russ69 Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 It's hard for me to judge but with lower powered multi channel receivers a horn speaker starts making a lot of sense. What do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 ...with lower powered multi-channel receivers a horn speaker starts making a lot of sense. What do you guys think? Actually, it has always made sense, but for reasons that most people just don't understand - it's called "accurate dynamic reproduction". Is the marketplace more accepting of horn-loaded speakers? That's pretty tough. Klipsch corporation has been waging an almost singular battle for horn speakers in this country. Outside of the U.S., in Europe, horns have always had a loyal following, such as Tannoy, etc. and Lowther. But most of the low-end and middle-market audio companies still cling to "boxed direct radiators". I also think that many people that once went with dipoles (MartinLogans, etc.) are now realizing that they can only listen to music at very low volumes, and it doesn't sound real like people expect from HT audio systems. My $0.02 Chris [D] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CapZark Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 I can't comment on home theater, but I can tell you that I am a big horn fan. Way back in the 70s I bought a horn at Radio Shack to replace a cone mi- driver that I blew in a speaker. Once I heard the horn I was sold for life. Now I only buy Klipsch because they believe in the horns as much as I do. If someone show me a system without a horn, I just just yawn because I know its probably going to sound like crap - does Bose ring a bell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason str Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 We had horn speakers in our house as long as i can remember, i just thought it was normal when i was growing up. Now Im past 40 nothing has changed and probably never will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted April 16, 2010 Share Posted April 16, 2010 Yes. Starting in the 60s and 70s, the availability of cheap high powered solid state amps made the efficiency of horns less important than when relatively lower powered tube amps ruled the audio scene. Now that tube amps, especially extremely low power SET and the like amps are enjoying new found popularity, the need for efficiency is again important. Therefore, horn speakers are being considered by some who dismissed them out of hand a few years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxx Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 I agree. The popularity of tube amps and the rediscovery of vinyl, both, have played an important part in this trend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 I agree. The popularity of tube amps and the rediscovery of vinyl, both, have played an important part in this trend. While important to us, the REAL driver (pun intentional) with horns is home theatre. Klipsch is a major player in that arena. I don't keep up with the rankings, but I am sure they are in a significant position...and it is because of horns. If I ventured to guess, I'd say the transparency and crispness...as well as the efficiency, really appeals to the HT crowd. We music heads are just beneificiaries. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 We music heads are just beneficiaries. I think that we tend to forget that we, on the two-channel/upgrades and modifications/technical questions forums probably don't represent even a small customer segment of the total pie...I know that Roy D. (who has dealt a lot in the commercial products) has talked about what a "speck" we "audio crazies" actually are on the elephant-sized posterior of consumer audio. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 We music heads are just beneficiaries. I think that we tend to forget that we, on the two-channel/upgrades and modifications/technical questions forums probably don't represent even a small customer segment of the total pie...I know that Roy D. (who has dealt a lot in the commercial products) has talked about what a "speck" we "audio crazies" actually are on the elephant-sized posterior of consumer audio. Chris Fully agree. OTOH, we are ignored at peril, as each of us advises dozens of friends, coworkers, etc and many of them pay attention to us. Not quite sure I'd say we wag the dog, but not far from it. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.