Any one here using altec ?

[Russellc]

Hello all. Like most here I imagine, I have built, bought, tweeked, etc., for years. various direct radiator, mini monitors, diappolito cofigurations and so on. Recently, I was speaker shopping for a project, and while about to settle on the "Thor kit" from madisound, about 1500 bucks or so. Well, I bumped into something that took me back to the mid 70's, a pair of altec A-7 voice ot the theatre speakers. My audio friends think I have gone nuts, but my god, this system will raise goose bumps Like no other I have experienced. Is anybody out there similarly afflicted?
My drivers (515-8G woofers, 902-8A high freq. compression drivers/511B horns,loaded in 828 A-7 cabinets) the woofer drivers in particular, were a little off, so they are on vaction to great plaines audio to be totally rebuilt. All my "high end" speakers sound like a boom box in comparison.

Cheers, Russellc

[billfort]

I have succumbed to the magic of Altecs as well Russell, and it’s great to have finally found something I can be happy with for a long time to come. I owned Altec 19s when I was in high school and got stupid, sold them, and jumped on the “high-end” rollercoaster for 20 years. I spent lots of money, constantly changing gear, messing with new combinations and in the meantime – not really enjoying listening to music anymore.

Then I heard a reasonably priced system based on high-efficiency speakers and SET tubes. Aside from a little missing bass, the magic was back, I was getting lost in the music again. I then found a mint pair of Altec 604-8G drivers which brought bass into the picture. I’m in love with audio all over again. I DIYed a pair of new cabinets for them, installed new diaphragms from Great Plains and tweaked a bit removing the loading caps and lining the inside of the diaphragm covers with felt. I’m using the stock Altec crossovers for now but I’m building a second 300B SET amp and will probably bi-amp with a Marchand tube crossover. They are big, don’t have much WAF (although my wife loves them) and the “audiophile” guys think you are nuts, but MAN, do Altecs make music.

Here's a link to pictures of my Altec 604 build.

http://www.wardsweb.org/Billfort/

[Brett]

Hi Russell,

I don't use Altec gear (though I think I have some 808s in a box somewhere), but I do use or own Klipsch, JBL, EV, Beyma, Fostex and BMS (and soon Eminence) high efficiency drivers and horns. So I <i>do</i> know where you're coming from. Once you've been down the high efficiency path it's not really possible to go back. And who would want to? Dynamics at both ends of the scale, low distortion, excellent phase response in band, efficiency and <i>aliveness</i> that make almost all DR's anemic in comparison.

The Holy Trilogy of Audio
vinyl
tubes
horns

Lastly Russell, those 515's are known to be dangerous beast. However, I am an authorised centre for thier safe disposal, so send them to me immediately, and by return mail I will send you some nice Radio Shack drivers to replace them. You'll be safe from harm then.

Cheers

[roddyama]

Hi Russell,

I started down the high efficiency path 25 years ago with JBL. My system has gravitated toward TAD over the past few years and is currently a JBL/TAD hybrid. Although my experience is not as diverse as Brett’s and I only have SS electronics (now), I’m afflicted (blessed) with the same love of horns for the same reasons.

Rodd Yamashita

[Russellc]

Thanks for all the replies! Good lord, I thought I was going nuts!
How could any one go back after a good listen. I get sick when I think of all the high end speakers I have wasted money on. I thought I liked them when I first heard them around the 70's but fell for the "needs 200 watts to drive a minimonitor" syndrome.
I almost noticed the high eff. advantage in the 80's when a musician friend had a hugh set of JBL something or the others that really rocked, but I guess I wasn't paying close enough attention. Then, out of nowhere, for no good reason, just bought these A-7! What a revelation! Yes they are hugh in my 14x17 livingroom, but one listen and I was transfixed, albeit with one cone/voice coil incorrect @ 14 ohms, one @ 4.4 ohms hooked up to an altec 8 ohm crossover. I can hardly wait for their arrival back from great plaines audio. Listening to my "high end" stuff is like listening to a close and play. After a couple of days of no altec, I began to "readjust" to the high end speakers. I know when the altec are back I will be back to audio heaven. I really believe this has cured me of speaker of the month syndrome, in the same fashion that AVA super pas111 cured me of preamp of the month syndrome. Its like successfully quiting smoking. I no longer have to wonder if something sounds better...what a relief! now I listen to MUSIC.

Thanks to everyone for your replies
Bill, your 604s are beautiful i,ve seen your site!
Very jealous of those TAD drivers,
Will send out my dangerous driver immediately
to exchange for those R.S. "safe" drivers!

Russellc

"just give high eff. a chance"....whether altec or what ever...get relief.... get horns...mine gone now...I go crazy.

[eduard]

Hello ,
I am using also these Altecs with the 515 16-G to give my amplifier an even easier life. I did built the cabinets myself using sand to damp resonances and cork outside for the looks. In the near future i like to add wings to give a deeper bass. Instead of the Altecs i use a Tad 2001 with a French designed wooden sand-filled horn. After all these years i still remains avery musical system. I am planning to make it a bi-amped system by using a 12 db filter at the input of the poweramps. At this time still a el-84 based line-amp designed with an output transformer for the French broadcasting systems in 1961. Happy greetings, Ed

[Brett]

Originally posted by eduard
Instead of the Altecs i use a Tad 2001 with a French designed wooden sand-filled horn.

Hello Ed,

Is your horn a Le Cleach?

Cheers

[eduard]

Hello Brett,
The idea of this horn were published in a French magazine called l'Audiophile in 1985. The writer was called Ledauphin and the horn was called pavillion bois sablé which means sand filled horn. I did buy it allready finished because i think it is a really difficult job because it uses two layers of thin wood with sand in between them. Just like the Onken horns from Japan. In these days there have been a lot of articles about Japanese audiophiles who are real fans of the VOT system. Kind greetings, Ed

[Russellc]

Hello eduard
Wow,youbuilt these cabs? Quite the feat.I bought mine for about 300.00 US, they had been reconditioned, repainted altec grey with new VOT stickers on the side...just like in the showroom in the 70's. Still yet, very "industrial" looking. During an altec search on this site I saw one members A-7 veneered in walnut with very nice grills. I think I will locate another set of A-7 boxes in less original condition and attempt this guys version...very attractive!
Can you post pics of your cabs?

Russellc (myself,I still need a digital camera)

[eduard]

Hello Russell,
I only have a normal Nikon so i will try to scan one of my photos and send it to DIY. Kind greetings, Ed