Overview

The first model of ThivanLabs’ GrandHorn Series was launched in 2018, representing a unique and distinctive approach to horn speaker design, completely different from all other horn speaker concepts ever designed worldwide. ThivanLabs consistently affirms its position as a manufacturer and brand focused on research and innovation, approaching and developing unique and distinctive technical solutions based on the R&D team’s strengths in electronics and 25 years of experience in the field of High-End speaker research and manufacturing, combined with strengths in industrial design to create unique products in both technology and aesthetics with superior sound quality.

Of all the research and development projects undertaken by ThivanLabs in the field of high-end loudspeakers, the GrandHorn is the most meticulously developed project, representing a major step forward in our horn speaker design, especially in the large-sized horn speaker segment. The GrandHorn series has been researched and developed over many years with the goal of delivering the ultimate ThivanLabs horn sound, and the GrandHorn Alpha is the latest model that exemplifies the sound philosophy we have built and pursued: a natural and emotional sound with a distinctive “horn” timbre, but also a unique “ThivanLabs horn sound” featuring an extremely high dynamic range, superior fidelity, and a wide, natural soundstage that will captivate the emotions of music lovers.

Description

· All passive, three ways loudspeaker

· Transducers 15″ Paper Cone woofer.

· 4″ Paper Cone Midrange

· 1” compression driver for high frequencies

Structure design

The GrandHorn Alpha is designed with two floor-standing speaker towers, a 3-way system, high sensitivity, and easy amplifier compatibility. Each speaker tower is structured with two modules, including one horn module and one woofer module.

HORN MODULE

The horn module consists of two horn speakers: one wooden horn with a large throat using a 4″ paper cone midrange driver and a tweeter horn using a 1” compression driver for high frequencies. The wooden horn is designed separately from the tweeter horn to optimize vibration isolation between the two horns and the performance of the two drivers. The wooden horn covers the frequency range from 300Hz to 3.5kHz. The tweeter horn covers the frequency range from 3.5kHz to 22kHz.  The two modules are connected by a specially designed steel speaker stand structure, which is extremely sturdy and optimized for flexibility in setup, allowing for precise adjustment of the speaker angle. Thanks to the mechanical drive system, rotation can be adjusted linearly with high precision. The Horn module’s speaker stand structure is truly a unique experimental and innovative design, both in terms of technical elements and industrial design aesthetics, providing superior stability and contributing to a cleaner and more refined sound thanks to an efficient anti-vibrant solution. The horn stand system features four sturdy steel panels connected together. The steel panels are shaped with cut-out sections and appropriate damping spaces to ensure both aesthetic appeal and effective vibration resistance.   The steel stand structure connects to both the wooden horn and tweeter via a rotating shaft system, allowing for adjustment of the horn’s tilt angle and optimal sound dispersion angle for different seating positions, both far or near, high or low listening position. A mechanical rotating mechanism is integrated into this structure to allow for flexible horn angle rotation within a limited range, which we have tested to suit various setup situations while ensuring optimal sound quality and balanced compatibility between the mid-range, tweeter and woofer frequency ranges.

WOOFER MODULE

The woofer module is designed with a bass-reflex enclosure, exploiting the strengths of this design in terms of bass resonance. Combined with the horn system above, this solution creates a unique blend of horn sound and vented speaker box design sound, resulting in a very distinctive “ThivanLabs horn sound”. Based on research into current and future trends and the diverse development of music and musical preferences, this combination is not simply a technical solution, but aims to provide the most diverse sound and music experience and easy setup in various popular listening room sizes today.

The woofer module responds to a frequency range from 33Hz to 300Hz, delivering deep yet pleasant bass that is comfortable to listen to for extended periods and extremely relaxing. In tracks requiring impressive bass performance, the speaker performs exceptionally well, while simultaneously coordinating with the mid-range and high-frequency drivers to create a balanced, impressive, and harmonious overall sound – a perfect combination of bass, mid-range, and treble.

Engineering design solution

Technically, with the combination of the horn and bass-reflex design of the two horn and woofer modules, the crossover is optimally designed for each driver. Accordingly, there are three crossovers, each finely tuned for the wooden horn module, the tweeter horn, and the woofer module. All crossovers are meticulously measured and calibrated to create perfect harmony between the frequency ranges.

The components used are selected and quality-assured by ThivanLabs, combining testing and manufacturing with the highest possible in-house production ratio. Increasing the proportion of in-house researched and manufactured components helps ensure product quality and, especially, sound quality according to the “ThivanLabs sound philosophy”.

The engineering design of the GrandHorn Alpha is not only researched and manufactured from perspectives of optimal technical solution and sound reproduction quality, but also approached from an aesthetic standpoint, ensuring convenience in installation, setup, and use. The Horn module is connected to the Woofer module with a specialized connecting cable, whose materials are carefully tested and selected as well as designed and manufactured in-house to ensure optimal signal connection. Furthermore, the connection solution is designed and arranged optimally for direct and shortest possible connections, ensuring consistent, stable, and long-lasting operation.

The speaker tower base is designed to be extremely sturdy, providing optimal support and vibration damping for the 116-kilogram speaker tower on each side. The design of the speaker tower base, along with its overall balance, ensures the speaker remains stable when adjusting the Horn module up and down, guaranteeing safety and ease of use. The shape of the speaker base not only provides aesthetic appeal but also facilitates easy installation into the Woofer module.

• In terms of technical specifications, the drivers of GrandHorn Alpha are measured and tested to get a balance and the best phase synchronization. As a result, GrandHorn Alpha achieves an overall sensitivity of 97dB with the combined structure of the horn & bass-reflex modules.
• Regarding amplifier combining, GrandHorn Alpha pairs very well with tube amplifiers with a power output of approximately 10W or more, such as 211 Single Ended amplifiers up to high-power amplifiers to maximize the speaker’s dynamics, optimally reproducing sound for majestic musical pieces requiring high to extremely high dynamics and fast response speed, or to create a wide soundstage, even an “unlimited” expansion of the soundstage, especially for live recordings in large venues, auditoriums or concert halls.
• In terms of sound, the outstanding characteristic of the Grandhorn Alpha is its distinctive horn sound with a warm, rich midrange, a lush, detailed, and refined treble. The bass is deep but not overpowering, harmoniously blending with the mid-high frequencies; the bass is neither exaggerated nor overly compressed. As a result, this is a horn speaker model with the highest dynamic range and a vast soundstage, capable of reproducing sound extremely naturally with incredibly fast sound response. For music requiring excellent midrange and treble, all genres of music can be played in the most emotional and impressive way. In particular, epic classical music or high-dynamic rock and film scores will provide a completely different and vibrant sound experience.
• Regarding setup, the horn tweeter is designed to be positioned on the side of the speaker tower, suitable for two types of setup: horn tweeter rotated inwards or horn tweeter rotated outwards. Setting the horn tweeter outwards creates a wide, “open” soundstage, while rotating it inwards provides a type of “focused” sound. As is common with large horn speakers, the GrandHorn Alpha is suitable for listening rooms of approximately 30 square meters or larger to achieve the most effective sound performance. For smaller or narrow rooms, the recommended setup is with the horn tweeter rotated outwards and a near-field setup combined with toe-in. For larger rooms with ample space and high ceilings, listeners can choose between rotating the horn tweeter inwards or outwards depending on their listening position and preferred sound taste.