How come Horn + woofer designs are not more popular?

Dear all, sorry for a long post here - but here is some experience, using a horn system with OTL amps - Audiokinesis Dream Maker and LCS speakers and Atma-sphere MA-1 amps.

I have no commercial connection whatever with the manufacturers mentioned here, I am just a listener who has paid for what I’ve got. It has been a long time, a long trial period, adjusting a system to a quite large 27 x 20 feet living / listening room. The system in our room plays best from the 20 feet short side, whatever the speakers or amps.

Our former system was a more "pinpoint" solid state system with a big Krell FPB600 driving Dynaudio Consequence speakers. We selected the Consequence speakers, their flagship at the time, after some speaker testing with the Krell amp in 2002, involving B&W Nautilus, Proac, and others. However it was only later that we realized that the Consequence speakers were so power-demanding that they needed two Krell amps. I had invested in Krell amps upwards in capacity over ten years, but I now became sceptical. The FPB600 sounded "shouty" especially on mid-level volume. Probably mostly due to the non-optimal match with the speakers. The Krell amp only kicked into full state A solid-state at a very high level. That’s when my neighbour knocked on the door!

In other words, the system was great, except for needing a high volume level, and even then, the Consequence speakers were designed for an even more massive amp than the Krell FPB600.

We lived with this, for some years, getting a better phono preamp (Aesthetix Io) and, and eventually a tube preamp (Einstein The tube). But it wasn’t quite what I wanted. I even got a Velodyne DD18 sub, but the integration was so-so.

Twelve years ago I invested in an OTL amp in my desktop system (Auditailor Jade). I felt so much sonic comfort that I decided to change the amp in my main rig also. I invested in Atma-sphere MA-1 monoblocs, and eventually upgraded them into v 3.2.

I also followed Atma-sphere’s advice regarding speakers. Very happy that I did.If you don’t get speakers that are specifically good for tube and OTL amplification - you are wasting your money. Believe me. I tested several 8 ohm designs, Yes these speakers could do the job (somewhat better with zero transformers - that however contradict the principle of OTL and gave a bit of veil). But to sound really excellent, OTLs like MA1 needs higher ohm and high sensitivity speakers.

So what is my verdict, now?
Does my system sound "shouty"? No. Actually less so, than my former Krell / Dynaudio system. Is it "pinpoint"? Maybe a bit less. Depends on the definition. Not sure. Much depends on the speaker positioning. Audiokinesis advices that their speakers cross a bit in front of the listener. I find that the Dream Makers sound best, a bit more conventionally toed-in, crossing a bit behind the listener. The LCS effect speakers do make an improvement, but they need to be tuned down in volume, not attract attention to themselves. Besides more "air" and "room" with the effect speakers connected, the benefit includes a more smooth bass response. I seldom miss my Velodyne DD18, even if it went a bit further down in frequency.

Hi folks I supplied some long term user information regarding horns. What about some others, not just opinions - ?

Interesting, Clio09. I feel lucky to own a pair of Audiokinesis Dream Makers, that probably sound even better than the Jazz Modules (have not compared). My respect for them, and for Duke's philosophy and design, has grown over the years.

I think a main reason why (good) horn speakers are not more popular is that most people have not heard them. I mean not heard them over a longer period of time, with good tube amps. When I switched from solid state to tube (OTL), at first it sounded dull, blurred, anemic. It took time to get used to the new sound. Most people haven't had that chance.  

I would guess that Dream Makers like other AK speakers sound best with beryllium tweeters, but I have not heard them. The PRVs lifted a veil compared to the Celestions, so thats why they stay put, but I may test with the Celestions, later. They had an organic quality that I liked. Duke made the x-over tuning with the Celestion / Ac elegance combination, but he also wrote that the PRVs could be worth a try. I tame them a little bit by small wool "collars" placed around the mouth of the horn. 

Clio09 - the LCS effect speakers are a bit of plus and minus in my system, but tuned right (and turned quite low) they are mainly a plus. Helps fill the room, smoother bass, some more dimensionality. But I agree, the Dream Makers alone are very good indeed. My pair, made in 2013, came with Celestion CDX1-1445 compression drivers and Acoustic Elegance TD10X woofers. I've later changed to  PRV Audio D290Py-B compression drivers.