Extension, SPL, perceived sound and possibly more subjects?

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Look at it this way. You're in a rowboat using a pair of pool cues for oars. You'll get where you're going eventually, but those pool cues can't grab enough water to do the job effectively, no matter how fast you row. That's a direct radiator. Switch to a good pair of oars and you go a lot faster, while doing less work, because they grab the water so much better. That's a horn.

[Chris_Allen]

Look at it this way. You're in a rowboat using a pair of pool cues for oars. You'll get where you're going eventually, but those pool cues can't grab enough water to do the job effectively, no matter how fast you row. That's a direct radiator. Switch to a good pair of oars and you go a lot faster, while doing less work, because they grab the water so much better. That's a horn.

You should put that on the sales page!

[Bryan Cox]

Look at it this way. You're in a rowboat using a pair of pool cues for oars.

I spit my coffee out when I read this.

[Tom Smit]

Look at it this way. You're in a rowboat using a pair of pool cues for oars. You'll get where you're going eventually, but those pool cues can't grab enough water to do the job effectively, no matter how fast you row. That's a direct radiator. Switch to a good pair of oars and you go a lot faster, while doing less work, because they grab the water so much better. That's a horn.

You should put that on the sales page!

....and so it is!
Great analogy!

[Zippie]

Randomly stumbled on this thread. Really good. Clarifies so much curiosity. I have read here for a while but that article Bill posted really makes it so much more clear. I’ve heard the language here, but the article seemed to really nail down the concept of why horns can be so effortless and smooth. I think sometimes distortion is inappropriately associated with clipping. While clipping obviously produces more extreme distortion, to think that distortion is happening all the time brings a different perspective. The question is at what level based on efficiency, driver mechanics, and how is it translating to air in the room and heard by the listener. Really enjoying the journey of learning. Feel like I’m starting over and it’s a good time for me to regroup and relearn. Hopefully this doesn’t generate more questions now, lol. Good stuff.