horn speakers readily available in the UK? or other British speakers to check out...

[G T Audio]

Quads and horns, in general, are entirely different animals. I find later edition Quads to work best with stable, musical solid-state amplifiers and Class AB tube amplifiers from 7-100 watts/channel. That said, perhaps worth a shot with you Allnic amplifier if you go that way. A set of efficient horns of any make would be sympatico with you, Allnic. I understand Living Voice dynamic speaker range is quite exceptional, affordable, and designed for use with low-power tube amplifiers, so definitely worth a listen, especially in the UK.

Do be aware that Quad ESLs, both original (ESL57, ESL63) and the modern ones made under Chinese ownership, are not that reliable and will require servicing and repair, if being looked at as a long term purchase. Unlike conventional box type loudspeakers including horns etc which very rarely require servicing. All ESLs are big and heavy which creates more problems when they have to be shipped back for servicing work. It is essential to have/keep all the original packaging.

 

[Sallingboe Audio]

Interesting. Do they have any UK dealers?

Hi wbass. No not yet but we are looking for dealers also in UK. So you can either go to your favourite dealer and tell him to become a dealer or you can buy them from me

 

[howiebrou]

With the relatively smaller rooms in the UK, you might wish to consider a pair of Audio Note speakers that are designed to fit into the corners of rooms and there are sizes to fit small, medium and larger rooms. I started off in London with a a pair of Klipsch La Scalas driven by a SET integrated 8W amp and quickly changed to a pair of AN/E SPX SE HE speakers and love them. They pressurised the room much better than the Klipsch despite a much smaller size and get out of the way if you don't want speakers dominatung the room.

 

[Argonaut]

A good call @howiebrou

 

[infinitely baffled]

Good call Howie. I was going to auggest Audionote AN-J's.
Sensitive and quintessentially British sounding, a place for everything, and everything in it's place.
20k gets you into complete system territory.

Or you can add to your existing components with the best versions of AN matched power amp and speakers your budget will accommodate.

Don't forget to leave some budget for grounding....or come back at a later date.
If you're going to be living in a built up area, it's essential.
Unless you are happy with your system only sounding right after midnight...

 

[Sallingboe Audio]

I've recently been offered a job in the UK. Naturally, hi-fi is not the foremost concern in a potential trans-Atlantic move, but more than likely my Magnepan 3.7i's would not be coming with me from Chicago. I'm not sure yet if I'll be living in London central (in a flat) or further out (detached home), but my hi-fi habit might influence the decision, as insane as that sounds.

Lately, horns have been what I've been enjoying, and I'm curious whether there are any British or European horns (or other high-sensitivity speakers from the UK or Europe) of which to be aware. Top end budget of, say, $20K USD. I see Living Voice, but those look pricy. I've heard big Tannoys, but they were too dark for me. I'm curious about Fyne but have not heard them as of yet. Any custom horn builders that aren't as pricy as the likes of Avant Garde, etc.? I'm aware of Klipsch, of course, but that's American made, and I've never quite connected with K-horns in multiple auditions. I do like Cornwalls, however.

Another route (non-horn) might be Harbeth, which I've heard and liked but don't know well. They might work better in a flat. I'm not drawn to B&W for whatever reason, but KEF I'd certainly consider. Maybe Spendor or Graham, too.

Anyway, a sort of preliminary query for the group here. In the US, we seem to be a little starved for interesting horn choices, but they seem more prevalent across the Atlantic, particularly in Europe, and I'd be grateful to hear what I might look/listen out for, both for horns and generally.

In other words, who are the speaker makers (mid-tier) to know in Britain right now?

Many thanks.

Hi Wbass. Allow me to introduce LALS speakers to you. We recently obtained distribution in Europe of these excellent speakers. They make speakers in all price ranges, all with horns. We don’t yet have a retailer in Britain but are actively searching for retailers so you can either suggest LALS to your local retailer or purchase them from us. We will be happy to arrange demonstration or you can follow our Facebook site to see when we will demonstrate next at shows. We just demonstrated at the shows in Horten, Norway, and Gothenburg, Sweden with great response!

 

[howiebrou]

Good call Howie. I was going to auggest Audionote AN-J's.
Sensitive and quintessentially British sounding, a place for everything, and everything in it's place.
20k gets you into complete system territory.

Or you can add to your existing components with the best versions of AN matched power amp and speakers your budget will accommodate.

Don't forget to leave some budget for grounding....or come back at a later date.
If you're going to be living in a built up area, it's essential.
Unless you are happy with your system only sounding right after midnight...

Thanks. Loving the small size and placing right in the corners so they don't dominate the room.

 

[infinitely baffled]

During ww2 the British navy deployed armed merchant ships to protect convoys.
Known as Q-ships, they looked ordinary but concealed potent hidden weaponry.

That standard was adopted by the auto industry, never more than in the homologation specials. These were Q-cars of the highest order, a standard looking conventional small saloon or hatchback that had been given an overhaul to form the basis of a works competition car to go rallying or circuit racing. The lancia delta intergrale, bmw m3, nissan skyline gtr, ford sierra cosworth rs500, and going back to the start of the 80's, the lotus sunbeam.

To me this was the ultimate q-car. It looked like a piece of shit talbot sunbeam shopping car that would only get a second look to be laughed at. But under the skin was a lightweight, rear wheel drive chassis, a punchy, tunable lotus engine- about 250 bhp was possible- in a chassis weighing less than a ton. I owned one as a yoot and it was magnificent- the feeling you got when blowing the doors off a smug bmw driver in this incongruous looking weapon was unbeatable.

So why all the waffle about Q cars and ships?
To me the Snell type J, now built as the Audio Note AN-J, is the audio equivalent, a Q-speaker, if you will. Nothing about the appearance prepares you for the performance. The type J is one of the most ordinary, conventional- looking speakers you will ever see.
But their musicality is off the charts. More than one high end reviewer has commented that AN-J is the cheapest speaker that they could live happily with.
I absolutely concur. To the extent I'm considering a full AN system for my father.

 

[christoph]

To me this was the ultimate q-car. It looked like a piece of shit talbot sunbeam shopping car that would only get a second look to be laughed at. But under the skin was a lightweight, rear wheel drive chassis, a punchy, tunable lotus engine- about 250 bhp was possible- in a chassis weighing less than a ton. I owned one as a yoot and it was magnificent- the feeling you got when blowing the doors off a smug bmw driver in this incongruous looking weapon was unbeatable.

How about the Toyota Yaris GR

 

[howiebrou]

How about the Toyota Yaris GR

I think the Lotus Carlton was the ultimate Q car.

 

[christoph]

I think the Lotus Carlton was the ultimate Q car.

Lotus Omega in Central Europe.
But the Yaris GR is unbelievable fun to drive, not just powerful on a straight line

 

[infinitely baffled]

How about the Toyota Yaris GR

Definitelyand i have quite the urge to try one.
And the lotus Carlton, q car of the highest order. Funnily enough i prefer the Omega, seems more exotic to a Brit like me.

While i was walking the dogs last night more and more kept popping into my head.
Turns out i have owned a continuing stream of homologation specials since the late 80's.
In chronological order;
Lotus Sunbeam
Toyota AE86
Nissan Pulsar gtir
Nissan Skyline gtr (still got)
Mitsubishi Evo 6 (current project, nearly finished)

I'd say the first three qualify as q cars.
But by the time we get to Skyline, the word was out

Ahem, as you were,
please excuse the threadjack?

Edit: footage below of Henri Toivonen in lotus sunbeam, same colour scheme as mine.
It is almost gratuitously, comically shite looking. But it knocked the mk2 escorts off the top, and was the last rwd car to win the RAC rally, beating 4wd audi quattros and lancia 037's.
I wish i still had mine.....but it was too much car for my budget to maintain at that time.

 

[infinitely baffled]

Lotus Omega in Central Europe.
But the Yaris GR is unbelievable fun to drive, not just powerful on a straight line

Have you had a go in one Christoph?

 

[infinitely baffled]

Hi Wbass. Allow me to introduce LALS speakers to you. We recently obtained distribution in Europe of these excellent speakers. They make speakers in all price ranges, all with horns. We don’t yet have a retailer in Britain but are actively searching for retailers so you can either suggest LALS to your local retailer or purchase them from us. We will be happy to arrange demonstration or you can follow our Facebook site to see when we will demonstrate next at shows. We just demonstrated at the shows in Horten, Norway, and Gothenburg, Sweden with great response!

They look very interesting. I'm loving the wooden horns

 

[christoph]

Have you had a go in one Christoph?

Ebony and Ivory

 

[christoph]

Definitelyand i have quite the urge to try one.
And the lotus Carlton, q car of the highest order. Funnily enough i prefer the Omega, seems more exotic to a Brit like me.

While i was walking the dogs last night more and more kept popping into my head.
Turns out i have owned a continuing stream of homologation specials since the late 80's.
In chronological order;
Lotus Sunbeam
Toyota AE86
Nissan Pulsar gtir
Nissan Skyline gtr (still got)
Mitsubishi Evo 6 (current project, nearly finished)

I'd say the first three qualify as q cars.
But by the time we get to Skyline, the word was out

Ahem, as you were,
please excuse the threadjack?

Edit: footage below of Henri Toivonen in lotus sunbeam, same colour scheme as mine.
It is almost gratuitously, comically shite looking. But it knocked the mk2 escorts off the top, and was the last rwd car to win the RAC rally, beating 4wd audi quattros and lancia 037's.
I wish i still had mine.....but it was too much car for my budget to maintain at that time.

You should definitely try the GR but be aware that they are sold out
A nice collection of fun cars you have there
What model is your GTR?

 

[DasguteOhr]

You should definitely try the GR but be aware that they are sold out
A nice collection of fun cars you have there
What model is your GTR?

with the Gazoo Racing driving circles around the corvette during races. one of the best cars i have ever driven at nürburgring, the slip diff is world class. only used buyable, but toyota make a new gt 86 gr
P.S yaris gr with software + downpipe 312HP more fun

 

[infinitely baffled]

You should definitely try the GR but be aware that they are sold out
A nice collection of fun cars you have there
What model is your GTR?

You're too kind,. That's not such a bad garage yourself Christoph. The GR looks awesome in gun metal.
I have the 'privilege' of buying used, so there's hope for me yet

The skyline is an R32 gtr. (Also gun metal). The original and best?i had to personally import it as the R32 was never sold in Europe. Then we went to town on it.

OS Gikken rb30 three litre, complete drag-spec short engine, block strengthened, bored and stroked, forged steel OS crank rods and pistons, variable valve timing and v-cam, dry sump, twin 2860 turbos
OS sequential gearbox, c/f propshaft, active OS lsd's front and rear
Lightweight grp doors and lexan windows, stripped interior, chro-moly steel weld-in cage and lightweight bride seats. Brakes AP Racing front, gReddy rear.

Totally standard looking exterior R33 gtr wheels, 17 inch to retain a supple ride on the awesome but potholed local roads

1350kg and 620 at the wheels, but we'll be making ~900 when we upgrade the turbos to the latest gtx- spec. We'll also overbore to 3.2 as we re-shell. Will get to work on that soon as t'evo is finished....fingers crossed before Christmas

 

[rob]

Loved the GR so much i bought 2 of them.
So much fun to drive. (sorry for thread hijack)

 

[DasguteOhr]

You're too kind,. That's not such a bad garage yourself Christoph. The GR looks awesome in gun metal.
I have the 'privilege' of buying used, so there's hope for me yet

The skyline is an R32 gtr. (Also gun metal). The original and best?i had to personally import it as the R32 was never sold in Europe. Then we went to town on it.

OS Gikken rb30 three litre, complete drag-spec short engine, block strengthened, bored and stroked, forged steel OS crank rods and pistons, variable valve timing and v-cam, dry sump, twin 2860 turbos
OS sequential gearbox, c/f propshaft, active OS lsd's front and rear
Lightweight grp doors and lexan windows, stripped interior, chro-moly steel weld-in cage and lightweight bride seats. Brakes AP Racing front, gReddy rear.

Totally standard looking exterior R33 gtr wheels, 17 inch to retain a supple ride on the awesome but potholed local roads

1350kg and 620 at the wheels, but we'll be making ~900 when we upgrade the turbos to the latest gtx- spec. We'll also overbore to 3.2 as we re-shell. Will get to work on that soon as t'evo is finished....fingers crossed before Christmas

don't forget the gearbox, the achilles heel of the gtr all over 700hp

GTR / GTS-T 1ST-4TH HELICAL DOG GEAR SET - LARGE SPLINE | Pfitzner - PPG

One of PPG's most infamous gearsets, this exact product powered Theo Woolett's 8 second R32 GTR to the title of fastest H pattern gearbox powered GTR in the world. Able to withstand over 1000 engine horsepower, this set has endured punishing abuse in all corners of the globe and has an...

www.ppgearbox.com

Three times destroyed at 1/4meile
Sorry for offtopic