Best Horn for Dialog

[rlsound]

Hi guys and gals,

Looking to build a LCR for my HT. Looking for a horn that will project dialog is a clean, crisp manner.

Can be a JBL product from any vintage.

[Allanvh5150]

Pretty much all of them on axis but I would go in the Bi Radial direction for semi vintage or the newer PT waveguides. The latter being small and relativly inexpensive. I love horns for HT but I do find them fatiguing after long listening sessions. I prefer using a horn in the center channel only, where the bulk of the dialogue is, but many forumites will dissagree. Size is probably your main concern I think.

Allan.

[rlsound]

Thanks for the reply.

I'd probably like to stay away from something as large as the 2360, but wouldn't discount it if that was the best I could do.

I'm thinking of doing a 4 way with a supertweeter. Specifically a 18", 12", a horn either 1 or 2 inch Compression driver, and 2404.

[jcrobso]

I currently have a JBL EC35, it sounds OK on voice but when listing to concerts that are mixed LCR it comes up short when compared to my JBL horn loaded main speakers.
I'm using a 2123 and LE175 with HL91, I will crossover at 1200hz. Since I have LE175's in my main speakers this will give a closer match.

[hjames]

I currently have a JBL EC35, it sounds OK on voice but when listing to concerts that are mixed LCR it comes up short when compared to my JBL horn loaded main speakers.
I'm using a 2123 and LE175 with HL91, I will crossover at 1200hz. Since I have LE175's in my main speakers this will give a closer match.

replaced my EC35 with an LC2 a few years back - it IS an improvement -

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=216280&postcount=78

but my longterm plan is using 3 L200s (modified into 4333 equiv 3 ways) across the front ...

[jcrobso]

replaced my EC35 with an LC2 a few years back - it IS an improvement -

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=216280&postcount=78

but my longterm plan is using 3 L200s (modified into 4333 equiv 3 ways) across the front ...
I currently have a 47" RP CRT based HDTV, I made brackets to hold the EC35 above the HDTV with it tipped slightly downward. I think that the brackets will hold my new center when I build it, maybe this spring I'll get going on it.

[rlsound]

I think I'm going to scale this one down a bit due to cost. Most likely a 2 way, 2352 horn with a 15" Woofer.

Thanks for the input.

[hjames]

I think I'm going to scale this one down a bit due to cost. Most likely a 2 way, 2352 horn with a 15" Woofer.

Thanks for the input.

Sure - but - maybe you could refresh us on what you use for front mains ...
Pix?

[rlsound]

That's what I'm working on at the moment. My current mains are not JBL, but these new ones will be replacing them.

These will be the same speaker for L C R.

[Lutz]

I just changed my center channel configuration using a 2352 horn with a 2452H-SL driver and am very happy :)

[Theebadone]

Hello everyone. cool thread, and just in time. I have been thinking about the same thing. I'm seriously thinking about a single Altec 902 with the tangerine phase plug, 811B horn, and 2 rear firing JBL 10"woofers. I know the box will be large, and the crossover will not be cheap to make. But wow what a center. :D

[Chas]

I currently have a JBL EC35, it sounds OK on voice but when listing to concerts that are mixed LCR it comes up short when compared to my JBL horn loaded main speakers.
I'm using a 2123 and LE175 with HL91, I will crossover at 1200hz. Since I have LE175's in my main speakers this will give a closer match.

I use a 175DLH too, with a pair of Dayton 6 inchers flanked by a pair of 4430's. Works very nicely. The ~60 degree coverage blends really well with the biradials.

[rlsound]

Thanks for the update Lutz,

I'm torn now between JBL drivers/horns and the QSC Waveguides/drivers.

Not sure which way to go yet. Gotta do more pricing.

[JoMoCo]

http://audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=275654#post275654

[toddalin]

I've had the LE175/masher, LE175/HL91, LE175/HL93, 2420/HL91 and 2420/HL93. I've always felt that the LE175 has a nicer warmth to it, but the 2420 has slightly better vocal clarity/intellegability. For that reason I feel it makes a better center channel driver for vocal reproduction.

But it took me a long time to change and I listened to several LE85s and 2420s before I settled on a set with tangential diaphrams to replace my LE175s. I still miss the warmth though.
http://www.largescaleonline.com/eimages/lsolpics/Team_Member_Pics/toddalin/Revised_Center.jpg

[rlsound]

I've heard the 2420, I like it alot. I think it was on 2397, in my old high school auditorium. There were 2 other horns/CD drivers below it, on the sides of the 4550, but i cannot remember what they were.

The sound, although not properly eq'd sounded very nice for voice, music sounded terrible through them.