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Another Altec score!

jackgiff

jackgiff

Well-Known Member
Well, a score on the cabinets anyway. Ocupatto gave me a pair of Altec Santana cabinets a few months ago, and they were just recently finished. There were a few battle scars on them, but after patching and veneering with South American rosewood, they look alright. The speaker complement is a JBL LE14A woofer, JBL PT-F95HF waveguide, and BMS 4555 compression driver.

They now are used as my computer speakers. Pretty nice way to hear the Windows sign on.
 

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Very nice Jack! With Zilch's help I'll be doing the same thing with my new to me JBL/Barzilay's I picked up this weekend. Not bad for COMPUTER SPEARKERS! :D How's the bass on them?
 
Duffinator said:
Very nice Jack! With Zilch's help I'll be doing the same thing with my new to me JBL/Barzilay's I picked up this weekend. Not bad for COMPUTER SPEARKERS! :D How's the bass on them?
Click to expand...

They sound absolutely great. The LE14 was used in many different speakers built by JBL, and is still being produced today (at least for spares), and there is a reason. It is capable of some mind blowing bass. In your Barzilay cabinets, there looks to be plenty of room above the LE14 for a JBL waveguide. I would recommend using the waveguide and BMS 4555 as I did. I am sure Zilch will provide details about crossovers, filters, etc.

And with the larger cabinet, the LE14 will probably sound even better. I have used them in S99 cabinets, L55 cabinets, and the Santanas. With each increase in cabinet size the bass gets even better, although it is strong even in the small S99's. Two of my projects have been ported in the back of the cabinet, which may be preferred. The L55 cab's allowed a three inch port on the front, so that is where I put it. Your Barzilays may be best ported by two 3 or 4 inch ports out the back. Even a single three inch port doesn't chuff with the amount of air it needs to move.

I would buy a set of surrounds from Rick Cobb, and replace the surrounds on your LE14's before driving them very hard. The Lansaloy surrounds on mine were so stiff the cone couldn't really move at the edges, but the speaker still made bass. And when you are through with your project, you can be very proud of them, because you will have sound you just can't buy for anywhere near what you have invested in them. Unless you luck into a thrift store score, of course.

Good Luck to you! Keep us posted, with pix.
 
I wouldn't mind doing something similar with the LE14As I have, but I'd be using the 18sound XT1464 (i think thats the model number of the waveguide I heard) in combo with some BMS drivers. Those turned out very nice.
 
So what kind of speakers does he think are the best now? Last I heard, he had some JBL 250ti's and they were up for sale on CL or something. What's been recommended for him to buy this time?
 
I believe Ocupatto wants to downsize, feeling he has too much capital tied up in his present system. That's a tough decision, considering the outstanding quality of what he has.... :yes:
 
RaymondLeggs said:
Maybe they should have bigger horns! :D
Click to expand...
Like these?

IMG_6218.jpg


The never-ending project, much to Zilch's chagrin. Actually, they're done and they sound great - I just haven't carved out enough space for them inside my house! JBL D-130s and Altec 511Bs with BMS 4550 drivers and Zilch-designed compensation.
 
Very very nice Jack!:thmbsp:

I think BMS owes Zilch a commission.:yes:

Starting to hear some very good things about those BMS drivers from the pro sound world too............. very good things indeed.:D
 
Redboy said:
Like these?

The never-ending project, much to Zilch's chagrin. Actually, they're done and they sound great - I just haven't carved out enough space for them inside my house! JBL D-130s and Altec 511Bs with BMS 4550 drivers and Zilch-designed compensation.
Click to expand...

WOW, those 511B's look BIG outside of a cabinet. Are those Barzilay cabinets? the grille fretwork looks familiar.

Great speakers, great project. Congratulations. Now if Mama will only let them in the house.
 
Wow! Those look great!

Redboy said:
Like these?

IMG_6218.jpg


The never-ending project, much to Zilch's chagrin. Actually, they're done and they sound great - I just haven't carved out enough space for them inside my house! JBL D-130s and Altec 511Bs with BMS 4550 drivers and Zilch-designed compensation.
Click to expand...

How you liking the BMS 4550's? Saw a comment on the Altec forum describing them as being unlike Altec drivers, but very nice never the less...How would you describe the sonic qualities as compared to vintage Altec compression drivers?

BTW, I'll be picking up my first pair of 511 horns. Should I get them painted green or black??? Right now one of them is green, and the other is unpainted...
 
jackgiff said:
Well, a score on the cabinets anyway. Ocupatto gave me a pair of Altec Santana cabinets a few months ago, and they were just recently finished. There were a few battle scars on them, but after patching and veneering with South American rosewood, they look alright. The speaker complement is a JBL LE14A woofer, JBL PT-F95HF waveguide, and BMS 4555 compression driver.

They now are used as my computer speakers. Pretty nice way to hear the Windows sign on.
Click to expand...

I believe I seen these on lansing heritage,but the tweeter control looks different thats it!,I would love to hear these they look amazing! awesome JBL SANTANA'S!

Shawn.
 
Redboy said:
Like these?

IMG_6218.jpg


The never-ending project, much to Zilch's chagrin. Actually, they're done and they sound great - I just haven't carved out enough space for them inside my house! JBL D-130s and Altec 511Bs with BMS 4550 drivers and Zilch-designed compensation.
Click to expand...

YES!!!
 
jackgiff said:
Well, a score on the cabinets anyway. Ocupatto gave me a pair of Altec Santana cabinets a few months ago, and they were just recently finished. There were a few battle scars on them, but after patching and veneering with South American rosewood, they look alright. The speaker complement is a JBL LE14A woofer, JBL PT-F95HF waveguide, and BMS 4555 compression driver.

They now are used as my computer speakers. Pretty nice way to hear the Windows sign on.
Click to expand...

Awesome job Jack!
 
bowtie427ss said:
Starting to hear some very good things about those BMS drivers from the pro sound world too............. very good things indeed.:D
Click to expand...

analog addict said:
Saw a comment on the Altec forum describing them as being unlike Altec drivers, but very nice never the less....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the "Heads up." What Altec Forum member "Old Guy" said there:

Sometimes my opinion ain't so humble, but the BMS stuff is great.

The 4550 blows most JBL 1" drivers out of the water. If you can imagine a 1 inch driver with a 2 inch heart...it sounds good, and takes all kinds of abuse and just laughs at you.

FWIW JBL has bought BMS product and had it relabeled JBL before, mostly OEM drivers for cabs I think.

The BMS doesn't sound like an Altec driver though - for the oldsters it sounds more like an old RCA with better HF. Polyester diaphrangus instead of metal...and annular to boot.
Click to expand...

http://www.hostboard.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=3729&t=3061

It's a given that the BMS drivers don't sound the same as the Altecs, and that's a matter of preference. Seems like Old Guy rather likes them. ;)

I try to follow what others are saying about them in various forums, but it's quite impossible to catch it all. Thus far, nobody has said BMS sucks, to the best of my knowledge....
 
Zilch said:
I believe Ocupatto wants to downsize, feeling he has too much capital tied up in his present system. That's a tough decision, considering the outstanding quality of what he has.... :yes:
Click to expand...

He doesn't have a system, and he's not an audiophile or even a fanboy; he just flips gear. Believe me, I've dealt with him before. He only uses this board to embellish his ebay auctions.
 
jackgiff said:
WOW, those 511B's look BIG outside of a cabinet. Are those Barzilay cabinets? the grille fretwork looks familiar.
Click to expand...
Yeah, 511Bs are friggin' huge! And yes, those are Barzilay cabs. They were in pretty rough shape, but none of the fretwork was broken and I put a lot of time into sanding them down. All that's left is a little stain and finish work.

analog addict said:
How you liking the BMS 4550's? Saw a comment on the Altec forum describing them as being unlike Altec drivers, but very nice never the less...How would you describe the sonic qualities as compared to vintage Altec compression drivers?

BTW, I'll be picking up my first pair of 511 horns. Should I get them painted green or black??? Right now one of them is green, and the other is unpainted...
Click to expand...
I'm not one to wax poetic about the sound qualities of different drivers because I don't have enough history with any of them. My knee-jerk reaction is that the BMS drivers have a clearer, crisper sound to them, but that's probably just the higher frequency extension talking...

Go with green. Just 'cause. :D
 
I've been a proponent of BMS drivers for 3-4 years, mainly because of the value they offer. A friend has used them in pro-audio apps for a while and turned me on to them.
 
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