I got a set of 80s heresies a decade or so ago for $400 for the pair. After a little bit of work, they’re my favorite set of speakers by a country mile. Especially on tubes! Horns are definitely worth experiencing! 🎉
44 years ago I brought my new Klipschorns home . They always amaze me even after all these years . They are the best purchase I have ever made. A lifetime of musical bliss.
In about 1976, nr friends Dad brought a pair home. I have been a fan ever since. I don't have a place where I can have KHorns, so I have Cornwalls. I really enjoy them, but if I ever have a place I can fit Klipschhorns, I will jump.
Four of my friends own Cornwall's on my recommendation . They all have owned them for 40 or so years and none of them will part with them . Enjoy your Cornwall's they are incredible speakers .@@scottyo64
@@scottyo64 I had raw birch 1976 KHorns that i upgraded the crossovers with boutique parts. Incredible pin point imaging, but i had to sit against the back wall(with thick absorption panels) to get the Khorns perfectly in the corners. I could have really lived with it looking back, but sold them thinking it wasn't practical to own for a life time and i missed the 3d effect that i was never going to get sitting against a back wall. I still regret it. I know i wouldn't be happy with the lack of 3d soundstage and air, but the pinpoint center image and bass(horn loaded bass is a different exp.) was the best i've ever had in my room and that was with solid state. I now have all transformer coupled tube amps and damn i wish i had my Khorns back.
I also had pro split La Scala's with ALK eng crossovers. The bass was tight and snappy but just didn't dig low enough and the tops seemed imbalanced-too hot and caused too much fatigue. CF-4 v.1 were what i sold my KHorns to get. Loved them. Loved the Chrous II as well. I just feel good standmounts w/sub give me enough vs those.
Time machine time for me Steve. Back to 1979. I'm at 99 Prince st. NYC David's Loft and David is at the turn table (playing Lamont Dozier's 'Going back to my roots' ). The Klipschorns fill the room with here and now live sound. By 1984, I had purchased the Original Klipsch Heresy. Thank you for the trip Steve, and no acid was required.
I have owned many speakers over the years but I am having the most fun with my restored Altec Valencias. They are amazing at what they can do with such little power.
100%, Steve. I got an older pair of Forte’s from my neighbor a few months back, and after upgrading the crossovers, I’ve fallen in love with horn speakers. Also high sensitivity, I still love my Tekton Pendragons, but it’s great having a pair of horn speakers too, easily driven by a few watts. Thanks, Steve.
I have several sets of speakers and many many pieces of electronics. But when I pull out my Klipsch LaScalas my smile always increases in a way only horns can bring
What said there, that you can listen to horns loud, because they don`t distort so much, is a very good point. If you ever went to a techno club with a big horn system, you can experience that to the extreme. Berghain in Berlin comes to my mind. The music is definately loud, but you can sustain it for much longer, because it is so clear clean sounding.
My shock and amazement of horns came in my rock band years.Bass player with 200 plus watt SVT amp, two guitar players with 50 Watt tube amps cranked (Bassman and Marshall) loud as hell drummer and keyboard player with 200 watt solid state amps played through screaming JBL cabs. Just TWO Altec A7's and a Crown DC 300 handled a room that held 250 people.When we went to a bigger room we added 2 extra A7's and a second Crown DC300. I'll bet our SPL was way over 120db at max -- Horns just project to the rear of the room for very little watts...
Hell yeah, love it! I dig seeing stories like that. In the late 90's, one live act I began mixing, His Righteous Fold, ... had Altec A-7 mains for small club shows for a period of time! It was so fun, just killer. I would supplement the bottom end with modern subs when appropriate ... and as many as needed! Appreciate you sharing that.
I bought a pair of Heresy IIIs a couple of years ago. Not exactly the world's most refined speakers but for me they've restored a sense of excitement in music that Ive not experienced since I was a youth.
Same here, bought these new the last years they were still sold when 4 came out, i like these better, they are closed enclosure, i have a subwoofer etc integrated, so no worries about the low end. Had a hell of a job to integrate rest of my system, eg. subwoofers (time alligment, group delays etc) to the Heresies, cause they are so much faster / dynamic, did not want to ruin the fast midbass snap Heresies have, only using my SVS subwoofer for the last octave, 40-20Hz...Heresies get to 50 in my room after carefull leveling and positioning 👍
Hmmm......... A nice train ride to NY. Might be a good enough excuse to hear the Everest's (maybe get a real good pastrami sandwich too). Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
You've made it quite clear that the real problem with audio systems is the speakers, and I totally agree with you. The sound outlet represents the narrow neck of the inverted funnel. My axial triphonic system operates at 110db sensitivity. EVERYTHING that plays is alive. Good work.
When I was a young man in college in the late 70s, I worked as a bartender at a dance club. The club had 8 JBL horn speakers and the music sounded live to me. I have never owned horn speakers and currently own a pair of Nola Baby Grand Reference but this has me thinking about trying a pair of JBLs.
My first quality speaker buying decision was formed in local bars way back in the seventies when music was used for entertainment, before large TV's were available. I guess bar speakers got a lot of abuse, because most were blown out and had seen better days, but fit the surroundings. I finally found some old JBL's that were hanging on ropes in a dive bar that were obviously old and probably installed when the bar was built, but still played beautifully. I then bought some JBL jubel L65's and had a great time.
Yep. In my smallish apartment , i have full AVR + surround system with SVS subwoofer, the mains (front left and right) are Klipsch Heresy 3, and i usually have a flea watt, under 10w single ended , class-a tube amp powering them (from the AVR's pre-outs). Of course the subwoofer and other speakers are carefully integrated to the overall sound and unity gain. I dont need much wattages, and because the high sensitivity, can listen very quiet and get the details 👍
Thanks Steve! - My 7.4.2 home theater system is almost all Klipsch. Spanning many decades. Front L+R are series 1 Cornwalls (1977) and my side surrounds are the latest RP-600M 2's with rear surrounds employing a pair of 1980's vintage Klipsch "Tangent" series towers. Center and subs are all Klipsch and somewhat newer than the 1970's and 1980's speakers. - Cheers! Needless to say, I love the sound of the horn speakers!
Thanks Steve. This was a very cool YT vid. Being a JBL Everest owner, I share your enthusiasm. If you ever find your way here [about 2 1/2 hours in driving time] I would enjoy hosting you for a listening session. Cheers.
Yes! Very nice! A generous offer, I'd really dig seeing Steve do that. Everests are engineering marvels, top to bottom. They poured everything they had into that program. Steve, brother ... it'd be great. Content like that is so refreshing. I just really dig seeing other's rooms and systems. Of course the exotic stuff is interesting. But honestly the appeal spans equally across it all, entry level to über high end exotic. Regardless, ... it's simply really cool seeing how other enthusiasts enjoy their systems.
Dang, back in 1979 I heard the L-300's and fell in love with speakers that I couldn't afford. Today, I still can't afford my dream system, however I do still own my 1979 stereo system. I will never sell my 4311's and still buying lottery tickets!
I spent a day at the Lisson to hear Devon Turnbull's OJAS system and was struck by how well those massive horn systems were so tightly coupled to the acoustics of the very large room. Just energized the volume of that space so effortlessly and could launch sound waves in a way that dynamic and planar speakers can't.
Great video, I have been a fan of horn speakers for many years,early teens to present. I have listened to jbl,klipsch,Altec lancing, and Jensen. They all have their own sounds, but they have one thing in common they can fill a room very efficiently on low wattage and moderate volume
Now you're talking! I own a pair of early '90s Klipsch KG3.2s, and I love 'em. I love them so much, in fact, that I'm seriously considering coughing up the cash for a pair of Klipsch Forte IVs. Thanks, Steve, for this overview! -- Oh, yeah, I'd better give a shout out to my brother Art, who had the clarity to buy some vintage Klipsch horn speakers in 2008, when they were going for a song, compared to current prices. Hearing his Choruses reminded me of the K-Horns I'd heard in the early '70s, and set a new course for my audiophile journey!
You can get a JBL 43 series (such as a 4343's that are also at Blue Note, shown in this video) and install a charge coupled crossover network and get much of the way to Everest, while keeping that killer vintage vibe of the classic JBL's
Thanks Steve. Enjoyed your horn journey. Not a fan of horns myself. We prefer ribbon planar speakers in our fam for music reproduction...especially piano on the high end. Horns were a little harsh for us. You can't beat their sensitivity though. Keep the vids comin' my friend.
Thanks for the music recommendation.. Listening to Justice on my Klipsch RP-8000Fs now, and the energy is intense! It sounds like space gangsters are having a laser-gun battle in my music room 😂
Last night I was reading about and watching some videos of those top of the line JBL and thought, “I wonder if Steve has reviewed these?” It was weird to see this thumbnail this morning!
I think a dance party is about the greatest thing one can do with this hobby. I am not social enough to throw one without a lot of help, but was living in a big house full of roommates down by the beach and was gratified to have a system that, as part of an annual warn the neighbors costume party, had people dancing with joy and giving me lifetime memories. Friends shook my hand as they left and said it was the best party they had ever attended, but it was the guests, specifically the women, among assorted surfers, beach people, and the Los Angles rugby club, who really cranked the fun. I was just happy to supply the sounds, and now to recall long past memories . I still have the records associated with those memories , plus a vastly improved system to play them on, but, unfortunately , I am now flat out of dancing screaming women.
The song Genesis by Justice was the soundcheck song for The Other Stage every morning at 10am at Glastonbury festival way back when, You could see the sea of tent tops ripple and shake as the sound waves blasted out over the campsite. People would spontaneously emerge from their tents, hangover in full swing, unable to do anything but attack the day with dance and more debauchery, a perfect song on the perfect system for a festival junkies alarm clock 😜🎉
Steve the first premium speaker I bought was the RP600 v1 on your recommendation. I bought a set of Fortes and I didn’t have the heart to sell them. I love the Fortes and I look forward to the new Lascalas.
Just heard of the Paragon the other day for the first time in my life, and now here you are showing a club that HAS one, trippy. But seriously awesome!
I read somewhere that Harry Weisfeld of VPI used a pair of JBL Everests in his personal system. It was many years ago, but I had a chance to hear a JBL Paragon at a dealers listening room in Mission, KS a couple of times. It was waaay above my pay grade, but they knew how to cultivate clients, even post impoverished students. It was a treat for the eyes as well as the ears.
Any idea which Everest? The version mentioned here is only a little over a decade old, but its precursors were pretty top notch too. The Paragon costs more than the sum of its parts because it's such a rare and iconic piece. And it's not like they're giving away JBL375 drivers these days.
The interesting thing about the JBL Everest DD6600/DD6700 is they were made primarily for the Japanese market. It's interesting because they have small homes that are often not very soundproof, so making a huge speaker would seem crazy. The Everest 6600/6700 systems were designed by Greg Timbers (chief systems engineer) and Jerry Moro (principal transducer engineer), two great engineers with years of experience. Greg did all of the Everest systems back to the DD5500. I remember the industrial design on the 6600/6700 was done by Ashcraft Designs together with the in-house team. At that time in the early to mid-2000's we were still making a good bit of high-end and Pro stuff in Northridge, still had transducer lines and wood shop etc.. The enclosures for the prototype Everest's were made in the consumer group model shop, I specifically remember the large curved wood pieces would be shaped with humidity-controlled wraps over several weeks. The transducers were built by hand in Northridge.
My dad had a pair of 2440 compression drivers with Hartsfield lenses sitting on top of JBL Flair L45's with professional series woofers (many different models over the years). Man that sounded sweet.
Been listening to a pair of Pioneer CS-R700 horn speakers since 1972 and love 'em. They probably need new capacitors and could use 5 way binding posts, but... Lately was thinking of trying out a pair of Philharmonic BMR Tower Speakers and/or a pair of Clayton Shaw's new Caladan speakers. Also, seen some GoldenEar Triton Two+ and One.R's heavily discounted. Volti's look nice, but out of my price range. Just found a new to me, American made horn speaker company, Crites Speakers, look like they're based on Klipsch designs .
One interesting way I describe systems with horn-loaded compression drivers versus systems with traditional moving voice coil transducers is that you will never mistake a traditional system with live music... If you set up a system around the side of your house you would never mistake it for live. However, place a dynamic horn-loaded system around the corner and you can be fooled.
And thank you, Steve, for saying "integrated amp" instead of the new (adopted from the Brits and Europeans) way: "amp". There is a difference and it bugs me how many on-line reviewers now call integrated amps simply "amps".
Been looking at these. Was curious how they compare to a vintage Altec Model 19 or something “newer” like Ojas I find the Klipsh Cornwall’s to be a touch too bright.
Ive had Jbl horns for more than 10 years and nothing images or has the range of real instruments reproduction as my horn Experience and the energy in the music on live performances your actually there
To me it’s about controlling the room’s air volume and the attack of the lading edge, that’s what horns do. With speakers like stacked Quads or Original Beveridges you are looking into a performance while horns put you in the venue and depending on SPL the singer can be in you lap
I have both versions of the RP-600M and other brands and agree the horn speaker is unique. LaScala are next on my list. I have read they are coming out with an upgraded LaScala soon.
With a big upgrade in price too. I'm sure. Try to find a vintage pair of La Scalas. I've owned a pair for 25 years and they never cease to amaze how good they sound.
I like the Klipsch RP600M paired together with the Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amp! I think replacing the jumpers on the RP600M is a must. Speaker isolation pads is also a must. Klipsch has that something special sound going on! I got my RP600's at a heavily discounted price so win-win. That something special sound of Klipsch pairs well with the Texas Instruments PCM1795 dac chip, like Klipsch there's something special about the PCM1795 when properly implemented, keeping it casual
My mind blowing experiences with horn loaded speakers. Denver colorado had a 1200 seat venue the Rainbow music hall had a klipsch P.A. system that was awesome even if a band didn't have the best equipment that P.A. system made up for it and have always wondered why I haven't seen more Professional Klipsch P.A. systems at halls and clubs. Back around 10 years ago I saw some JBL everest speakers at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and alot of the rooms were playing Alison Krauss style music which is fine and the JBL representative appeared to be in his late 20s and having owned Klipsch kg 3s and 5.5s and heracys I know horn loaded speakers excell at playing horn music so i asked him if anyone had requested some music with horns and he said no and i had some tunes by The Mann brothers recorded on the DMP label and asked him to play some and the sound was just awesome and he almost fell out of his chair and said he had no idea these speakers would sound like that. I said great horn speakers always shine most with horns and although i think they are a little over priced those JBL everests were awesome
Back in the mid-90s, I had a pair of the Klipsch KG 5.5 speakers. A horn and 2 10" woofers. Were absolutely perfect for electronic music and rock music... Listening to the doors and albums that were recorded live like the grateful dead were mind- blowing... I stupidly sold them to pay back some school loans...massive regret !!!
Great story Steve, although they are not really horn speakers, did you ever consider reviewing Arendal speakers? I have the 1723s towers and love them. They have a horn loaded tweeter and are amazing for their price!
I remember hearing Altec 19 in a smallish bar/club playing Aerosmith Last Child song and I was astonished how good and distortion free they sounded always wanted a set after that
I have to admit i've been fluffing around trying to compare best buy, technology, cabinet design and I still can't forget a demo of the Heresy 4's last year. They're not perfect but can be considered keepers. I need to clear out all these audiophile thoughts....
Good one! Steve, don’t recall you doing review of the Klipsch Heritage Jubilee. Maybe too big. The horn is really good…. As my good friend said, “it’s like swimming in the ocean versus a lake or pool or…” well you get the idea..:).
Fantastic, I couldn’t agree with you more! I have many Klipsch and love them…I’m jealous though, you got to hear the Jubilee and I haven’t. But in time I will…regards, Tony
I love my EV Patrician 800's. And my EV Sentry III's are grin inducingly good speakers for the price I paid for them (£500). There's something about high efficiency speakers. The dynamic freedom and the clarity when compared to low efficiency speakers. Could be something to do with the moving mass for the electromotive force...
Thanks Steve! Jazz Kissa in NYC !! what took them so long ?? I hope it really takes off and they pop up everywhere! It saddens me when I hear a live venue close ie 55bar. The Klipsch RM 600 II are amazing just yesterday I played New York Descargas - Chesky records, the sound was so engaging i didn't bother playing through my other larger more expensive speakers. The Horns do have a special quality.
Horn speakers have the advances than other speakers in terms of focusing the frequencies towards listeners but missing the depth which I personally prefers , some other brands they mix horn with regular speaker ca bents and here we have another problem which is matching speed of horn frequencies and cabinets frequencies which is slower so to perform syhncrinse you need a physical preparation and mostly its complex because the types of music
Everyone needs to try Horns, Electrostatics, Actives, Ribbons, Subs, BBC designs like the BC1 etc. and typical low efficiency modern box speakers. It's only then that you learn what you like. Because it's all about the room, and personal preference and the amps driving them.
Yep. My mains are Klipsch Heresys. I dont even use 1 watt in my apartment 😎 Because that i am focused more on quality, not the power, most of my amps are single ended class-a, low wattage tube's cause their power vs THD curve runs naturally better when played low...only few class-a single ended solid state are good too, like sugden A21 etc ..i have a clone of that amp...but my favourite is still some of my tube amps also have one low wattage class-d amp for the hot summer times 👍
Steve, your comments on horn sonics reminds me of your report on the DW6. Not a horn design so not really the same thing, but can you say how much of the horn presence is offered there in a smaller and more affordable package?
My take on the acoustic theory of horn design reminds me of why the parallel RF transmission line is based on 300 Ohms impedance. 300 Ohms or actually 277 Ohms is the impedance of free space and electrical elements, antennas and such couple efficiently at that impedance. I'm sure a detailed look at acoustic design over the decades will show the horn is designed to couple efficiently into free air so efficiently as to render the horn acoustically invisible.
I remember listening to some Altec Lansing 2 way floor standing cabinets in a Heathkit store in the early 70's. That was a horn speaker "reference" experience.
Hi Steve, I just sold my Maggie LRS speakers, I just stopped using them when I got my 1980’s La Scala’s. Before the La Scala’s I had Heresy IV and the LRS. I would switch between the two, swapping out my McIntosh mc352 and my Carver Crimson 275 tube amp. Enjoying what each speaker brought to the party. But for me there’s just nothing better than big horns and big sound from big speakers! The La Scala’s are stock except for the Crites crossovers I hot rodded with Anydn caps. For me the horns rule!
I wonder what you think about Unity/Synergy horns? The 3d printing community has engineered a version that is printable, significantly lowering build cost. I use them at home and my housemate has KRK Rockit 8's studio montiors and these blow them out of the park in term of detail and imaging. If you know some one with a 3d printer i can share the files, would be cool to see tyour impression.
Interesting. When a speaker sounds louder than the SPL would suggest, it usually is an indication of distortion. In my experience, a low distortion speaker usually leads one to play louder than usual, as it doesn't "sound" as loud. Similar to your comment on the JBL system.
The majority of medium to large-sized live music venues use horn speakers in their sound systems. This is why I balk at purists who go strictly by accuracy measurements and tend to poo-poo horns. There are other types of speakers that will usually deliver more accurate, studio-like reproduction. A good horn speaker sounds more like a live concert. That's why Klipsch is still so popular.
I got a set of 80s heresies a decade or so ago for $400 for the pair. After a little bit of work, they’re my favorite set of speakers by a country mile. Especially on tubes!
Horns are definitely worth experiencing! 🎉
Hey there.
Jeeze, nice price! 10 years ago is probably about when the prices on those started blowing up.
44 years ago I brought my new Klipschorns home . They always amaze me even after all these years . They are the best purchase I have ever made. A lifetime of musical bliss.
In about 1976, nr friends Dad brought a pair home. I have been a fan ever since. I don't have a place where I can have KHorns, so I have Cornwalls. I really enjoy them, but if I ever have a place I can fit Klipschhorns, I will jump.
Four of my friends own Cornwall's on my recommendation . They all have owned them for 40 or so years and none of them will part with them . Enjoy your Cornwall's they are incredible speakers .@@scottyo64
@@scottyo64 I had raw birch 1976 KHorns that i upgraded the crossovers with boutique parts. Incredible pin point imaging, but i had to sit against the back wall(with thick absorption panels) to get the Khorns perfectly in the corners. I could have really lived with it looking back, but sold them thinking it wasn't practical to own for a life time and i missed the 3d effect that i was never going to get sitting against a back wall. I still regret it. I know i wouldn't be happy with the lack of 3d soundstage and air, but the pinpoint center image and bass(horn loaded bass is a different exp.) was the best i've ever had in my room and that was with solid state. I now have all transformer coupled tube amps and damn i wish i had my Khorns back.
I also had pro split La Scala's with ALK eng crossovers. The bass was tight and snappy but just didn't dig low enough and the tops seemed imbalanced-too hot and caused too much fatigue.
CF-4 v.1 were what i sold my KHorns to get. Loved them. Loved the Chrous II as well. I just feel good standmounts w/sub give me enough vs those.
Thanks Steve, and also for including my system in the viewer system of the day!
Time machine time for me Steve. Back to 1979. I'm at 99 Prince st. NYC David's Loft and David is at the turn table (playing Lamont Dozier's 'Going back to my roots' ). The Klipschorns fill the room with here and now live sound. By 1984, I had purchased the Original Klipsch Heresy. Thank you for the trip Steve, and no acid was required.
Thanks for sharing
Totally agree ,,, horns are just a thing of beauty and a joy to behold.
After watching I'm going to spin some Herbie Hancock Head Hunters vinyl through my vintage La Scala horn speakers. Thanks Steve!
Yes sir , the David Mancuso loft parties.
And yes that sound system is amazing.
The perfect imperfectness of horns.
Not true. Horns when done right can be just as good or better.
I guess you didn’t get my drift. I enjoy my own horn speakers a lot!
They have something.😅
I have owned many speakers over the years but I am having the most fun with my restored Altec Valencias. They are amazing at what they can do with such little power.
100%, Steve. I got an older pair of Forte’s from my neighbor a few months back, and after upgrading the crossovers, I’ve fallen in love with horn speakers. Also high sensitivity, I still love my Tekton Pendragons, but it’s great having a pair of horn speakers too, easily driven by a few watts. Thanks, Steve.
I have several sets of speakers and many many pieces of electronics. But when I pull out my Klipsch LaScalas my smile always increases in a way only horns can bring
Me too, love the La Scala’s!
The loft was a fantastic! The djs were the biggest audiophiles in the 70’s. mancusso, Siano etc.
Hell Yeah, David Mancuso is one of the most important figures in dance music history. He was all about the sound not the dj!
There's a reason Klipsch our keepers of the sound
Love my Altec Model 19's Love seeing the JBL's
What said there, that you can listen to horns loud, because they don`t distort so much, is a very good point. If you ever went to a techno club with a big horn system, you can experience that to the extreme. Berghain in Berlin comes to my mind. The music is definately loud, but you can sustain it for much longer, because it is so clear clean sounding.
My shock and amazement of horns came in my rock band years.Bass player with 200 plus watt SVT amp, two guitar players with 50 Watt tube amps cranked (Bassman and Marshall) loud as hell drummer and keyboard player with 200 watt solid state amps played through screaming JBL cabs. Just TWO Altec A7's and a Crown DC 300 handled a room that held 250 people.When we went to a bigger room we added 2 extra A7's and a second Crown DC300. I'll bet our SPL was way over 120db at max -- Horns just project to the rear of the room for very little watts...
Hell yeah, love it!
I dig seeing stories like that.
In the late 90's, one live act I began mixing, His Righteous Fold, ... had Altec A-7 mains for small club shows for a period of time!
It was so fun, just killer. I would supplement the bottom end with modern subs when appropriate ... and as many as needed!
Appreciate you sharing that.
I bought a pair of Heresy IIIs a couple of years ago. Not exactly the world's most refined speakers but for me they've restored a sense of excitement in music that Ive not experienced since I was a youth.
Same here, bought these new the last years they were still sold when 4 came out, i like these better, they are closed enclosure, i have a subwoofer etc integrated, so no worries about the low end. Had a hell of a job to integrate rest of my system, eg. subwoofers (time alligment, group delays etc) to the Heresies, cause they are so much faster / dynamic, did not want to ruin the fast midbass snap Heresies have, only using my SVS subwoofer for the last octave, 40-20Hz...Heresies get to 50 in my room after carefull leveling and positioning 👍
Great to see David Mancuso and the Loft getting a mention, got me into audiophile playback and thinking about my system, x
Let’s hear these systems Steve. Thanks
Hmmm......... A nice train ride to NY. Might be a good enough excuse to hear the Everest's (maybe get a real good pastrami sandwich too).
Acid Jazz, Funk & Brass 🔈🔉🔊
You've made it quite clear that the real problem with audio systems is the speakers, and I totally agree with you. The sound outlet represents the narrow neck of the inverted funnel. My axial triphonic system operates at 110db sensitivity. EVERYTHING that plays is alive. Good work.
I agree with you 100%. There’s nothing that matches a horn speaker.❤
When done right.
Liar. U no fareness four India
@@BobbyDazzler888that can be said about everything 🙄
yes, but not in a good way! 😂
@@lichtgestalt9540Wrong.....
.
When I was a young man in college in the late 70s, I worked as a bartender at a dance club. The club had 8 JBL horn speakers and the music sounded live to me. I have never owned horn speakers and currently own a pair of Nola Baby Grand Reference but this has me thinking about trying a pair of JBLs.
My first quality speaker buying decision was formed in local bars way back in the seventies when music was used for entertainment, before large TV's were available.
I guess bar speakers got a lot of abuse, because most were blown out and had seen better days, but fit the surroundings. I finally found some old JBL's that were hanging on ropes in a dive bar that were obviously old and probably installed when the bar was built, but still played beautifully. I then bought some JBL jubel L65's and had a great time.
Klipsch Forte I owner and listener since 1988. I have enjoyed them for 36 years and hopefully for many years to come .
Yep. In my smallish apartment , i have full AVR + surround system with SVS subwoofer, the mains (front left and right) are Klipsch Heresy 3, and i usually have a flea watt, under 10w single ended , class-a tube amp powering them (from the AVR's pre-outs). Of course the subwoofer and other speakers are carefully integrated to the overall sound and unity gain. I dont need much wattages, and because the high sensitivity, can listen very quiet and get the details 👍
Thanks Steve! - My 7.4.2 home theater system is almost all Klipsch. Spanning many decades.
Front L+R are series 1 Cornwalls (1977) and my side surrounds are the latest RP-600M 2's with rear surrounds employing a pair of 1980's vintage Klipsch "Tangent" series towers.
Center and subs are all Klipsch and somewhat newer than the 1970's and 1980's speakers. - Cheers!
Needless to say, I love the sound of the horn speakers!
Thanks Steve. This was a very cool YT vid. Being a JBL Everest owner, I share your enthusiasm. If you ever find your way here [about 2 1/2 hours in driving time] I would enjoy hosting you for a listening session. Cheers.
Yes! Very nice!
A generous offer, I'd really dig seeing Steve do that.
Everests are engineering marvels, top to bottom. They poured everything they had into that program.
Steve, brother ... it'd be great. Content like that is so refreshing. I just really dig seeing other's rooms and systems.
Of course the exotic stuff is interesting.
But honestly the appeal spans equally across it all, entry level to über high end exotic.
Regardless, ... it's simply really cool seeing how other enthusiasts enjoy their systems.
Dang, back in 1979 I heard the L-300's and fell in love with speakers that I couldn't afford. Today, I still can't afford my dream system, however I do still own my 1979 stereo system. I will never sell my 4311's and still buying lottery tickets!
You have some of the best Speakers I've ever heard. Bravo!!
I love horns! Such effortless, unstrained powerful treble.
I spent a day at the Lisson to hear Devon Turnbull's OJAS system and was struck by how well those massive horn systems were so tightly coupled to the acoustics of the very large room. Just energized the volume of that space so effortlessly and could launch sound waves in a way that dynamic and planar speakers can't.
Great video, I have been a fan of horn speakers for many years,early teens to present. I have listened to jbl,klipsch,Altec lancing, and Jensen. They all have their own sounds, but they have one thing in common they can fill a room very efficiently on low wattage and moderate volume
Now you're talking! I own a pair of early '90s Klipsch KG3.2s, and I love 'em. I love them so much, in fact, that I'm seriously considering coughing up the cash for a pair of Klipsch Forte IVs. Thanks, Steve, for this overview! -- Oh, yeah, I'd better give a shout out to my brother Art, who had the clarity to buy some vintage Klipsch horn speakers in 2008, when they were going for a song, compared to current prices. Hearing his Choruses reminded me of the K-Horns I'd heard in the early '70s, and set a new course for my audiophile journey!
Forte 4s would be an excellent choice
You can get a JBL 43 series (such as a 4343's that are also at Blue Note, shown in this video) and install a charge coupled crossover network and get much of the way to Everest, while keeping that killer vintage vibe of the classic JBL's
Thanks Steve. Enjoyed your horn journey. Not a fan of horns myself. We prefer ribbon planar speakers in our fam for music reproduction...especially piano on the high end. Horns were a little harsh for us. You can't beat their sensitivity though. Keep the vids comin' my friend.
Notes With Attachments is a bloody banger, Miguel.
I love my Electro Voice horns! These were fun to see.
Thanks for the music recommendation.. Listening to Justice on my Klipsch RP-8000Fs now, and the energy is intense! It sounds like space gangsters are having a laser-gun battle in my music room 😂
2 months ago I heard LaScala AL5 spkrs and was blown away. I sold my Wharfedale Elysian 4 spkrs and am buying these LaScalas.
Last night I was reading about and watching some videos of those top of the line JBL and thought, “I wonder if Steve has reviewed these?” It was weird to see this thumbnail this morning!
I think a dance party is about the greatest thing one can do with this hobby. I am not social enough to throw one without a lot of help, but was living in a big house full of roommates down by the beach and was gratified to have a system that, as part of an annual warn the neighbors costume party, had people dancing with joy and giving me lifetime memories.
Friends shook my hand as they left and said it was the best party they had ever attended, but it was the guests, specifically the women, among assorted surfers, beach people, and the Los Angles rugby club, who really cranked the fun. I was just happy to supply the sounds, and now to recall long past memories . I still have the records associated with those memories , plus a vastly improved system to play them on, but, unfortunately , I am now flat out of dancing screaming women.
The song Genesis by Justice was the soundcheck song for The Other Stage every morning at 10am at Glastonbury festival way back when,
You could see the sea of tent tops ripple and shake as the sound waves blasted out over the campsite.
People would spontaneously emerge from their tents, hangover in full swing, unable to do anything but attack the day with dance and more debauchery,
a perfect song on the perfect system for a festival junkies alarm clock 😜🎉
This video has motivated many viewers to comment…I have never had any horn speakers because of size but there is a very big following…
Once you've fallen for a good horn speaker, you can't get away from it 😊
Steve the first premium speaker I bought was the RP600 v1 on your recommendation. I bought a set of Fortes and I didn’t have the heart to sell them. I love the Fortes and I look forward to the new Lascalas.
Just heard of the Paragon the other day for the first time in my life, and now here you are showing a club that HAS one, trippy. But seriously awesome!
I read somewhere that Harry Weisfeld of VPI used a pair of JBL Everests in his personal system. It was many years ago, but I had a chance to hear a JBL Paragon at a dealers listening room in Mission, KS a couple of times. It was waaay above my pay grade, but they knew how to cultivate clients, even post impoverished students. It was a treat for the eyes as well as the ears.
Any idea which Everest? The version mentioned here is only a little over a decade old, but its precursors were pretty top notch too. The Paragon costs more than the sum of its parts because it's such a rare and iconic piece. And it's not like they're giving away JBL375 drivers these days.
The interesting thing about the JBL Everest DD6600/DD6700 is they were made primarily for the Japanese market. It's interesting because they have small homes that are often not very soundproof, so making a huge speaker would seem crazy. The Everest 6600/6700 systems were designed by Greg Timbers (chief systems engineer) and Jerry Moro (principal transducer engineer), two great engineers with years of experience. Greg did all of the Everest systems back to the DD5500. I remember the industrial design on the 6600/6700 was done by Ashcraft Designs together with the in-house team. At that time in the early to mid-2000's we were still making a good bit of high-end and Pro stuff in Northridge, still had transducer lines and wood shop etc.. The enclosures for the prototype Everest's were made in the consumer group model shop, I specifically remember the large curved wood pieces would be shaped with humidity-controlled wraps over several weeks. The transducers were built by hand in Northridge.
My dad had a pair of 2440 compression drivers with Hartsfield lenses sitting on top of JBL Flair L45's with professional series woofers (many different models over the years). Man that sounded sweet.
Been listening to a pair of Pioneer CS-R700 horn speakers since 1972 and love 'em. They probably need new capacitors and could use 5 way binding posts, but... Lately was thinking of trying out a pair of Philharmonic BMR Tower Speakers and/or a pair of Clayton Shaw's new Caladan speakers. Also, seen some GoldenEar Triton Two+ and One.R's heavily discounted. Volti's look nice, but out of my price range. Just found a new to me, American made horn speaker company, Crites Speakers, look like they're based on Klipsch designs
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Got my first Horns a few years ago in the Heresy IV’s with a nice tube amp ( also my first) and I think I’m done. I friggin love it.
It's not Spectacular....it's not Great....it's Spectacularly Great!! Enjoy your channel.
I believe it was actually the JBL 4429’s you heard at the Harmon store in NYC that stoked your Horn interest Steve 🎉
One interesting way I describe systems with horn-loaded compression drivers versus systems with traditional moving voice coil transducers is that you will never mistake a traditional system with live music... If you set up a system around the side of your house you would never mistake it for live. However, place a dynamic horn-loaded system around the corner and you can be fooled.
Good Day Steve. As always, this is an Excellent video. I really enjoyed and learned from this. Great Stuff. Best Regards.
And thank you, Steve, for saying "integrated amp" instead of the new (adopted from the Brits and Europeans) way: "amp". There is a difference and it bugs me how many on-line reviewers now call integrated amps simply "amps".
Yes indeed. Got the RPM600's thanks to Steve. No need to look further for my needs.
I ❤ my Volti Vittoras!
Been looking at these. Was curious how they compare to a vintage Altec Model 19 or something “newer” like Ojas
I find the Klipsh Cornwall’s to be a touch too bright.
Ive had Jbl horns for more than 10 years and nothing images or has the range of real instruments reproduction as my horn Experience and the energy in the music on live performances your actually there
To me it’s about controlling the room’s air volume and the attack of the lading edge, that’s what horns do. With speakers like stacked Quads or Original Beveridges you are looking into a performance while horns put you in the venue and depending on SPL the singer can be in you lap
I have both versions of the RP-600M and other brands and agree the horn speaker is unique. LaScala are next on my list. I have read they are coming out with an upgraded LaScala soon.
With a big upgrade in price too. I'm sure. Try to find a vintage pair of La Scalas. I've owned a pair for 25 years and they never cease to amaze how good they sound.
Thanks Steve.. food for thought.
My Klipsch speakers always get me Horney, baby.
I like the Klipsch RP600M paired together with the Musical Fidelity A1 integrated amp! I think replacing the jumpers on the RP600M is a must. Speaker isolation pads is also a must. Klipsch has that something special sound going on! I got my RP600's at a heavily discounted price so win-win. That something special sound of Klipsch pairs well with the Texas Instruments PCM1795 dac chip, like Klipsch there's something special about the PCM1795 when properly implemented, keeping it casual
My mind blowing experiences with horn loaded speakers. Denver colorado had a 1200 seat venue the Rainbow music hall had a klipsch P.A. system that was awesome even if a band didn't have the best equipment that P.A. system made up for it and have always wondered why I haven't seen more Professional Klipsch P.A. systems at halls and clubs. Back around 10 years ago I saw some JBL everest speakers at the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest and alot of the rooms were playing Alison Krauss style music which is fine and the JBL representative appeared to be in his late 20s and having owned Klipsch kg 3s and 5.5s and heracys I know horn loaded speakers excell at playing horn music so i asked him if anyone had requested some music with horns and he said no and i had some tunes by The Mann brothers recorded on the DMP label and asked him to play some and the sound was just awesome and he almost fell out of his chair and said he had no idea these speakers would sound like that. I said great horn speakers always shine most with horns and although i think they are a little over priced those JBL everests were awesome
Back in the mid-90s, I had a pair of the Klipsch KG 5.5 speakers.
A horn and 2 10" woofers.
Were absolutely perfect for electronic music and rock music...
Listening to the doors and albums that were recorded live like the grateful dead were mind- blowing...
I stupidly sold them to pay back some school loans...massive regret !!!
Great story Steve, although they are not really horn speakers, did you ever consider reviewing Arendal speakers? I have the 1723s towers and love them. They have a horn loaded tweeter and are amazing for their price!
Double Emt 930's in the dj booth. Take that!..
I remember hearing Altec 19 in a smallish bar/club playing Aerosmith Last Child song and I was astonished how good and distortion free they sounded always wanted a set after that
I LOVE horn loaded loudspeakers. I’m hoping that the new automotive klipsch sound systems will utilize horn technology.
I still love my cornwalls
Altec Model 19 - I love mine!
I have to admit i've been fluffing around trying to compare best buy, technology, cabinet design and I still can't forget a demo of the Heresy 4's last year. They're not perfect but can be considered keepers. I need to clear out all these audiophile thoughts....
Good one! Steve, don’t recall you doing review of the Klipsch Heritage Jubilee. Maybe too big. The horn is really good…. As my good friend said, “it’s like swimming in the ocean versus a lake or pool or…” well you get the idea..:).
That's good
Beautiful new shirt for the horn speakers.😁
I wonder if you've had the chance to hear the Horn version of your Soundpure Duets?
Fantastic, I couldn’t agree with you more! I have many Klipsch and love them…I’m jealous though, you got to hear the Jubilee and I haven’t. But in time I will…regards, Tony
Thanks Tony!
I use Klipsch Heresy III as my mainsin apartment , good for low level listening as well with low wattage tube amps👍
love the picture of you and Herb 🙂
I love my EV Patrician 800's. And my EV Sentry III's are grin inducingly good speakers for the price I paid for them (£500).
There's something about high efficiency speakers. The dynamic freedom and the clarity when compared to low efficiency speakers. Could be something to do with the moving mass for the electromotive force...
After 10 years with the Cornwalls , I don't miss them. But they were fun.😂
That's cool, what speakers are you using now?
Damn I'd like to hear a Meridian or other Trinaural sound with the Patagon and Hartsfields
Thanks Steve! Jazz Kissa in NYC !! what took them so long ?? I hope it really takes off and they pop up everywhere! It saddens me when I hear a live venue close ie 55bar. The Klipsch RM 600 II are amazing just yesterday I played New York Descargas - Chesky records, the sound was so engaging i didn't bother playing through my other larger more expensive speakers. The Horns do have a special quality.
Loving my RP500ms in my small space.
Horn speakers have the advances than other speakers in terms of focusing the frequencies towards listeners but missing the depth which I personally prefers , some other brands they mix horn with regular speaker ca bents and here we have another problem which is matching speed of horn frequencies and cabinets frequencies which is slower so to perform syhncrinse you need a physical preparation and mostly its complex because the types of music
Everyone needs to try Horns, Electrostatics, Actives, Ribbons, Subs, BBC designs like the BC1 etc. and typical low efficiency modern box speakers. It's only then that you learn what you like. Because it's all about the room, and personal preference and the amps driving them.
So true, there's no other way to discover your audio Bliss.
It’s dynamics man, mine were 112db/watt. Yup a pair of 45’s could blow you across the street.
Yep. My mains are Klipsch Heresys. I dont even use 1 watt in my apartment 😎 Because that i am focused more on quality, not the power, most of my amps are single ended class-a, low wattage tube's cause their power vs THD curve runs naturally better when played low...only few class-a single ended solid state are good too, like sugden A21 etc ..i have a clone of that amp...but my favourite is still some of my tube amps also have one low wattage class-d amp for the hot summer times 👍
Steve, your comments on horn sonics reminds me of your report on the DW6. Not a horn design so not really the same thing, but can you say how much of the horn presence is offered there in a smaller and more affordable package?
What do you think of the Fleetwood Seville's?
They can easily play to > 105db no strain. Dynamic and fun.
You know what they say steve😮.real speakers are horn speakers,therefore real men by deffinition own horn speakers.😊
My take on the acoustic theory of horn design reminds me of why the parallel RF transmission line is based on 300 Ohms impedance. 300 Ohms or actually 277 Ohms is the impedance of
free space and electrical elements, antennas and such couple efficiently at that impedance.
I'm sure a detailed look at acoustic design over the decades will show the horn is designed to couple efficiently into free air so efficiently as to render the horn acoustically invisible.
I remember listening to some Altec Lansing 2 way floor standing cabinets in a Heathkit store in the early 70's. That was a horn speaker "reference" experience.
Hi Steve, I just sold my Maggie LRS speakers, I just stopped using them when I got my 1980’s La Scala’s. Before the La Scala’s I had Heresy IV and the LRS. I would switch between the two, swapping out my McIntosh mc352 and my Carver Crimson 275 tube amp. Enjoying what each speaker brought to the party. But for me there’s just nothing better than big horns and big sound from big speakers! The La Scala’s are stock except for the Crites crossovers I hot rodded with Anydn caps. For me the horns rule!
I love klipsch overall, big fan of them amazing sound and sexy classy look quality 100%
Just curios why the Klipsch Jubilee was not mentioned.
Hey, Steve! Great video, as usual. Just out of curiosity, do you like vintage stereo equipment?
No, not for myself. I have occasionally covered vintage on this channel.
I wonder what you think about Unity/Synergy horns? The 3d printing community has engineered a version that is printable, significantly lowering build cost. I use them at home and my housemate has KRK Rockit 8's studio montiors and these blow them out of the park in term of detail and imaging. If you know some one with a 3d printer i can share the files, would be cool to see tyour impression.
Would be interesting for you to review the Tannoy Westminster GR compound folded horn speakers.
Interesting. When a speaker sounds louder than the SPL would suggest, it usually is an indication of distortion. In my experience, a low distortion speaker usually leads one to play louder than usual, as it doesn't "sound" as loud. Similar to your comment on the JBL system.
Nice hairday.....finally. keep it that way 😎
Have you ever talked to Floyd Toole? The guy is the genius behind all the science that built the JBL horn speakers
The majority of medium to large-sized live music venues use horn speakers in their sound systems. This is why I balk at purists who go strictly by accuracy measurements and tend to poo-poo horns. There are other types of speakers that will usually deliver more accurate, studio-like reproduction. A good horn speaker sounds more like a live concert. That's why Klipsch is still so popular.
If you don`t want to wear your ear trumpets yes it will help using trumpets on speakers.