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In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Many Mani's options: My first horns

Post Subject: Many Mani's options: My first hornsPosted by manisandher on: 1/20/2010

For the past few months, I’ve been looking for a solution to a problem – how to recreate through speakers the same sound that I get through headphones. Why did I embark on this quest? Well although I’m quite happy with my headphones, I miss being able to close my eyes and have at least some semblance of something happening in front of me. Also, I want my 3 month-old boy to grow up in a house full of beautiful music.

I’m totally bought into the idea that well-implemented horns are the way to go. But therein lies the problem – implementing horns well seems to be a life-long endeavour... one that I just don’t have the time or inclination to pursue.

So, I’ve listened to a couple of commercial horn systems in the past few weeks – an Avantgarde Trio with sealed sub (at the UK distributor’s home) and a BD Design Oris Swing (at the designer’s home in Holland). I was hoping to be able to write a detailed account of each (akin to a review), but I’m not sure it would be a useful exercise – in both instances the setup was flawed, in my opinion, leaving me to translate how each might sound, ‘properly’ set up, in a better room and with better ancillary equipment.

But I did get to hear a glimpse of ‘horn magic’ – the sound was generally ‘alive’ in a way that I’ve never heard from any ‘conventional’ speakers. But I think this ability is a double-edged sword to a certain extent. There was quite a bit of inconsistency in sound, depending on the music chosen. On both occasions, some of the music just sounded ‘grating’ – I’m not sure how else to put it.

So, am I rushing to place an order for one of these? Uh, no. The dilemma I face is whether, if I bought one of these systems, I could improve it to get the sound I want. I have a few ideas.

With the Trios, I’d want to use a multi-amp setup. I’m not sure what sort of crossovers it uses, but I’d want to experiment, in the first instance, with active 1^st-order (using the Pass XVR1s I already have) and also with time-aligning the drivers to the listening position. I’d also want to use single-ended amplifiers. Although I’m totally bought into Romy’s DSET idea, I think I’d start with SS in the guise of something like the First-Watt J2 (2 units per channel to give a 4-way system). I wouldn’t bother with the Avantgarde sub but rather get something else made up for me using low-mass 15-inch drivers being driven by a J2 channel.

The Swings would be a little more difficult to play around with (I think). My feeling is that Bert has spent a long time optimising everything so that he can get a setup that shouldn’t theoretically work, to actually work quite well, in my opinion. (A little like the boys at Porsche did to get an engine hanging out of the back to work well!) I’ve no idea what he’s done to get such short horns to ‘work’, but I suspect there’s a lot of jiggery-pokery going on ‘under that hood’. I have no idea about crossovers or equalization. One thing I do know though, and am concerned about, is his use of built-in Glainclone amps for the bass horn. This extends up to 270Hz, covering, in my opinion, much of the ‘life’ of the music. Maybe it’s just a psychological thing, but I just don’t want Gainclone amps in the signal path.

So, what am I left with? Well... no horns, for now. Remember, we’re talking $30-$50K for each system. So firstly, I need to be convinced that I’d have a good chance of getting the sound I want. And I’m just not sure how to proceed on this front.

Meanwhile, I’ve bought a used pair of AKG K-1000s headphones, and am driving them directly by my Berning 300B. These can be angled forward, providing 30-40dB of interaural crosstalk and actually work very nicely. What I love is the simplicity of this setup – one amp, one driver and no crossovers or equalization.

If only life were as simple with speakers!

Mani.

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