Good, Affordable Horns?

wwwrecords, the near-field monitor idea has always had appeal for me in this room. I'll look into it.

Jax2, I'm definitely looking for some "horn magic" in order to replace what I have. The SET/horn combo would seem to be the place to land eventually from what I've read and heard.

I've done Ok in the 12X12 rooms with both my Dynaudio monitors and the smaller Ohm Walshes. The only thing I don't like is that I have to place them several feet out from the walls in an already small room to get the results I am used to. I would seriously consider a local pair of used khorns maybe if I felt confident about how to handle the room acoustics but I guess I'm not quite there yet.

My horns were in a room 11' x 12' driven by a Musical Fidelity 250w power amp with a DNM 3c pre amp which has the most gain on the left/right volume pots that I have ever had the pleasure of twiddling. Denis Moorecroft (DNM) designed the pre amps to operate that way. The volume pots went from 0-12 (from my memory) numerically but pot set on #1 was loud enough that you didn't need to go any louder, I just used to literally touch the volume pot to fill the room nicely with sound.
If you can do check out a pair of Oris 150's they are seriously good for the $$$$$ they do not need a sub, IMO.

I've examined some of the options suggested and, if I were to do this, I think I would go the classic/vintage route perhaps with used Klipschorns in the corner in the 12X12 foot room where the Dynaudios are today.

I am still concerned though about what to expect low-end-wise in this small, square room.

Is anybody brave enough to provide a confident vision of what I might expect sonically out of a pair of corner Klipschhorns in a typical 12X12 room, with a dens carpet covered concrete floor, drywall and average ceiling height?

Also, Klipschorns have been around for a while with some slight variation over the years in the standard configuration. Are all Klipschhorns, save those with custom upgrades, created equal? Any variations in particular to levitate towards or steer away from?

From what I have learned through they years may people like the older Klipschorns, the ones from the 50's 60's, with some crossover upgrades. But I'm sure you will get all kinds of answers on that one.

Are all Klipschhorns, save those with custom upgrades, created equal? Any variations in particular to levitate towards or steer away from?

There's plenty to read on the Klipsch forums as far as opinions on this go. The drivers and the crossover have changed over time. I would look for the K55M mid drivers with metal horn bodies (as opposed to later models using plastic for the body - I would also damp the metal horns with damping material such as Dynamat or the equivalent sold cheaper at Parts Express, or with plumbers caulk), and the K77 round-magnet tweeters (as opposed to square magnet). I would actually recommend replacing the tweeters as a high priority (unfortunately this requires some effort as the better drop-in replacements, like the Beyma, are a bigger form-factor. I have heard the Crites drop-in replacement and was not at all impressed - go for the Beyma or Fane). Big, immediate gains can be had there. The crossover would my next target, especially if an older speaker. With the LaScalas the desired stock Xover is the AA model. I'm not sure what the Khorn's might be. I believe the speakers that conform to those components I've mentioned were late 60's to early 80's. Obviously if you can find a pair locally you will save some large coin and headache on the shipping.

Marco