Ok you guys. Story time. During most of the decade 1970-1980, I worked at least part time in high end hifi retail stores. First in Seattle, while in college and then in San Diego after graduation, when I wasn't deployed in the Navy. Then as now this was a serious hobby. At the stores, a certain group of like minded nut cases would congregate and there would be get togethers. At the Seattle store at various times we had JBL S8Rs, and Paragons, Altec Voice of the Theaters, and Valencias, Kipsch K-Horn, La Scalla, horn speakers that come to mind. We also had Bozak Concert Grands, KLH Nines, McIntosh ML4C, ML2C, Electro Voice Patricians, Quads, Dalquist. In San Diego, add Maggies, Infinity, Fulton J to name a few. We met at the stores and at various homes. I can honestly say, that I never had a better time. None of these meetings ever resulted in consensus. The Altec guys could never cotton up to the Klipsch speakers and vice versa. Of course the KLH Nine guy thought everyone else was deluded. As a Bozak Concert Grand man, I knew who needed their ears checked. But here is the thing. We all got along. We all enjoyed listening to each system. At the end of the day there is no such thing as the best _______(fill in the blank). They're all good. Run what ya brung as the hot rodders say.
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.
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I finally looked at your JBL 4349's (sorry I didn't look them up earlier) I think your problem, with them, is they are only 2 way. JBL includes level controls like they used to, however, for the 2 way models, they only alter the tweeter, there is no midrange. I think you need a 3 way speaker, with level controls for both the midrange and the tweeter. Normally, you adjust them in your space, to get close to flat frequency response, and finally adjust for your personal preference For you, listening at low volumes, I think the secret will be to reduce the midrange control (relative to the woofer), so when you get down to (or up to) say 53 db, your 'curve' will automatically have more bass than 'flat'. After a few days, then adjust the tweeter, for less or more as per personal taste. Like their Model 4312G It has separate controls for the midrange and for the tweeter. Nicely, they are on the front, my AR-2ax are on the back.
//////////////////////////////////// Other makers, vintage or current include midrange level controls which I believe is the solution. IF/when playing at higher volumes, front controls, then it's easy to turn the mids back up to 'normal'. Sum it up: cut the mids rather than boost the bass. |
I contacted Greg at Volti who confirmed that my 100db Volti Rival can handle 2watt SET amps. Besides its efficiency, I choose Volti for its neutrality so I can explore tube Sonics. The O/96 is less efficient, but it’s one of the most musical speakers. Maybe I’ll pick up a pair someday to compare tube amps with my Volti - what fun! To get a horn bass unit one usually needs a larger room. The Volti Vittora is an example, but is out of budget. Maybe a used Klipsch Bell with Volti upgrades. |
I am a long time audiophile and have owned several brands of speakers including Sonus Farber, Harbeth, Omega, Monitor Audio Monitor, Maggies only to finally land a pair of Klipsch Cornwall IV's which I modded per these Forums and finally learned I am a horn guy through and through. That said, if I were building a second system for a smaller room (my current rig is in a huge room) I would buy a pair of locally built (to me) Shinjitsu Audio speakers. Check out the website and some on line reviews....they are awesome, especially low volume. Have fun |
I would not make any choice based on theoretical advantages or disadvantages of particular designs. Big bass drivers in horn systems are out? Some of the best low volume systems ARE horn systems with gigantic woofers. I’ve heard dozens of systems with 18” woofers; my own terrific low-level system has twin 12” drivers. You can find good low-level systems from a wide variety of designs. The Volti horns, Charney fullrange single driver systems, Devore and Audio Note two-way box speakers are good examples people here have suggested. The two-way system with multiple tweeter arrays of Tekton are also good at low volume. At extremely low volume you are not going to get deep and impactful bass. What you need is something with clean bass down to 50-60 hz and a very good and lively midrange. This is where most music resides and so upper bass to upper midrange matters the most. I tend to like horn systems that do well in this range, but, as noted above, other kinds of systems can do the trick too. My own personal choice for low volume listening would be a good horn systems, Charney Audio Companion fullrange driver system, or Quad 57 electrostatic speakers. If I were listening only at low volume, I would go with the Quad 57. |
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