I have been building on and off PA cabs for Djing, I have built BFM and now currently building a 3 way reflex with a 10"x1" horn top separate. I have bought many speakers and amps over the years Crown, QSC, Hafler,Technics, Behringer DCX, Sansui, ADC and recently an Ashly analog crossover for my 3 way.
I have a passion for good sounding equipment. I still have the DJ/PA sound equipment, but I do miss my old pair of Altec 14 monitors which my brother has now since bought new from Crazy Eddies in NYC. I have used these in my early years in mobile DJ with a 75 watt per channel Technics integrated amp with an ADC top of the line EQ. I liked the sound of these with vinyl in the early 80's when the Disco Boom was in full force.
Now I have been looking on eBay on and off for an original built plywood Altec VOTT A-7 cabinets empty. I heard a pair all original with the 500 horn playing Earth, Wind, and Fire in AES show 10 years ago Jacob Javitz Convention Center and loved the sweet sounds I am hearing with a harder impact overall to the sound in an analog group section of the show.
I was amazed with the sound, I am planning to buy a pair of A-7 VOTT cab empty and will load with original Altec 421 15" woofers from Great Plains and the 1" and have someone build original pair of Altec passive crossover with optimum components custom?
But I would like to use either a Marantz 2270 receiver or 2285B with 70 watts and 85 watts available. Would I need to go Marantz 2325 (125 w/channel 8 ohms) to power these pair for home listening but able to go higher volumes when there is a dinner party to impress my guest?
Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
I have a passion for good sounding equipment. I still have the DJ/PA sound equipment, but I do miss my old pair of Altec 14 monitors which my brother has now since bought new from Crazy Eddies in NYC. I have used these in my early years in mobile DJ with a 75 watt per channel Technics integrated amp with an ADC top of the line EQ. I liked the sound of these with vinyl in the early 80's when the Disco Boom was in full force.
Now I have been looking on eBay on and off for an original built plywood Altec VOTT A-7 cabinets empty. I heard a pair all original with the 500 horn playing Earth, Wind, and Fire in AES show 10 years ago Jacob Javitz Convention Center and loved the sweet sounds I am hearing with a harder impact overall to the sound in an analog group section of the show.
I was amazed with the sound, I am planning to buy a pair of A-7 VOTT cab empty and will load with original Altec 421 15" woofers from Great Plains and the 1" and have someone build original pair of Altec passive crossover with optimum components custom?
But I would like to use either a Marantz 2270 receiver or 2285B with 70 watts and 85 watts available. Would I need to go Marantz 2325 (125 w/channel 8 ohms) to power these pair for home listening but able to go higher volumes when there is a dinner party to impress my guest?
Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
Head on over to the "Altec Users Board". I say ditch the 421 woofers and get 515's or 416's. If you want HiFi the 421's are not going to cut it. Base your build on the Model 19's, the best consumer speaker Altec ever built. Like your Model 14's on steroids.
Some guys run them on 3 watt SE amps. Very efficient.
BillWojo
Some guys run them on 3 watt SE amps. Very efficient.
BillWojo
Altec VOTT for home listening with Marantz Receiver?
Thanks for that info, yes those Model 19's were on steroids when I heard it they also sold those at Crazy Eddies but couldn't afford at that time I should've save a little more $$$$ to buy the 19's.
Thanks for the suggestions BillWojo.
Thanks for that info, yes those Model 19's were on steroids when I heard it they also sold those at Crazy Eddies but couldn't afford at that time I should've save a little more $$$$ to buy the 19's.
Thanks for the suggestions BillWojo.
Yes I understand Pano I have heard them 19's years ago I could not afford a pair but I have always wanted a pair of original Altec VOTT as a DJ I saw them also with bigger name DJ's in the 80's. It might be foolish to have this bulk but I have decided to have a pair maybe in the near future when I am done with the VOTT project I may look at building a pair of 19's long as there will be components available including the more important original crossover.
If you want the A7 and can get a good deal on a pair of cabinets, go for it. 
You will need to do some modifications to the cabinets and the crossover to get the best sound out of them.
The A7/500 I bought a few years back sounded pretty horrible for home hi-fi. First thing I did was build a better crossover for the 500Hz horn. Then closed up the ports of the of the bass box to less than half the original area. That help extend the bass almost an octave. Plenty of other things to do, too.
You will need to do some modifications to the cabinets and the crossover to get the best sound out of them.
The A7/500 I bought a few years back sounded pretty horrible for home hi-fi. First thing I did was build a better crossover for the 500Hz horn. Then closed up the ports of the of the bass box to less than half the original area. That help extend the bass almost an octave. Plenty of other things to do, too.
The A7 was developed later on as there was a need for something in the smaller venues where the A4, A2, and A1 systems just wouldn't fit. The A7 went on to be one of the most popular PA speakers and to this day is still loved by many.
If you want the A7 and can get a good deal on a pair of cabinets, go for it.
You will need to do some modifications to the cabinets and the crossover to get the best sound out of them.
The A7/500 I bought a few years back sounded pretty horrible for home hi-fi. First thing I did was build a better crossover for the 500Hz horn. Then closed up the ports of the of the bass box to less than half the original area. That help extend the bass almost an octave. Plenty of other things to do, too.
So making the port smaller, how small should I make them? There's a guy on eBay he sells smaller wood panel in the front to reduce that area his name is Gary Fischer Speakers its madden BB Ply $200 for 2 panels for the pair.
Where should I get the right crossovers from Great Plains Audio OK?
You could build a pair of Model 19 crossovers like I just did for my HeathKit AS101's. They are a nicer copy of Altec Valencias. Here is a link I posted the other day.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/304395-my-altec-model-19-crossover-build.html
BillWojo
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/304395-my-altec-model-19-crossover-build.html
BillWojo
you can get everything you need from Great Plains Audio...... that's what I did....
They even sell the correct crossovers all set and ready to use...... the only soldering ya need to do is connect up the input connectors !!..
I had some altec 19s built and sold the cabinets... I tried to sell the prototypes... zilch !
I use these every day... I run them with a 40wpc Nad and a Carver ct27v preamp...
I think most of the time I use less than 1 watt... they get really loud on 10 wpc !
That's where I been all evening listing to music.......Mine sound correct...I used the Altec 19 building measurements... I posted pictures before but here is a few more..
They even sell the correct crossovers all set and ready to use...... the only soldering ya need to do is connect up the input connectors !!..
I had some altec 19s built and sold the cabinets... I tried to sell the prototypes... zilch !
I use these every day... I run them with a 40wpc Nad and a Carver ct27v preamp...
I think most of the time I use less than 1 watt... they get really loud on 10 wpc !
That's where I been all evening listing to music.......Mine sound correct...I used the Altec 19 building measurements... I posted pictures before but here is a few more..
The stock crossover works well for the model 19, it's part of what makes it a good speaker.
For the A7/500, not so good. Mine had the stock 500Hz crossover from Altec, but it never sounded good.
As for port size on the A7, it's going to depend some on the woofers and the room. What I did was to simply make a new lower front panel, it screws on. The new panel gave me a slot opening at the bottom about 6" tall. From there I added strips or side panels to close up the port or open it back up during testing. By measurement and listening I arrived at a good size for my room, speaker placement and woofer.
It's trial and error, but the stock port is too big.
For the A7/500, not so good. Mine had the stock 500Hz crossover from Altec, but it never sounded good.
As for port size on the A7, it's going to depend some on the woofers and the room. What I did was to simply make a new lower front panel, it screws on. The new panel gave me a slot opening at the bottom about 6" tall. From there I added strips or side panels to close up the port or open it back up during testing. By measurement and listening I arrived at a good size for my room, speaker placement and woofer.
It's trial and error, but the stock port is too big.
There may be some useful info in these:
Tom Danley mods for Altec VOT A7?
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/201951-altec-lansing-vott-clones.html
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Those are nice crossover, how much was these to build or is there a place to have them built custom?
Those are 19's I saw an ad on eBay 3 years ago I think a guy sell full empty cabinet built using Baltic Birch I have not seen the ad since. Maybe a set of plans will come up so I can build a pair in BB ply and varnish it clear or light varnish to have the wood grain come out.
Looking at Tom Danley build I actually have 4 JBL 2226 H being reconed right now and have 2 x JBL 2226 HPL also. I am buying more 2226 for another project. If these are better than 416's I can put these in the A7 825 cab?
