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Look What I Got Out of a White Van?

macaltec

macaltec

Metal Master
Well, some of you know I've claimed that I was bringing home my last pair of speakers. This is pair number 35. Some of you have helped me out with info through PM's and a few have been able to help motivate me to meet my goals. Thanks to each and everyone ans especially thanks to the AK community for providing and endless sea knowledge to draw from. Here is my last pair of speakers. Altec A7's. I was excited to find them and more excited when I scrounged up enough money for them. I was a bit discouraged when I first saw them. They were advertised as original A7's. They are a home built cabinet. The driver compliment is:

Horn 511B
Driver 808-8A
Woofer 421-8H

I've been told they are 1208B clones used primarily for PA applications. They have no crossover as they were bi-amped with an electronic crossover by the previous owner. The Altec diaphragms have been replaced with Radian 1228-8's and I believe a generic recone on the woofers. I feel the horns/drivers are fine for home use as they sit. I plan to use them as is w/ an N800 crossover and later replace the woofers with a 416 or at least something more suitable for hifi. A bit of TLC should have the cabs looking closer to my mental image of an original A7. Sorry to the others who were looking to get these. I had no idea. Thanks for listening and allowing me to share my excitement. FINALLY, some real Altecs.

Jason
 

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HomerJSimpson said:
Dude, Those are GREAT!!!!! I can't wait to see/hear them! :music:
Click to expand...

Surprised yo haven't already. I put some ear plugs in and run about 30 watts of nice tube amplification though them. SPL meter held a nice steady 116db A weighted. That was 12 feet away. Absolutely insane.
 
See, you have already started to open cracks inbetween the boards on the wall/ceiling!

My guess is either you play them too loud, or they are too heavy.

How about a nice small bookshelf speaker . . .

Now, where is that tongue-in-cheek smiley face?
 
Congratulations Jason! Looks like you have a nice big room for them too, something I feel is critical with A7/A5's. I believe those 421's can be reconed as 416's as well, Bill H. at Great Plains is the guy to talk to.

Good idea starting with tubes, I think you'll find that is the way to go with these. About as efficient as it gets too so lots of choices open to you, I heard A5's once with a 45 SET (<2 wpc) in a huge room and they sounded great, more than enough power.
 
Grainger49 said:
See, you have already started to open cracks inbetween the boards on the wall/ceiling!

My guess is either you play them too loud, or they are too heavy.

How about a nice small bookshelf speaker . . .

Now, where is that tongue-in-cheek smiley face?
Click to expand...

You mean these aren't bookshelf speakers? I thought of my second floor as more of a speaker shelf.
 
Thanks Billfort. I have been thinking I heard somewhere that the 421 might recone to something better for home use. I'll look into that some more. The room seems aweful small now.
 
OK, Jason, I relent. You can bring the White Van by anytime! :naughty:

That is a seriously nice score man, I can see how tickled you are in the photos! I went out on the porch, but I guess you're not running them right now, I couldn't hear them... :D

Enjoy! :thmbsp: Truly happy for you, man.
 
They're OK, for Altecs :D Man those are friggin huge. I pity the fool who get's to close. You wanted horns and tubes, brother that is what you have got!!! Did I mention that those are huge? I can't wait to give those an afternoon of my time. Great score my friend.
 
If anyone is wondering the crossovers in the pics are some Radio Shack two ways I had laying around. The lowest tap was 2K. I did not dare run them without crossovers so I had to do it. I'll tidy that mess up when I get done with my initial lsitening session.
 
cableguy said:
They're OK, for Altecs :D Man those are friggin huge. I pity the fool who get's to close. You wanted horns and tubes, brother that is what you have got!!! Did I mention that those are huge? I can't wait to give those an afternoon of my time. Great score my friend.
Click to expand...

You shoulda seen me shoving them up the stairs by myself. I'm glad they have carpet on them. I just flipped them from end to end. I guess learning how to sling Pepsi machines around by myself years ago had some redeeming qualities after all. I should call my old boss and thank him for making me break my back everyday :no: .
 
Thanks Mac, really... Bless you! The next time Mrs.Fotno begins talking about my "huge" speakers, I'm showing her these pictures!

Good goin' buddy, I'm truly tickled that you finally got your horns - Congrats!
 
i like the sound dispersion devices sitting on top of the cabs-- they look remarkably like children--should mpingo fear loss of market share?
 
I saw those on CL the other night a minute or two after posting. I knew I should have said I'd take them. lol

Nice score at 500. :) What does it cost to recone altec woofers? I'd be tempted to say upgrade the woofers to something better and sell the 421s.
 
Whoa...116dBs at 30 wpc...well, like a Yamaha CR-3020...these speakers are too big for my house, but they look great in yours! Nice! Is it time for a concert?
 
jay
You keep the speakers and i'll take the two kids, that will give you two more rooms to start filling up with more stereo equipment. i did not see the marantz 2245 i gave you did it get swallowed by one of those a7's.
 
Awesome Jason! I can't believe you got them up those stairs at all, never mind by yourself!

They've been a long time coming... congratulations!
 
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