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

[caesar]

What are the top contenders for the very best, currently produced horns in the world today?

Vox Olympian usually makes the list... So does Avantgarde Trio.. What else?

And what are the differences / trade-offs between them both sonically and in terms of design/ technology choices that contributes to the differences?

What's worth making a trip to audition?

Thanks in advance

 

[zombean]

What are the top contenders for the very best, currently produced horns in the world today?

Vox Olympian usually makes the list... So does Avantgarde Trio.. What else?

And what are the differences / trade-offs between them both sonically and in terms of design/ technology choices that contributes to the differences?

What's worth making a trip to audition?

Thanks in advance

acapella spharon
magico ultimate 3

 

[morricab]

What are the top contenders for the very best, currently produced horns in the world today?

Vox Olympian usually makes the list... So does Avantgarde Trio.. What else?

And what are the differences / trade-offs between them both sonically and in terms of design/ technology choices that contributes to the differences?

What's worth making a trip to audition?

Thanks in advance

Aries Cerat Contendo reference 2.

 

[nirodha]

Heard the all new Avantgarde Trio today and I have to say…. It was the best sound I have heard as an audiophile for 40 years . If you get the chance to hear it for yourself grab it!

 

[andromedaaudio]

 

[andromedaaudio]

 

[andromedaaudio]

Actually i think i heard the VIVA Nuda horn , not the Master Horn

 

[Verdier]

Heard the all new Avantgarde Trio today and I have to say…. It was the best sound I have heard as an audiophile for 40 years . If you get the chance to hear it for yourself grab it!

Which version? Passive, active, passive with active bass horn?

 

[PeterA]

View attachment 94616

Andromeda, nice images of the various horns. Thanks for posting. What about the sound prompts you to post these image as examples of the best horn speakers today? The first looks like a pretty complex five way hybrid design. How does it sound say compared to an Altec or the Vox Olympian? I think it looks pretty cool in the photo but perhaps a bit busy for me. Interesting that there is no box or baffle except for the cone subs.

 

[nirodha]

Which version? Passive, active, passive with active bass horn?

First passive, then active with active bass horn

 

[andromedaaudio]

Because they sounded nice in Munich there is not much more too it
I never heard the VOX olympian , i might have heard a Altec not sure .

I did hear some bass issues with the Nuda model with different music being played , but what it did good , it did very good.
I made a vid

 

[Hear Here]

First passive, then active with active bass horn

Interesting. What amp was it powered by when in passive with active bass mode? Which sound did you prefer - its built-in amps (fully active) or with the external amp?

I guess the latter configuration would sound very similar to the earlier Trio XD as this requires an external amp for its mid and top, although I presume work has been done to further improve the drive units and XO with the latest version. Thanks

PS - What sort of price was quoted for the new Trio?

 

[PeterA]

Because they sounded nice in Munich there is not much more too it
I never heard the VOX olympian , i might have heard a Altec not sure .

I did hear some bass issues with the Nuda model with different music being played , but what it did good , it did very good.
I made a vid

Thanks. I find it rather strange sounding. Weird, colored lower mids to upper bass. Homogenized sounding and lacking resolution. Some other horn videos sound much better.

 

[wil]

Thanks. I find it rather strange sounding. Weird, colored lower mids to upper bass. Homogenized sounding and lacking resolution. Some other horn videos sound much better.

I don't know how anyone could make a judgment on these speakers listening to such one-dimensional and maudlin music. Are these exhibitors so frightened to play something with a little complexity?

 

[bonzo75]

AG trios with BAT electronics - posting video in context of Trio discussion

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks. I find it rather strange sounding. Weird, colored lower mids to upper bass. Homogenized sounding and lacking resolution. Some other horn videos sound much better.

The viva has played at Munich before. It can't be made out in that condition how the horn is.

 

[wil]

AG trios with BAT electronics

This reminds of how violin sometimes sounded on my AG Duo Mezzo's. It sounds very colored as if the sound is passing through a plastic horn (which it is).

 

[Argonaut]

Aries Cerat Contendo Reference 2.

 

[microstrip]

First passive, then active with active bass horn

Can we have some details about this session, such as preamplifier, source and room size?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I nominate the Tune Audio Avaton, ideally driven with Trafomatic Elysium amplifiers.

When I heard this system I texted Kedar to come over ASAP.

Herb Reichert of Stereophile: “I was listening with David Chesky, to a recording made by David Chesky, of a piano played by David Chesky; and we were both looking at each other, shaking our heads. When it was over, we both agreed, this was the closest any loudspeaker ever got to reproducing the density and presence of a real piano. I left the room in tears from the experience.”