Handbook for Sound Engineers

Loudspeakers 615

usually opposite the prior one. Successive horn sections
are typically positioned outside their predecessors. As
many reversals are generated as are necessary to create
the desired path length and mouth size. There are, as
with other horn types, many variations on folded horns.
Fig. 17-38 shows a University Sound GH directional
trumpet cross section and how the area expands by
making two 180° turns. The design was introduced in the
1940s. Another University folded public address horn
design is the cast zinc Cobreflex, shown disassembled in
Fig. 17-39. This horn expands into a double mouth.

One of the most recognizable low-frequency horns is

the Klipschorn, shown in Fig. 17-40. It was named for

its inventor, Paul Klipsch, who was one of the pioneers

in horn loudspeaker design. The Klipschorn uses a

single 15 inch loudspeaker in a relatively compact

package. It is designed for placement in a corner of the

room, with the room’s walls forming an extension of the

horn shape.

The Cerwin-Vega E horn is another form of folded

bass horn. An 18 inch low-frequency driver sits

between the upper and lower mouths and faces to the

Figure 17-34. JBL 4660 Asymmetric-directivity horn. Courtesy JBL.

B. Off-axis response at A. C. Off-axis response at B.

D. Off-axis response at C. E. Off-axis response at D.

F. Off-axis response at E. G. Off-axis response at F.

A. Standard orientation.