"the sound of horns"
"the sound of horns"
I was speaking with a speaker designer today(http://WWW.valutronic.se) about about speaker designs and I told him about bfm and asked his opinion on horns.
He told me horns do have a certain sound to them.. sure they punch hard, sure they can go loud and low, but he told me they by nature were full of 2nd and 3rd harmonic content making them not suitable for accurate/hifi/critical listening situations.
Sure, I know many of bfm cabs isn't made for this purpose, but is there any substance in the statement?
He told me you cant even see this content in the sensitivity charts..
The guy has been designing speakers and amps for 50 years and has some really well made and respected designs by the way, check him out!
He told me horns do have a certain sound to them.. sure they punch hard, sure they can go loud and low, but he told me they by nature were full of 2nd and 3rd harmonic content making them not suitable for accurate/hifi/critical listening situations.
Sure, I know many of bfm cabs isn't made for this purpose, but is there any substance in the statement?
He told me you cant even see this content in the sensitivity charts..
The guy has been designing speakers and amps for 50 years and has some really well made and respected designs by the way, check him out!
Re: "the sound of horns"
I thought front loaded type boxes had more harmonics?...that's what I've read...the VH-1 on his site uses a horn.
Donny Collins
Built:
Two 18" Tuba 30's 3012 LF
Two 26" Tuba 30's Lab 12
Two OmniTop 12's DL 2512 (Melded Array)
Presonus Studio One DAW
Harrison Consoles MixBus 32C DAW
Built:
Two 18" Tuba 30's 3012 LF
Two 26" Tuba 30's Lab 12
Two OmniTop 12's DL 2512 (Melded Array)
Presonus Studio One DAW
Harrison Consoles MixBus 32C DAW
Re: "the sound of horns"
Straight horns are subject to some of the same harmonics issues as direct radiators.
The long path folded horns (emphasis on FOLDED) filter out the harmonics.
The long path folded horns (emphasis on FOLDED) filter out the harmonics.
Low End Junkie for over 20 years.
4 DR250s
4 Tuba36s @ 30" wide
2 ATs
...and a very serious addiction to the smell of BB sawdust and curing PL.
4 DR250s
4 Tuba36s @ 30" wide
2 ATs
...and a very serious addiction to the smell of BB sawdust and curing PL.
- Bill Fitzmaurice
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Re: "the sound of horns"
How do you say 'bullshit' in Swedish?osse wrote:
he told me they by nature were full of 2nd and 3rd harmonic content making them not suitable for accurate/hifi/critical listening situations.

That's the exact word that Paul Klipsch would have answered this with.
That's a rear-loaded horn, and they suffer from an inescapable major response dip where the front and rear waves meet 180 degrees out of phase.the VH-1 on his site uses a horn
Less, actually, as explained by the man Paul Klipsch himself:Straight horns are subject to some of the same harmonics issues as direct radiators.
http://www.readresearch.co.uk/loudspeak ... icle_1.pdf
http://www.readresearch.co.uk/loudspeak ... icle_2.pdf
http://www.readresearch.co.uk/loudspeak ... icle_3.pdf
Re: "the sound of horns"
Ive never heard bfm cabs(have 30% left of first of four t30s, can't wait:)) but when im thinking back of folded horn subs I've heard in the past words like "unfocused, thin" comes to my head. It's like you feel there is some kind of movement in the air but cant get a grip of it.. I hope it is due to poorly designed models but I can't really recall the same feelings when thinking about direct radiators.
I want gut wrenching thunderous crazy tight bass from hell, hope 4x t30 27" 3012lf will give it to me..
I want gut wrenching thunderous crazy tight bass from hell, hope 4x t30 27" 3012lf will give it to me..

Re: "the sound of horns"
Properly placed in the right room at the right distance it will.osse wrote:Ive never heard bfm cabs(have 30% left of first of four t30s, can't wait:)) but when im thinking back of folded horn subs I've heard in the past words like "unfocused, thin" comes to my head. It's like you feel there is some kind of movement in the air but cant get a grip of it.. I hope it is due to poorly designed models but I can't really recall the same feelings when thinking about direct radiators.
I want gut wrenching thunderous crazy tight bass from hell, hope 4x t30 27" 3012lf will give it to me..
Re: "the sound of horns"
He's full of it. Rooms have a certain sound too. Tell him to listen to a Danley SH50.osse wrote:He told me horns do have a certain sound to them.. sure they punch hard, sure they can go loud and low, but he told me they by nature were full of 2nd and 3rd harmonic content making them not suitable for accurate/hifi/critical listening situations.
Good food, good people, good times.
4 - AT
1 - TT
1 - THT Slim
2 - SLA Pro 4x6 Alphalite
4 - AT
1 - TT
1 - THT Slim
2 - SLA Pro 4x6 Alphalite
Re: "the sound of horns"
They will man! I've got only two of those at 18" and got that in a big ball ballroom, not even corner loaded, but I was wall loaded. After a gig I played just a snippet of "Three Kinds of Bass". I shut it off quick...it was that crazy. I've never pushed my pair over 40 volts (that's where I'm set to limit) that I can recall, indoors or out. I've approached it, but just momentarily.osse wrote:Ive never heard bfm cabs(have 30% left of first of four t30s, can't wait:)) but when im thinking back of folded horn subs I've heard in the past words like "unfocused, thin" comes to my head. It's like you feel there is some kind of movement in the air but cant get a grip of it.. I hope it is due to poorly designed models but I can't really recall the same feelings when thinking about direct radiators.
I want gut wrenching thunderous crazy tight bass from hell, hope 4x t30 27" 3012lf will give it to me..
Donny Collins
Built:
Two 18" Tuba 30's 3012 LF
Two 26" Tuba 30's Lab 12
Two OmniTop 12's DL 2512 (Melded Array)
Presonus Studio One DAW
Harrison Consoles MixBus 32C DAW
Built:
Two 18" Tuba 30's 3012 LF
Two 26" Tuba 30's Lab 12
Two OmniTop 12's DL 2512 (Melded Array)
Presonus Studio One DAW
Harrison Consoles MixBus 32C DAW
- subharmonic
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Re: "the sound of horns"
By this statement:
I can tell this:osse wrote:but when im thinking back of folded horn subs I've heard in the past words like "unfocused, thin" comes to my head.
When you are done you will pick a bare knuckle brawl with anyone saying these subs are unfocused/thin. Adjectives to describe these subs are usually: effortless, clean, tight, powerfull, and OMGosse wrote:Ive never heard bfm cabs
2x T39, 1x T60, 1x THTLP, 1x AT(not built by me) 6x DR250
I need more bass
But this gal's built like a burlap bag full of bobcats
CW Mcall
I need more bass
But this gal's built like a burlap bag full of bobcats
CW Mcall
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- Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:23 am
Re: "the sound of horns"
subharmonic wrote: Adjectives to describe these subs are usually: effortless, clean, tight, powerfull, and OMG

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=15969
Re: "the sound of horns"
Fascinating papers. If these were already linked in the education section then I must have missed 'em. Thanks Bill.