GoodSoundClub - Romy the Cat's Audio Site

In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: Midbass impedance bumps -- why and what to do?

Post Subject: Tube amp successPosted by noviygera on: 10/27/2010

I do not know why but as I listen to the 80hz Edgar horns more and more driven by the Dynaco tube amp I begin to really like the sound. Even in their untouched form there is some righteousness to the sound. I almost do not hear any serious deficiencies anymore, which is completely unexpected.
This is the the range of 80 to 350hz I am talking about and I am coming to the conclusion it is only possible to properly produce this range with tube amplifier. There is completely no more harshness in the sound, it flows softly, naturally and without bringing any attention to itself.

Actually this is very close to what I was hoping for but I did not expect that using a decent tube amp would nearly take care of the deficiencies of the horns I was concerned with before. Is it possible it was not the horns but the digital amp causing all this nonsense? I am beginning to believe this because I cannot see any other explanation.

Of course the 80hz horns have still some problems, but they are completely disproportional to the damage that the digital amplifier was creating.
Moral of this story:
If you are using Edgar 80Hz straight horns, driving them with Spectron digital amp, are unhappy with the sound, DO NOT replace the horns!
First replace the digital amp with a decent tube amp. Then listen and enjoy the Edgar horns until you hear problems again, only then think about replacing them.

I now have to listen for a while and reanalyze their sound but it's strangely good.

Herman

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