Best large format horns for home use

[BillWojo]

So Scott, how did your neighbors like them? I wish I had room for large format horns, recently I had a set of huge EV fiberglass horns but I quickly sold them off, they never left my car.
I'd love to try some multicell horns such as the Altec H808 but they have gone off the chart money wise.
Still lots of the smaller format horns to play with and I have all the stuff to build a set of 511E horns. 291 drivers with Symbiotek diaphragms at the ready.

BillWojo

[Elitopus1]

288-8K and a N500-8H network on a 817A LF horn w/515-8G's
Pretty sweet sound

I bet that did sound sweet! I ran 817a cabs with 921 woofers and JBL 2360 horns with Renkus 3301 drivers for a while. Big sound out of those speakers.

[LowOhms]

I have a pair of 291C drivers (same body as the 288H). I am going to put some GPA aluminum phragms in them. What are some good large format horns for home HiFi use?

I have been looking at Mantaray and multicells. Also there are some EV's that might work. I have been told that the smaller multicells like the 803/805 would be better for HiFi since they have a smaller dispersion pattern.

I have heard of people using as big as a 1505 in their home with success. Hmm

And then how about the Mantarays... Which ones are the best for this application?

I would use these on top of my 828 cabs. The woofers will be switched to some model of the 515. Right now xovers are 800hz passive, but can be lowered for the large format drivers.

Thanks

Read up on a RCA MI-9595. I used them, a 90 by 40, when I was in my RCA field coil days, and I believe that horn has an INCREDIBLE midrange recreation !! Steve Schell may be your go-to guy.

Have no clue what size throat it was, but I LIKED what comes out of the mouth !! Maybe the best there is !!


Jeff Medwin.....Low Ohms.

[LOUDER]

E, Had 15 cell and 10 cell. Preferred the 10's probably for the narrower vertical pattern. Have MRII564 for right and left and a MRII5120 for the center and like them alot. (Can be had cheap too.) See what you can find. They all provide better mids than the small format drivers.

[magnarc]

Echo the suggestion for the MRII series. The MRII594A is an excellent horn, way better than the small JBL ones.

If you can find them, and have room for them, the first MR series (metal) are great as well. The MR94 and 64.
I also like the 1005 and 1505 in the same space.
All require larger rooms to 'breathe'.

[Elitopus1]

E, Had 15 cell and 10 cell. Preferred the 10's probably for the narrower vertical pattern. Have MRII564 for right and left and a MRII5120 for the center and like them alot. (Can be had cheap too.) See what you can find. They all provide better mids than the small format drivers.

Thanks for the info. I figure I will have to start with some MR until I can find a good local deal on some multicells to try.

There are some of the smaller MR horns on ebay. Most of them have higher shipping than than price of the horns! Lol

I have had these large format drivers for a little while now, but have never set them up. I am curious to see what all the fuss is about. Also since I already have an 802 system (the 604's), why not get a large format system going?

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Read up on a RCA MI-9595. I used them, a 90 by 40, when I was in my RCA field coil days, and I believe that horn has an INCREDIBLE midrange recreation !! Steve Schell may be your go-to guy.

Have no clue what size throat it was, but I LIKED what comes out of the mouth !! Maybe the best there is !!


Jeff Medwin.....Low Ohms.

I googled these. Looks like they are 3 bolt flange horns. I don't know if the RCA drivers are the same throat size. Anyways, they go from 200-1200$ for a pair. So it looks like deals can still be had. I'll keep an eye out

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Echo the suggestion for the MRII series. The MRII594A is an excellent horn, way better than the small JBL ones.

If you can find them, and have room for them, the first MR series (metal) are great as well. The MR94 and 64.
I also like the 1005 and 1505 in the same space.
All require larger rooms to 'breathe'.

This is great. It really helps me focus my attention on getting some MR for now, and then some multicells when I can find a pair. I like the way the multicells "look" better, but in the end I just want whatever sounds the best.

Thanks for the input!

[Elitopus1]

I found a MR564 for 55$ including shipping on Reverb. If I had a place to get a second one I might try it out

[GM]

What are some good large format horns for home HiFi use?

Well, my heart belongs to the tar filled 1803, but the MRII594 is a lot cheaper, more practical for most folks with a DIY waveguide [WG] being best overall specs wise and to my ears better overall than anything short of a two way Synergy concept, which is the WG minus the secondary mids to increasing mid-band efficiency. I was surprised at how little audible extra 'body'/'foundation' its mids add when auditioned at typical HIFI levels and only beginning to 'sing' at HT THX reference.

For folks that only have 511s and/or 811s, stacking a pair [or in Cal's system, one of each]/channel nets a bit larger summed effective piston, mouth area than a 2xx driver/805 combo, so plenty of dynamic headroom for frequency shaping, mids 'presence', minimum recommended XO point/slope, yet a 1" exit's more extended HF, all for less 'coin of the realm'.

GM

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I found a MR564

Just how far away do you sit?

GM

[Elitopus1]

Thanks for the input GM.

I have thought about using the double 511/811 horns and small format drivers. I have all the drivers I need, and half the horns.

I also wanted to put my pair of 291C to use finally.

The 564 I am looking at is in TX. It is 30$ with 25$ shipping. So maybe they could ship it to north FL for that. Maybe not though.

[Phil-G]

I have a pair of what looks like these,


someone gave them to me. if they can do you any good and you can use them.