How many of you are interested in Vintage Horn Speakers?

thomask

Well-Known Member
Dec 9, 2018
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Washington State, US
20181205_145401.jpg

I am visiting Korea right now although I have my listening room in Washington State, US.

I got blown away by natural and dynamics sound of big horn Western Electric Speakers on back of photo.


The spec is 4181 18 inch Field unit, 24A Horn, WETA 4144A Power supply, 594A Driver, 7444A network.

The quoted price is pretty high close to 300k$ including shipping to US.


The shop owner also has a lot of vintage amplifiers.



20181205_150332.jpg

This is the Stephano Truesonic speakers.

It also has a magical mid range and pretty good dynamics but not as top notch as big Western Electric Horn.


How many of forum members are interested in vintage horn system?

This is my first posting here.

Thomas
 

ddk

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2013
6,261
4,040
995
Utah
View attachment 46382

I am visiting Korea right now although I have my listening room in Washington State, US.

I got blown away by natural and dynamics sound of big horn Western Electric Speakers on back of photo.


The spec is 4181 18 inch Field unit, 24A Horn, WETA 4144A Power supply, 594A Driver, 7444A network.

The quoted price is pretty high close to 300k$ including shipping to US.


The shop owner also has a lot of vintage amplifiers.



View attachment 46383

This is the Stephano Truesonic speakers.

It also has a magical mid range and pretty good dynamics but not as top notch as big Western Electric Horn.


How many of forum members are interested in vintage horn system?

This is my first posting here.

Thomas
Look at the links in my signature, vintage horns are a specialty.

david
 

Tango

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Mar 12, 2017
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I likely go into vintage horns when I have a proper place. Not interested in vintage upstream gears though.

Tang
 
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kodomo

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Apr 26, 2017
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Vintage or modernised Vintage horns are really worth listening and also my choice for speakers.
 
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bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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I prefer the tone and naturalness of vintage but they need to be available in smaller sizes with a bit lower bass and integration and more details. Not being demanding.
 

microstrip

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May 30, 2010
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I prefer the tone and naturalness of vintage but they need to be available in smaller sizes with a bit lower bass and integration and more details. Not being demanding.

Where do you locate the Oswald mills Monarch in such space?
 

bonzo75

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Where do you locate the Oswald mills Monarch in such space?

Same modernised vintage style they based their sound on RCA theatre horns. I have never heard RCA horns and all OMA horns sound different so how exactly I cannot say, but that is what their objective was. I prefer the sound of OMA, general's pnoe, and the yamamura to old vintage, though on some music the western electric systems at Munich sound emotionally unbeatable. However they (The WE) can't play every LP, concerto, orchestra like the other three mentioned above can. All the three above, as well as a couple of bespokes, have some differences that are best heard. The OMA strength is that since the monarch is like a planar it disappears easily and plays easily, like a high sensitive, efficient planar. It sounds very compete.

The pnoe and Yamamura both which I heard with higher front ends (especially pnoe, best source and software) might be more preferred but in a different way. Luckily I don't have to decide and if anyone was buying I would suggest listening to all as all are different. Also, a guy with trios and 6 bass horns, Ypsilon phono and viva amps who listens a lot to opera preferred OMA's biggest speaker, which I did not like at all.

And anyone who gets one of them, should put Henk's grands at the other end of the room
 

bonzo75

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If the speaker is not complete it becomes an excellent secondary speaker. For example someone with you like Wilson's can add a 16a with WE or GIP drivers on one wall and you might find yourself listening to solo and chamber more through out with vinyl and a low cost very low watt amp
 

bonzo75

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bonzo75

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DaveC

Industry Expert
Nov 16, 2014
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Those who can't afford, build, or have space should imo get devore orangutans O96, like art Dudley


https://www.dagogo.com/devore-fidelity-orangutan-o96-loudspeaker-review-part-3/

Read the speakers Jack Roberts (He is the guy who presents WE at Munich every year) mentions he had and point 2


Single driver based horns like you've heard with pnoe don't require much space vs large multi-way horns. IMO they are the best compromise for most listening spaces that aren't very large. Lots of advantages vs a speaker w a flat baffle...
 

bonzo75

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Single driver based horns like you've heard with pnoe don't require much space vs large multi-way horns. IMO they are the best compromise for most listening spaces that aren't very large. Lots of advantages vs a speaker w a flat baffle...

Oh it is a better speaker for sure but it does require space also a lot of money
 

DaveC

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Nov 16, 2014
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Oh it is a better speaker for sure but it does require space also a lot of money

That particular one is $$ and requires a bit more room, but the closer you come to a full-range horn the closer you can sit and the less space you need, which is a huge advantage over traditional horns.

I think the single driver or other kind of full range horn is close to ideal for many home listening spaces and because of the directivity it's less sensitive to the room it's in as well... so if you don't have a dedicated listening room it's even more ideal vs flat baffle cone n dome speakers.

Personally, I'll never go back although I can see having panel speakers of some sort for vocal music like Diana Krall, etc...
 

bonzo75

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Feb 26, 2014
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That particular one is $$ and requires a bit more room, but the closer you come to a full-range horn the closer you can sit and the less space you need, which is a huge advantage over traditional horns.

I think the single driver or other kind of full range horn is close to ideal for many home listening spaces and because of the directivity it's less sensitive to the room it's in as well... so if you don't have a dedicated listening room it's even more ideal vs flat baffle cone n dome speakers.

Personally, I'll never go back although I can see having panel speakers of some sort for vocal music like Diana Krall, etc...

I agree less sensitive to room. It is more of space that is required just to place them apart and let them stage a bit
 

christoph

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Dec 11, 2015
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I prefer the tone and naturalness of vintage but they need to be available in smaller sizes with a bit lower bass and integration and more details. Not being demanding.
:D
 

christoph

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Dec 11, 2015
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