WTD: Full range/horn speakers

[Lawrence001]

After buying some Bastani Dragonflies for my second system and liking what they do I'm putting some feelers out for a similar pair for my main system. Preferably with a tweeter to come in at the high frequencies. Room friendly floorstanders are also preferred. WLM Divas look ideal. I'll have to sell my Ushers to fund it, they're going on eBay tonight. I'd also ideally like grilles to protect them from the children but that seems uncommon. Oh and to make it even more difficult, I'll need them bringing to London.

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[struth]

Maybe state power handling needs etc

[Lawrence001]

Good point Grant, as I like a broad mix of music including rock I thought I'd be best off with the valve gear I've got so they don't need to be sensitive enough for single ended triodes, I think 93db plus is fine. I'm hoping to get c. £900 for the ushers so that defines my maximum budget.

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[Lawrence001]

Just to add I could probably find a bit more for the right ones eg WLM Divas!

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[lordmortlock]

Ever considered building some XL Frugalhorns Lawrence?

[Lawrence001]

Ever considered building some XL Frugalhorns Lawrence?

Never considered building anything Jake as I'm a bit cack handed at woodwork. I'm ok at electronics but speakers are beyond me. I'd rather someone else did the work then handed them over to me when they decided it was time to move on :)

[lordmortlock]

Theyre really easy to build and the new cabs look great with just some oil or wax. There’s a good thread on pfm with a pic of them on, worth a look. Here’s Stefans site with the kits

https://www.kjfaudio.com/2016/08/17/frugal-horn-xl-flat-pack-kit-construction/

Not sure if James/brumjam sold his in the end, could be worth a pm to him.

I think every enthusiast should own a pair at some point, they do what they do brilliantly.

[Lawrence001]

I'm rather smitten with the 8" coaxial Eminence drivers in the Bastanis mind you I'm not sure a small single driver would be as suitable to my taste. Ideally I'd go 10" in the main system.

[anubisgrau]

I'm afraid WLM Diva ain't neither full range nor horn though I trust those who find it great.

[walpurgis]

Take a look through the kits Wilmslow Audio have to offer, you might see something you like: https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/

[Lawrence001]

I'm afraid WLM Diva ain't neither full range nor horn though I trust those who find it great.

Good point,.do they have woofers on the base instead of a horn? I just read it had the same but bigger drivers as the Dragonflies. So ideally I'd like a 10" version of the Dragonflies in a scaled up cabinet, not much to ask!

[Lawrence001]

Take a look through the kits Wilmslow Audio have to offer, you might see something you like: https://www.wilmslowaudio.co.uk/

If anyone is selling a made up one of these I'd consider it, but I do like the idea of a tweeter filling out the top end.

[AJSki2fly]

Hi Lawrence

These may be just the ticket for you https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283179569811, I and a friend have a pair each and the are very easy to drive. In my opinion they a very hard to beat. I have measured mine using sweeping wave using REW software and the response goes right down to 30hz, and they are reasonably flat right up to 15-16Khz, they can have a small drop off around 450hz I think which is due to the crossover circuit, but that can be sorted by a chap in Swindon I know for about £80-100 a pair. Mine haven't been done and I find them fine. Mid and Bass are Horns.

the one advertised are very good value and if in good condition are easily worth a lot more. Don't worry if the Bass driver or Mid has been re-foamed this is pretty standard on them as long as it has been done well. They are not too fussy about where they are sites. My friend has his about 6 inches from a wall mine are 4.5 feet out from a wall.

Sound wise they are very neutral and natural sounding IMO, if you put something with deep bass on such as Richard Strauss, Los Angeles Philharmonic*, Zubin Mehta ‎– Also Sprach Zarathustra Prelude (Sonnenaufgang) Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 you will be amazed by the low notes from the organ and bowed basses. They are just as good on Rock music Metalica - Metalica is great. There have been several very favourable comments on these Horn speakers in the past on this Forum. They also produce a great soundstage.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Adrian

[walpurgis]

Yes, I've heard the Impulse H2. It's a rather nice speaker.

[Lawrence001]

Thanks Adrian yes I've thought of them in the past, my friend had a pair and I didn't get on with them but that might have been his system, plus they were surrounded by boxes and equipment which probably didn't help the horn loading. The size is also quite an issue in the family lounge. I also considered the H6 but reviews are more mixed.

A pair went on here for £500 a couple of years ago, some cheeky fecker who used to post here beat me to them and sold them a few weeks later back on here for well over a grand! No names mentioned!!

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[Lawrence001]

Ushers now sold so definitely in the market!! Ideally I want something about 100-120x30x40cm with a 10" full range driver loaded by a downward firing horn and augmented over 10khz with a tweeter. Does anyone know anything like this???

[paulf-2007]

I assume you are talking back loaded horns, not something I really consider horns, front horns are where it's really at but usually large and not domestically acceptable.

[Lawrence001]

I guess so, sharing the front room of an average sized semi detached house with a wife and 2 young kids does somewhat limit the options. However, if a pair of front loaded horns come up within the specifications I stated above I'll definitely consider them.

[dwhistance]

Have a look at the Club 27 loudspeaker kits. They are designed by Bastanis and have some similarities but are designed to be more affordable. See here: https://www.club-27.com/index.php/audio-products/speakers/club-27-speaker-kurt. They are available finished or as kits. You might try a PM to Soulman on here as he knows all about them and how they compare to the Bastanis. Good luck with the search.

David Whistance

[Lawrence001]

Have a look at the Club 27 loudspeaker kits. They are designed by Bastanis and have some similarities but are designed to be more affordable. See here: https://www.club-27.com/index.php/audio-products/speakers/club-27-speaker-kurt. They are available finished or as kits. You might try a PM to Soulman on here as he knows all about them and how they compare to the Bastanis. Good luck with the search.

David WhistanceThanks David, I've already been in touch with Des. Great minds and all that [emoji6]

Regarding the kits, it would take me years to get round to building one.

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[moodybuilder]

Lawrence please clear your inbox as I've sent you another message but says your inbox is full.

[Lawrence001]

Lawrence please clear your inbox as I've sent you another message but says your inbox is full.Sorry cleared now, been lots of chat about this subject [emoji3]

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[Lawrence001]

Little bump, I've been speaking to Des about his Bastanis but sadly (for me) he's decided to keep them.

[Lawrence001]

Just realised the Audio Note AZ 2/3 speakers might fit the bill [emoji3]

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[Spenagio]

You may have spotted this;

https://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/mobile/moreinfo.php?pid=55538

[Lawrence001]

You may have spotted this;

https://www.hifi-forsale.co.uk/mobile/moreinfo.php?pid=55538

Thanks yes I saw that, that's where the idea came from. I don't think they are much more new so I'm looking for a private sale rather than one at a dealer mark up price.

[Spenagio]

The uk stockist of bastinas is selling off his stock over on https://www.audio-markt.de/
Pair similar to soulman’s that look very tempting

[Lawrence001]

Thanks for that I spoke to him last week and hope to get a demo soon when I haven't got the kids to look after.

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