WTF

What does a large-sized sonic radiating surface have to do with low distortion? If I'm making noise I just "radiate" more of it, don't I? Size does matter for a number of parameters but not applied indiscriminately(?).

I don't think so, at least where the unmistakably large-sized sonic radiating surfaces of the K-horn and La Scala are concerned. I believe Heyser's classic article on the K-horn cited very low distortion figures; are comparative distortion figures available? Heysers "classic" article is unfortunate,......he hand drew the bass horn response shown in the frequency magnitude plot. Heyser was a smart guy, no question, but he was also PWKs buddy and was unlikely to provide an unbiased analysis. He was unable to make accurate measurement of the bass horn in the confines of his living room thus the hand sketch representing the LF section of the response.

There's an old saying about transformers....not all heavy transformers are good ones but all good ones are heavy. Same goes for loudspeakers....not all expensive loudspeakers are good ones but....you get the rest.

When accurate LF reproduction is the primary, it's direct radiators for the bass. If folded horns were superior, it would be folded horns in all those control rooms staring the mixing engineer in the face, not cones.

Complete agreement.

"Little boy" speakers?...Small rooms?....Do you guys ever get tired of listening to your own bullsh*t?

Another setup using small speakers in a small room. Also, these are ATC systems. A pair of these are on the order of $70K or so. No expense spared. You think this would suck in a typical living room? You wish...

Actually, that would have made you tumble a bit worse....a "speaker engineer" is the guy I tell to design a bass horn or 2-way NF monitor or subwoofer. They are "special" but not specialized, they have to be flat in the near-field. Not a bad attribute for any reproducer in my book especially one for critical listening in the home. Have you ever installed TWO pair (in flipped configuration) of these in a mastering studio? Small you say?

Nothing happened to the acoustic transformer concept, I didn't mention it, you did. BTW, high pressure, (repeat) high pressure at the throat. Sort of what I said no? You thought wrong, sorry.

Genelec

Platinum Sound recording Studios, $2M studio.....used 2x15 TAD (still no bass horns!)

More TAD

TAD

If folded bass horns were really, really better than direct radiators, they'd be in the photos. Genelec shown below btw

Abby Road Studios?....NO! (B&W btw)

No, no, no....

Ummm, no...(Tannoy again, btw)

What about here? (Tannoy)

here?

In virtually EVER mastering studio on the planet, with budget's that allow for the finest loudspeakers on Earth to be purchased, direct radiators are found. Let's play find the folded bass horn....

God yes, it's been around for years. Cone forward motion at low frequencies is working against a mass (the so called "air load") on the forward side so it's displacement limited (not that you'd see it moving much anyway). It doesn't mean the distortion is lower because it's moving less. That's a misconception. There's all sorts of distortions associated with air loading, reflections due to the "contraption" called the folded horn and non-linear properties of air compression dealt with, to some limited extent, by the design of the rear chamber of the horn. Mid and HF horns have come a long way from the bent plywood configurations used by the DIYer crowd. Geometries are complex and are manufactured from polymerics and structural foams. Coupled with good crossover designing, strong motors, Be-diaphragms, and so on they make good sound.

The photo reminds me of one of the old "Cabinart" enclosures shown in the McGee catalog.

Not to mention the wife appeal!

The link between "pre-type II" blood glucose levels and all sorts of cognitive impairment has been known for some time by medical community. Anyone with a 12h fasting BGL at or slightly above 100 is looking at type-II within a few years. The cure? dropping 20% of your body weight within a year and keeping it off for ever so your pancreas can heal. Need to get "unaddicted" to food..

When I was very young (15 or so) I'd go to my local dealer to "touch" a Klipsch Belle or Klipschorn in person. My-my, how times have changed (although I do get the same feeling when I get near an JBL Everest or anything by Genelec). Thanks for sharing!