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In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: How difficult is it to achieve Vox Olympian sound
Post Subject: Another soil might be ruined…Posted by Romy the Cat on: 1/8/2018
 Newtohorn wrote:
Thanks for all your inputs.  I take Romy's words that the Olympian sound is not what customized horn systems in horn enthusiasts' room sound like.  Of course, I wanted to hear the opposite, that enthusiasts here get the sound in that ballpark, but it is what it is, and that's why Kevin can charge the amount being charged.  Of the customized horn systems I have heard (all Altec variants, with strong focus on the "originality" of drivers etc.), they are not my cup of tea.  I believe I need to listen to more systems, which is not easy, the likes of Tune Audio Anima, Horn Universum and Sadurni Staccato, and see how I feel.  If I am attracted to "horn system", perhaps I will pursue a commercial offering or even start a journey of building my own system.  If I find out that I am attracted to "Olympian", well, that is an entirely different story.
martinshorn's advices on the build is certainly valuable.  I learned of a local guy who have built his 5-way as inspired by the Olympian, although not with the exact Vitavox and exotic drivers.  I will also give him a visit to see what I will see and hear.
Well, I absolutely assure that dominating majority “customized horn systems in enthusiast’s homes” do not sound like Olympian. BTWm it is note that Olympian is a particularly good acoustic system, the good sound of Olympian is rather an aberration then rule in the world of acoustic system. The exuberant amount of money Kevin charges for Olympian is whatever it is. He have very expensive technology of finishing and his building/sealing process as I understand is not masses oriented but rather elite targeted. It is completely legitimate market sector. The total cost of rebuild Olympian with plain-vanilla finishing and LF section would be I would say under $15K but it would also take for somebody I would say a 1/5-1 year of work, not anybody would do it.


So, your question “what to do”, I do not think there is an easy answer. There is not known to me commercially available horn system that would give to me satisfaction. So, I am very much as many other people went for a long and pricy project to build my own. You might take one or another speaker idea and imitate it or even improve it. Some people, are trying to imitate/improve my Macondo, the same way how I did imitate/improve Avantgard in past. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it and you might start your own Olympian imitate/improving project. I do not know what you do and you like all of it but if you go to this direction then you will let yourself involved into a huge time and money consuming hobby. There is nothing wrong with that hobby but it is not something that you might be interesting. Talk to the guys who went there, get their depositions and deside to yourself if it is something that you want to be involved. Be advised that sitting in front speakers, smoking cigars and enjoying music is not the same as chasing drivers at eBay, begging the wood turners to follow your specification and interacting with idiots on line in order to learn what to do.

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