essentially. It is more protection than filter.

 

[morricab]

Cart then Horse , makes sense …!

No, realization that electronic distortion patterns are more destructive to realism than primarily mechanical ones.