What are the Top Horn Speakers in the World Today? Vox Olympian vs Avantgarde Trio vs ???

[Kingrex]

I didn't really know where to post this. I would not say they are anything special. I bet they do have issues when you make them work. I don't know how much the small compression driver did on top. It may just be high frequency. I was told they are stock. But hey, they are a wall of sound. I remember my rocker days and what a single 4x12 did. A double stack was absurd. This is 8x15 inch.

 

[Audiohertz2]

What McIntosh amps were being used ..?

 

[Kingrex]

What McIntosh amps were being used ..?

I will find out more. Not tubes.

 

[Kingrex]

I took a friend to see the horns today and the store was closed. Says open every day 12 to 6. We were there at 2. Owe well.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

I took a friend to see the horns today and the store was closed. Says open every day 12 to 6. We were there at 2. Owe well.

Which store was that?

 

[Kingrex]

A friend said they might be EAW. Local brand.
There is a record store on Vashon Island. That is where they are set up. The store just changed ownership. Pretty small. They need a new batch of media. Most records were a couple bucks. Then I found a nice Kinks and it was $50. Broke my heart.

 

[jdza]

EAW MC 4973. Tri-amped THX system for large and very large cinemas. Hear it squashed and probably maladjusted in a tiny room and blame all horn systems as bad forever.

 

[caesar]

Does anyone have any opinion on ESD horns?

They usually have a huge stack solid state electronics, that will make any ch precision fan boy jealous. But has anyone heard these with tubes?

 

[caesar]

heard these at RMAF a few years ago, but they were playing Chinese music, super loud

 

[G T Audio]

Does anyone have any opinion on ESD horns?

They usually have a huge stack solid state electronics, that will make any ch precision fan boy jealous. But has anyone heard these with tubes?

I believe they are fully active with DSP so can only be used with their own electronics. I read somewhere where someone got to see inside some of the boxes at one of the shows and he reported on this. If I can remember I will post a link...

 

[Atmasphere]

heard these at RMAF a few years ago, but they were playing Chinese music, super loud

I remember that. I went over for a listen but wound up with a headache. Probably a coincidence.

 

[gleeds]

That's pretty harsh, Ralph. I saw but did not hear them in Munich. I credit the developers for sparing no expense to create something unique and special. Whether they succeed or not, I believe respect for the ambitiousness of their project is due. Who is the guy who brings all the Western Electric gear to Munich every year? It reminds me of a similar passion project. You can't fault one for living theirs. Indeed, one can question one's choices but not one's intent. Warmly.

 

[Audiohertz2]

I have Heard many of Ralph’s setups at shows , large speakers , tape , analog TT etc , based on Ralphs description both setups can do a shootout for best headache series ..

 

[Elliot G.]

I dont know if it is at possible to understand the capabilities to this monsterous system that has been showed quite a few times at events around the US and the world. My first year year showing at RMAF the "red wave" was in the room next to us. I have also heard them at two other shows I believe and to be honest the sound they produced was not state of the art not anywhere close. They have a ton of boxes, parts,wires and speakers and to me it sounds like they aren't really good at setting the system up, other than making it work. One can make all the excuses they want just like they did last year at Munich for a few of the other adventurous displayes in large rooms with loads of gear. If the purpose is produce great involving musical sound these rooms failed. If the idea was to make a huge expensive system set up to say we have a Million dollars plus of stuff to see then they accomplished that.
Personally I believe the latter and sometimes these companies get offended when some point this out. Its very hard at shows to make something sound good, some can, others can't.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I remember that. I went over for a listen but wound up with a headache. Probably a coincidence.

did not get a headache but way too loud. wanted to really hear what they might do as they were clearly making a huge effort, but gave up after 2 more visits. and the music selections were not attractive either to me.

 

[Atmasphere]

That's pretty harsh, Ralph. I saw but did not hear them in Munich. I credit the developers for sparing no expense to create something unique and special. Whether they succeed or not, I believe respect for the ambitiousness of their project is due. I'll conjecture this is not a for-profit venture, and neither of our businesses are. Who is the guy who brings all the Western Electric gear to Munich every year? It reminds me of a similar passion project. You can't fault one for living theirs. Indeed, one can question one's choices but not one's intent. Warmly.

They were certainly ambitious and that is why I was eager to hear the system. But as Mike L just pointed out, it was way too loud. I don't know if that's why I got the headache I can only say that's when it happened. I like the idea of horns and have used them in my system for decades. So when a new and ambitious horn system shows up I want to know about it.

I've heard that system using WE stuff 2 years at Munich- one year we were only 4 doors away. I went in there several times as the first time there was a channel imbalance. Once they got that fixed the system was taking good advantage of the room size and presented some operatic bits quite nicely- and it was also relaxed on top. Seemed slightly shy of the bottom octave but the Altec subs were nicely integrated.

based on Ralphs description both setups can do a shootout for best headache series ..

What description?

 

[Hear Here]

I like the idea of horns and have used them in my system for decades. So when a new and ambitious horn system shows up I want to know about it.

Ralph - Are you a long-term visitor to CES at Las Vegas?

I visited 3 years in the 80s and on one visit I listened to a horn system that amazed me with its sound quality. It was from "The Kind Horn Company" and I picked up a flyer, now lost. I wonder if you know anything about this company, being a horn fan yourself. All I can find on Google is the Patent that the designers (Spencer Frazer, and Steven P. Soibelman) were granted in 1983. I guess these obviously very costly speakers never got off the ground and the company has disappeared. Thanks. Peter

 

[Atmasphere]

Ralph - Are you a long-term visitor to CES at Las Vegas?

I visited 3 years in the 80s and on one visit I listened to a horn system that amazed me with its sound quality. It was from "The Kind Horn Company" and I picked up a flyer, now lost. I wonder if you know anything about this company, being a horn fan yourself. All I can find on Google is the Patent that the designers (Spencer Frazer, and Steven P. Soibelman) were granted in 1983. I guess these obviously very costly speakers never got off the ground and the company has disappeared. Thanks. Peter

I started CES in 1989. But I've not heard of that company.

 

[adrianywu]

I spent quite a lot of time at the ESD room in Munich last year. The room was large, and I sat well back and did not find the music too loud. The system had very impressive scale and weight, and I felt it was good at presenting almost live dynamics.
On the other hand, at the Seawave Acoustics room at Hi Fi Deluxe, they were playing at ear bleed levels, and I had to leave the room after a few minutes. In fact, my ears kept ringing for some time afterwards.
I use Classic Audio field coil midrange drivers and woofers, mated to a pair of plasma tweeters. Even though horn speakers can play loud, usually much louder without distortion than conventional speakers, there is less need to play them loud. While most conventional speakers sound dead at low volume, my speakers can maintain their liveliness and detail at low volume. This is one of the biggest advantages of horns, esp. when driven by low power tube amps. Of course, they are more impressive when playing loud, because of their wide dynamic range and lack of compression.

 

[Amir]

What are the top contenders for the very best, currently produced horns in the world today?

Vox Olympian usually makes the list... So does Avantgarde Trio.. What else?

And what are the differences / trade-offs between them both sonically and in terms of design/ technology choices that contributes to the differences?

What's worth making a trip to audition?

Thanks in advance

Living Voice Vox Olympian use Vitavox S2 compression driver and the sound is very emotional.
You can listen to Living Voice in UK , Kevin and Lynn are very lovely host.