A paper mache horn for class A audio.

Here, in Portland Oregon, we love our music, so whether you own a three watt, class A triode, a 10 watt mosfet follower--or anything in between--it is critical to compliment your sound system with high-efficiency transducers and horns if you desire realistic, powerful sound. Over the years, I've developed a paper mache, tractrix horn that coaxes every nuance these amps can deliver, thus enhancing the musical presentation as if the musician were in your home.

Fabricated with a thirty inch mouth and a body that's twenty-three inches deep (two inch throat version), this horn can carry five-plus octaves of lush, silky music and harmonics, and with a dozen layers of paper mache for support (think ultra density, high grade plywood), it's well dampened--no ringing, or metallic ilk to jar the nerves. The best part: everything sounds good, whether it be home theater, jazz, folk or rock. This horn also works well with one inch compression drivers -- you might have noticed the TAD 2002 on the horn, above.


In the picture, below, you can see the RTA frequency range of a pair of two inch throat paper horns with stock JBL 2446 compression drivers operating in stereo format. This test was taken at the listening position, eighteen feet from the horns, with my Behringer Ultra Curve EQ using a calibrated ECM-8000 test microphone running on a thirty-five foot XLR cable. You'll notice that I have decent performance from 315hz to 8000hz with a gradual falling off thereafter due to room anomalies. The sub-harmonic noise on the left of the screen is from the road construction taking place a mile down the road.

In this next picture, below, you see the results of a pink noise test on one horn at a distance of three feet. This response curve is beautiful, smooth and not distorted due to room acoustics.  I lowered the gain in order to get the display in a similar position on the RTA screen.

When I add the crossover's built in CD boost the resulting curve, below, develops. Notice that the high frequencies are looking very impressive. Since our hearing falls off above 10K hz, the added SPL is a decided bonus.

There are better drivers:

I enjoyed the privilege of auditioning a pair of TAD 2002 one inch compression drivers (as displayed in the opening picture at the top of this page), and I'm absolutely sold on the concept of lighter diaphragms.  The highs are extremely transparent, the distortion just vanishes, and my ability to be transported to another place in space and time is all that seems to exist. If you can afford the TAD 2002, the money spent is an excellent investment, and you'll have unsurpassed quality that will last a lifetime.

Tad 2002 drivers are expensive--new, they cost in the neighborhood of $1500.00. I haven't found used units available on eBay. I'm certain that anyone who own's a TAD isn't about to part company with one of the greatest drivers ever created.

JBL 2446 drivers are available, new, for $840.00. If you're naturally lucky, you can always purchase a decent pair of 2445, or 2446 drivers, used, off eBay for about one third the cost. I've never encountered a problem with used compression drivers--a testament to JBL quality. Do be aware that you may not be receiving a genuine JBL diaphragm in a used product.

I've recently learned that beryllium diaphragms are being marketed as: Truextent, and are available for around $600.00 (that was awhile back), which means you can have the equivelent of a TAD driver for half the cost. 

If you're interested in owning a pair of paper horns, or my bass horns -- or anything else on this web site for that matter, please check out my Products page.

One final thought:

In the quest for quality sound, I've discovered there's more than one way to approach a problem. That's why I feel compelled to share many audio topics on this site. We DIYer types seem to have a burning passion, an itch that can't be scratched, and as long as there's another day in our future, another sheet of plywood in the garage, another idea sparking, clawing for life in our brains, our unique social construct will flourish.


Peace, my friend,


John Inlow

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