AUDIO TANTRA CONCEPT
The biggest drawbacks of well-made horns are their size, weight and price. Especially in case of tunnel systems with numerous elements, the manufacturing costs rise drastically, so that horns may verge on esoterics or club/individual zealotry, whereas the scarce manufacturers of such equipment demand enormous prices for their exotic designs.
Audio Tantra has decided to adopt a course to keep the maximum of the advantages horns possess and to minimize their disadvantages. Studies of a great many tunnel constructions have resulted in certain solutions that are substantially smaller, lighter and cheaper
than their bigger
brothers.
As some fellow constructors and audio enthusiasts in the world have noticed, the people who really like music, and not trends, revaluate all principles, both old and new, looking after something that really sounds good, no matter when or where it originated. Some things have recently changed for the better (membrane technology, suspension - low Qts, magnets, new materials...). Unfortunately, as a result of the continuous and artificial need for "something new", some good and great old ideas fell into oblivion, although they are now more actual than ever as they can be combined with the new possibilities of driver units. It applies to horns more than ever.
Considerable reductions in size and mass of the overall horn construction can be achieved by using "hybrid", i.e. combined solutions. This means that each area of the audio spectrum and the overall construction is analysed in order to find out which principle or technology sounds best. According to our experience, the best bass (definition, depth, speed) is achieved by using horns, the best midrange is ensured by applying top-quality synthetic membranes housed in boxes of irregular shape, whereas the best treble is obtained by super-light diaphragms (ribbon and Lineaum-type tweeters). Non-parallel cabinet structures produce least undesirable secondary vibrations, whereas the best acoustic properties can be achieved by using natural wood.
BVH
110-30 & BVH 120-30
SE
Our smallest model is 110 cm high, approx. 20 cm wide and 30 cm deep. It reproduces linearly 40 Hz (often even 35 Hz – 2 dB), and uses a driver unit with a diameter of only 13 cm! Audio Tantra horns are the smallest in the world.
The
"box"
of the horn does not
vibrate because it is widely open and there is no constant extending and contracting of its side walls, which are already firmly immobilized by parts of the tunnel and reflectors. Due to their slanting positions, their relations are ideally irregular, so that there are no self-induced vibrations at any frequency. Floorstanding designs save not only the
space, but also the costs of stands. The surface of the front panel has acceptable dimensions and there is a possibility of additional damping of the front panel and/or tweeter, which depends on the choice of the material and the finish. The customer has a free choice in selecting the design, so that everyone can have a pair of unique loudspeakers.
Every sound that comes from more than one source shows phase and time distortion. The best way for reducing all phase shifts and signal modulations is the use of a point source (in theory, when all
driver units emit from one place; in practice, when they are as close to each other as possible). An additional step
at the front panel
for the bass-midrange unit serves
as a complete time alignment between the
bass-midrange and the treble unit.
Double or triple frontplates represent phase-aligned systems that are mechanically stable even
close to the
driver units. Their thickness also allows the use of state-of-the-art tweeters with a double magnet or a damping chamber, depending on the most suitable choice. In other words, the tweeter may be chosen so as to suite your ear.
The smaller the crossovers, the better. The crossovers distort the phase of the signal (ideally, all frequencies should reach our ear at the same time). By taking such an approach to the construction, we are looking for driver units that need a minimal number of elements in the crossover as well as for the top quality of the used elements (in order to ensure speed and neutrality). Most Audio Tantra loudspeakers do not use more than two elements in the crossover, and very often only one element is used (the capacitor on the tweeter).
The refraction of sound waves below 300 Hz increases as we progress towards lower frequencies, so that the position of the tunnel exit in relation to the driver units is not critical as the openings emit low-frequency tones, i.e. tones with long wave lengths. We must bear in mind that almost 90 % of sound energy is contained in this area. If this area operates at increased speed and with increased dynamics, there is a dramatic difference even in comparison with good conventional loudspeakers. The middle key of the piano keyboard, the so called "middle C", is at 260 Hz, and a half of music fundamental frequencies lies below it. In the area above 300 Hz, where there is an increasing problem of directivity, the sound is emitted by light diaphragms placed as close to each other as possible, making a well integrated system.
All audiophiles are very often faced with the problem of room walls, i.e. their mutual distance and their distance from the loudspeakers. Within this concept, the walls are included in the overall design from the very start: loudspeakers + room = total sound. Most models use
room boundaries for
bass equalisation
(the wall behind the
loudspeaker
being most
important) without disturbing the operation of the midrange and treble areas.
The Audio Tantra concept as well as the prices include the recommended measurement of the room and loudspeaker set-up. If they are placed well, horns will sound superbly. Every sophisticated device that we use in any area of our interest demands from us more than average attention – a little patience and the basic understanding of acoustics or professional help can thus produce a maximum effect.
Demonstrations in a demo room present the working principles and help in gaining first-hand impressions. Following the agreement of the deal, each product is manufactured as a unique piece according to the customer's wishes. The customer can freely chose the finish type and colour as well as the sound colour of the driver unit (midrange/tweeter).
All this has been an integral part of Audio Tantra's established tradition of individual approach to each listener.
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