Giant Custom Horn Systems - How they sound and issues with sonics

I definitely dream of one day building the ultimate system and room. I see what some of these crazy guys do with truly giant custom horn installations and they make me drool, but (like most of us) I've never had an opportunity to hear one of these crazy systems (see pics).

But I'm guessing at least a few of you have and others probably possess some theoretical engineering knowledge around the issues these giant horn systems might create, but I've never seen a thread that discusses the sonic pro's and con's of these systems.

Would love to hear some thoughts (even if it is just some pontificating on theory) regarding these types of installations. Let's discuss.

 

Im late to this thread but in my experience, one major key to a successful horn system is getting the crossover right. Thats where the Klipsch fail. People buy these old Altec systems and think they are harsh but theyre using 40 year old xovers_____

That's one of the main problems. The next one is that you have to follow the two or at least 3 Octaves rule. And on top, the lower midrange has to be covered from one horn. 160/180-800/1200Hz. 80% of the complete music plays between 160-450Hz

 

Btw, My system is ready now

 

And another one I've done the last month

 

Im late to this thread but in my experience, one major key to a successful horn system is getting the crossover right. Thats where the Klipsch fail. People buy these old Altec systems and think they are harsh but theyre using 40 year old xovers with caps and resistors out of spec and not replaceable because they filled the xover with tar. I sent an N 500 schematic to Meniscus Audio and they built me a brand new one that is passively bi ampable.

That’s a really interesting point about the Altecs and crossover components
I have Altec drivers and a rebuilt external modern crossover components such as Jantzen caps etc

Nothing harsh and SQ is pretty wonderful

 

View attachment 49311
Btw, My system is ready now

Hi Sven.
Welcoming in the club WE66A.
Congrats for your 4-way (or 3-way?) integration with WE66A .... a full horn concept.
A story of unbridled horn construction rage ....

Some quids:
* What's the type WE66A driver?
* I suppose a 4-way (or 3-way?) active filter (DSP?).
* Which X-over frequencies and type / style?
* In your signature I also read (6-) Kaneda amps (2x3!)?
* Which schema & final bjt-stages (and PSU)?

For your horn-applications and (actif-) tuning ..... "chapeau bas"

I like it ....
Musical greetings ... altijd welle gekomen.
Karel

 

View attachment 49312
And another one I've done the last month

... Music scene in heaven ....
Karel

 

Hi Sven.
Welcoming in the club WE66A.
Congrats for your 4-way (or 3-way?) integration with WE66A .... a full horn concept.
A story of unbridled horn construction rage ....

Some quids:
* What's the type WE66A driver?
It's our hornsolutions 666 Compressiondriver, which is based on the Dietmar Driver. Well known at the ETF

* I suppose a 4-way (or 3-way?) active filter (DSP?).
YES
* Which X-over frequencies and type / style?
Bass 20HZ 48dB / 150HZ 24dB. 66A 160Hz 24dB / 1500Hz 36 dB. Tweeterhorn 1550Hz 36dB to the top open
* In your signature I also read (6-) Kaneda amps (2x3!)?
* Which schema & final bjt-stages (and PSU)?
Analog power supplies. Schematic I need to search for. Probably 215. But we modified it a bit

For your horn-applications and (actif-) tuning ..... "chapeau bas"

Many thanks
I like it ....
Musical greetings ... altijd welle gekomen.
Karel

 

The final version of the 666 compression driver. We achieve now 80Hz up to 6KHz. The THD at 250 mW is 0.1%. 24.000 Gauss in the gap.

 

I've also done some passive modifications in the room. New ground with 5 cm mpx under the ground, New carpet with an ultra high absorption, calculated absorbers and diffusers and the ground under the turntable is now separated from the rest of the floor.
The next week be a Western Electric 15A implementation on the opposite side of the room.

 

Goto
https://www.fidelity-online.de/goto-hornsystem-der-superlative/

 

Measurement of FR, THD2 and THD3

 

Congratulation... measured on Plane Wave Tube and good work from Dietmar Hampel....

 

We've just set up a nice pair of 15A. Listened with the Apolyt Turntable and Kondo IO-M, Goldmund, Schroeder Reference, Onyx, Air Tight PC1 and some Audio Note Japan devices. What a beautiful week

 

We've just set up a nice pair of 15A. Listened with the Apolyt Turntable and Kondo IO-M, Goldmund, Schroeder Reference, Onyx, Air Tight PC1 and some Audio Note Japan devices. What a beautiful week View attachment 62434

Nice. What does this guy do for bass below 50hz?

 

Nice. What does this guy do for bass below 50hz?

Good question and Dietmar Hampel, the constructor of the driver used here (and mentined above in #351, #352), recommends to cross the driver at 100Hz or higher like he uses it himself with his 15a horn (below 100Hz he's using an large Philps basshorn).

But the installation of the 15a here looks great...

 

Be welcome to listen to mine as soon as it is possible to travel again!

 

I helped two people making these:

 

I helps two people making these:

View attachment 63031

View attachment 63032

What are the drivers and the crossovers here

 

What are the drivers and the crossovers here

What are the drivers and the crossovers here

The first one uses Altec 416 15" drivers + diy ribbon midrange + Goto tweeter
The other uses Altec 515G 15" drivers + Altec biflex midrange + JBL compression driver.

 

I helped two people making these:

View attachment 63031

View attachment 63032

What is the geometry of the big horns?