2. tech-talk
  3. 173477-119255

How much of High End Audio is Horn Speakers?

An audio friend of mine had been discussing my future speaker purchase. We discussed, Harbeth, Devore, Spendor, Audio Note and other more traditional speaker brands. A week or two later he called an asked me what speakers I had purchased. When I told him Klipsch, there was a little silence on the other end of the line. Our call probably ended a little sooner then usual. I could tell he was disappointed in my purchase. Is it the Klipsch name that illicits this type of response or is it Horn speakers in general? After thinking about some of the other Audiophiles in town, a good deal of them are on the low power high efficiency speaker route and more than a few I know are using Horns. Does anyone know how the high end market share is divided? Is there a stigma associated with certain lower cost Horn speakers? Or is this just Klipsch? I now own a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls and am enjoying the journey associated with tweaking the sound to my taste. Is there an unwritten rule that friends don’t let friends buy Klipsch?

128x128coachpoconnor

Showing 3 responses by oldhvymec

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

I like horns. There is a lot more out there than people think. 90% of the people who own horns and all the other speakers don't post or care to post.

I think the 10% that do post 3 out of 10 do own horns, maybe not AG so much but there are a LOT of Klipsch, Altec, WE, Imperial, and DIY. The comment about the Horns and Japan, it was the same here. It's just who you hang out with. 

I was into making all these weird horns and loading them in a folded baffle, la-te-da. Way over 20 years tinkering, still do from time to time.

The simple answer is horn guys hang out with horn guys. Planar guys hang out with planar guys. Mcintosh guys hang out with Mac guys.. Maybe.. LOL

The common thing between all of us is suppose to be MUSIC, how we get there, that is a personal preference.

Regards

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

Party pooper, :-)

There are some lively horns for sure, that's half the thing with horns tinkering until you change types..  I still like messing with them at someone else's house. I like JBL C45 Rangers, LOTs of fun. Say what you will they sound good in most rooms. Maybe curtains, and carpet. Tannoy makes some nice sounding units too. 

Regards

oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

Small room filled with stuff, typical Japanese audiophiler, Horns are 1/2 of one of 2 maybe 3 rooms. I've seen a few that way. BIG Tannoys in custom hand made hardwood cabinets.. I love it.. Makes sense to me.. I really like Imperials. too.

I wish I had a 20 acre speaker Museum. Makes even MORE good sense come to think of it.. :-) Second as a solar farm. Man oh man!! :-)

Regards

More to discover