Visit to Marc C.'s (SpiritOfMusic's) House in England

Graham, that's a LOT of spare screws on the floor LOL. Feel free to discuss on this thread.
 
Lol... only had one together when I snapped a pic out of pure excitement... almost all the screws are used now except for the ones originally loose in the owner :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lagonda
Hi Brad,
As they say... and here’s one I prepared a little earlier...won’t comment too much as we are in Marc’s thread, but phenolic compression driver horn, smooth as... unsure who is supplier of it, branded Pureaudioproject... and there are a few reviews out there now. It will be interesting to see where it goes, just putting some hours onto them for a few weeks... sounding full of great potential and AMAZING value!
I think it is from BMS but I would need to see the driver appearance to have a better idea. Woofers are from Eminence.
 
Graham, have you got a good experience of listening to a wide variety of horns? I ask because my ongoing experience w Barry's Duos is fascinating, but due to limited chances to hear many other horns, I might struggle to have a reference point when listening to something like these PAP Horns 1.
 
I think it is from BMS but I would need to see the driver appearance to have a better idea. Woofers are from Eminence.
Thanks Brad, I checked up on BMS compression drivers and it definitely looks to be one of theirs.

The 15 inch woofers are a specially modified eminence with neodymium magnets and modified basket to make them work better for OB applications.

I had grand plans to start adding and modifying myself however they are sounding so good initially that I’ll just let them play in and go from there... feeling like I’ve made an excellent choice with them. They look and sound superb.
 
  • Like
Reactions: christoph
Graham, are these the horns that you said maybe aren't best suited to rock? Or have I misread that?
 
Graham, have you got a good experience of listening to a wide variety of horns? I ask because my ongoing experience w Barry's Duos is fascinating, but due to limited chances to hear many other horns, I might struggle to have a reference point when listening to something like these PAP Horns 1.

Marc, I suggest the reference of your own system and that of actual live acoustic music. Those should be enough for you to gauge whether or not you like other speakers, at least as a starting point.
 
Graham, are these the horns that you said maybe aren't best suited to rock? Or have I misread that?
Probably more along the lines of (for me) Horns generally are less suited to rock than the 20.7s or the 40.2s. That said I will probably be able to say more when I’ve tried them with other amps (SET atm) and more importantly burnt them in.
 
Sure Peter. I actually find the imaging of certain horns very unlike live music, it's more the dynamics that are more convincing than my Zus.

If the PAP Horns-1 that Graham owns were to convince me, they'd have to be seamlessly fast and textured btwn the two 15" woofers per side and the horn driver, and scale in a more human way than some of the bigger horns systems.
 
Yes, the PAP horn is doing it absolutely beautifully... it’s a magic bit of alchemy. Just playing them in now. They are the fifth pair of speakers to ever completely win me over... So I am technically polyamourspeakerous.
Hi, I have been actually quite intrigued myself with the PAP Horns, especially at that price. But no experience since it’s direct sales. I was very close to pulling the trigger blind on these and have been speaking to Ze’ ev.
If you don’t mind, could you please elaborate a bit on how the PAPs compare to rest of your speakers?
 
  • Like
Reactions: the sound of Tao
Graham, have you got a good experience of listening to a wide variety of horns? I ask because my ongoing experience w Barry's Duos is fascinating, but due to limited chances to hear many other horns, I might struggle to have a reference point when listening to something like these PAP Horns 1.
My experience of horns... hmmmm, it started for me at 8 when I would visit my uncle when he played in a jazz big band. The extraordinary blaaaart of a full brass section of horns is burnt forever in to my memory and informs my appreciation of horn speakers. Frightening exciting limitless dynamics and apparent speed and that tone!

My experience of domestic horn speakers came as one of my more recent addictions... crack/horns/coffee, so many choices so little time lol.

My experience of Avantgarde is unfortunately limited to show exposure. Plus some odd assorted diy horns over the years.

I am zero experienced (but still strangely part addicted) to the idea of the lovely Silvercores that Ked reported on just because of the sexiness of those seductive and curvaceous Auotech Iwatas alone (the lingering part of me as a 60’s modernist) and as Austin Powers would likely say while stroking those white fibreglass beauteous horns... they aaaare groovy baby, (ohhhh behaaaave Austin)!!!

So my greatest experience of horns is with the Tune Animas having had them on loan at home for a few months and also then having listened to them regularly for a year or two over many many many hours (both sober and intoxicated) at a close mate’s place.

I also lived with the Tune Primes for several months as well in a time when I also had on loan DeVore 0/96s Harbeth 40.2, Slh5+, 30.1, as well as my resident and ever faithful Maggies 20.7s to compare.

More recently also the Oswald Mill OMA minis have been a very regular gig for my listening pleasure... good mate has completely awesome taste in speakers and makes the best coffee in town!!!

But as Ked so very rightly pointed out horns are amongst the most personal and individual beasties so how much reference I will be able to supply might be of limited help Marc. But when I’ve got my head around these speakers I’ll have a go. My references will be my 40.2s and my 20.7s. Will be interesting as these Pap horns are arresting! and they are already showing hints they can also do what both the Animas and the OMAs do so extraordinarily well... just make me stop thinking about the sound.
 
Last edited:
Hi, I have been actually quite intrigued myself with the PAP Horns, especially at that price. But no experience since it’s direct sales. I was very close to pulling the trigger blind on these and have been speaking to Ze’ ev.
If you don’t mind, could you please elaborate a bit on how the PAPs compare to rest of your speakers?
Sujay, that is exactly what I did, an opportunity came up and I just went purely by instinct.

Ze’eV is a gem. Amazing customer service and commitment in my short, super impressed experience.

I’ll figure it might take a few weeks of playing in just to establish some basis points to know more what they are doing and then living with them for a while and learning how to start to get the best out of them.

Will likely start a thread down the track when they are settled in and update as I go. I’m lucky to have some brilliant references in the Harby 40.2 and Maggie 20.7s for compares. I’ll also be upgrading the caps and resistors in the crossovers and rolling in new 805s and 300Bs into the amp plus setting up my new (for me) Triton and Typhon and mscaler for my dac and all in a new room so might be a while in the making and the baking.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: sujay
So Graham, you bought blind (deaf)?
Sound unheard?

Before I bought my current Zus in 2013, I nearly bought something similar, the Hawthorne Audio References, utilising an AMT Heil mids/tweeter ribbon w 15" woofers D'Appolito fashion.

However there was little chance to demo beforehand, so I stuck w the devil I knew.
 
But from 2019, I'm laying low on system changes. I just want to get used to what I've achieved, worry less, listen more.

ROFL - Marc, I am sure you said that at the start of 2018....................and 2017 ;)
 
And 2016, 2015, 2014...
"Yada Yada" should be my User Name here, or "Spirit Of Spending".
 
  • Like
Reactions: XV-1
  • Like
Reactions: XV-1
Oh Ked, it's a sticky alright.

It's stuck to my back, for target practice.
 
  • Like
Reactions: XV-1 and Lagonda
So Graham, you bought blind (deaf)?
Sound unheard?

Before I bought my current Zus in 2013, I nearly bought something similar, the Hawthorne Audio References, utilising an AMT Heil mids/tweeter ribbon w 15" woofers D'Appolito fashion.

However there was little chance to demo beforehand, so I stuck w the devil I knew.
I am a bit of a reasonable due diligence junky, experienced enough open baffle and horns now to make an educated guess that I was in the ballpark, I knew that the amp that I was buying (along with a microzotl) would be perfect for horns with 15 inch baffles, read plenty and spoke to a few people on forums so then when the opportunity came up I just pushed the go button comfortably because buying the Pap horns didn’t require me selling either the Harbeth 40.2s or Maggie 20.7s so there was really no going backwards because of moving forwards.

That said after just a day of very less than ideal circumstances I can say even now without the new horns being remotely up to speed yet that there is absolutely zero chance I’ll be selling the Pap horns. They are doing things here that should just be illegal.
 
Last edited:
Do you think Tango would ever make such brave predictions of laying low ? :p
 
Sujay, that is exactly what I did, an opportunity came up and I just went purely by instinct.

Ze’eV is a gem. Amazing customer service and commitment in my short, super impressed experience.

I’ll figure it might take a few weeks of playing in just to establish some basis points to know more what they are doing and then living with them for a while and learning how to start to get the best out of them.

Will likely start a thread down the track when they are settled in and update as I go. I’m lucky to have some brilliant references in the Harby 40.2 and Maggie 20.7s for compares. I’ll also be upgrading the caps and resistors in the crossovers and rolling in new 805s and 300Bs into the amp plus setting up my new (for me) Triton and Typhon and mscaler for my dac and all in a new room so might be a while in the making and the baking.

Thanks! From what I can see, you are really taken in by the PAPs. Look forward to your comments. Agree, they do deserve a separate thread though. Also, at that price, one can commit to buying these without having to part with existing speakers, which is great and provides a reference point for comparison
Cheers
Sujay
 
  • Like
Reactions: the sound of Tao

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu