1. Home
  2. speakers
  3. 198496-112139

BEST HORN LOUDSPEAKER TO PURCHASE

I am a 73 year male with normal hearing as per my  ENT doctor.  I am comfortable  listening to music at  50-55 dbs, with occasional peaks of 60-62 dbs.  Looking for the music to sound alive at these levels. Did some acoustic treatments, purchased an equalizer which did not help(workaround of Fletcher Munson Curve). Finally I made a change and purchased a pair of JBL 4349 horn loudspeakers, which is a 2 way speaker with a horn midrange and a large dynamic woofer.  Sensitivity was 91. I was able to get full bodied sound at lower levels, but the bass driver did not wake up until  70 decibels. I have 2 SVS subs, the DB4000. I  adjusted the cross over and volume which improved the bass.  When I put my ear next to the bass driver of the JBL at 50-55 db there was very little bass to be heard, in a piece that had substantial bass . This is my den system. I now firmly believe that a horn loudspeaker is the best way to go.  My main system consists of 15 year old Vandersteen 5A's, Thor Audio Monoblocks 150 watt tube each side, and a Thor Audio linestage.  The Vandersteens are absolutely wonderful speakers, featuring built in subs. You get top to bottom sound that is full and rich,  but not at comfortable listening levels. Uncomfortable levels lead to ear pain.  I have tried and tried, but in my system the Vandersteens require about 70 DBS to come alive.  I have been researching and I believe I need a high sensitivity. I have been thinking about the Volti Audio Luceras. My budget is $15,000 per pair.  I've watched Greg of Volti speak on You Tube and he seems to be perfectionist and seems to really know his business. I believe the Lucera has a 99 db, which should help the dynamic bass driver come alive at lower listening levels. I also believe that the sound will be rich and full bodied at my listening levels. Has anybody heard or own the Luceras?  Would be interested in anybody's thoughts. Thanks for reading and responding to my question. 

kjl1065
elliottbnewcombjr
7,872 posts
 

@jamesbgood 

Thanks for letting us know that Vandersteen is doing this

My Brave Browser AI Quickie

"Vandersteen Audio has introduced the L5-ACC Audio Control Center, a new line-stage preamplifier priced at $15,000.  Developed over seven years with three years dedicated solely to software, this US-manufactured unit contains no Chinese parts and is scheduled to begin shipping in July 2025. 

Key features of the L5-ACC include:

  • Matrix Tone Controls: Cut-and-boost options for treble and bass that Vandersteen claims do not affect transparency. 

  • Defeat Function: A dedicated remote button allows users to completely bypass the tone controls and presets for a pure signal path. 

  • Customizable Presets: The unit ships with three presets (loudness, old rock, and classical) designed to optimize sound for vintage recordings, all of which can be overwritten by the user. 

The L5-ACC is currently being promoted by founder Richard Vandersteen and representative Brad O’Toole on a cross-country tour, with upcoming events scheduled for late 2025 and 2026."

////////////////////////////////////

IMO, the Pure/Direct for 2 channel can be a way to shoot yourself in the foot. Gimme an old fashioned full featured preamp!

Pure/Direct, for AVRs, Video Sound, has saved the day by getting rid of a lot of pseudo surround, added by who know who how many times, in the chain of getting to you, including your own AVR trying to out-do someone elses AVR.

elliottbnewcombjr
7,872 posts
 

this just popped up, looks informative, I’ll skim it tomorrow.

https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/tutorials/how-to-interpret-graphs/frequency-response/

One thing to notice, Speakers published response graphs, many of them, are shown ’smoothest’ at 80 db or even higher; and the maker’s published measurements are taken in an echoless chamber.

 

mdalton's avatar
mdalton
815 posts
 

agree with @glenmschneider that the Charney Lumacas at CAF were amazing sounding speakers.  Truly magical.  Unfortunately, they’re also butt-ugly, a bad phallic symbol, so if you care about looks, it’s hard to get past that…

jonwolfpell
540 posts
 

+2 for Volti Rivals. They sound really good at any volume level. They’re pretty big but nice looking w/ many cool veneers available. They cost about the same as Klipsch La Scalas which I almost bought but glad I didn’t. The Voltis are better in every way imo especially in overall refinement, frequency extensions & tone while being just as dynamic & live sounding. I suspect that next model down, Lucera,are quite close but a bit smaller & cheaper would also be in serious consideration. 

elliottbnewcombjr
7,872 posts
 

OP said:

"I have 2 SVS subs, the DB4000. I  adjusted the cross over and volume which improved the bass.  When I put my ear next to the bass driver of the JBL at 50-55 db there was very little bass to be heard, in a piece that had substantial bass.

///////////////////////////////////////

The bass (and more highs) were there, but your ears are insensitive to lows and highs at low volumes (relative to mids).It thus could only be heard if you BOOST the bass and BOOST the highs to compensate, not for the speakers, compensate for your very common ’low volume insensitivity.

Again, IF it has too much bass at low volumes, it would sound bloated at higher volumes. 

Perhaps someone should design some speakers with a frequency response specifically for low volume, but they don’t yet exist IME.

////////////////////////////////////////

My speakers have 2 L-Pads (both my main horn speakers, and my office AR-2ax, and my Garage/Shop (also AR-2ax).

I adjust, in my space:  the mids to the woofer, next I adjust the tweeter to the mids (using an SPL meter on a tripod, at ear level at listening position), using a CD with 29 1/3 octave test tones. For my preferred listening volume which is higher than yours. Then, I make the PREFFERED final adjustments, BY EAR, but do not push the highs too much (I listen with younger friends often).

YOU, IF you had L-Pads, could adjust BY EAR, at your low volume. IOW, make a speaker with a frequency curve that fits you in your space, that is afterall what you are after.

You will NOT find a speaker without controls that will do that for you, in any space.

More to discover