3-Voice of the Theater A5
- Thread starter Midwest Theater
- Start date
If you have 3 of these on stage behind the picture sheet (screen) then they do not date from 1946. Find out when the theatre put in the magnetic penthouses (sound heads) and you've got your date. My guess is that your A-5's date from the late 50's or early 60's.
Unless you are intending to continue to exhibit motion pictures, the A-5 really doesn't work for much else. Unless your house is very large and the cabinets could be modified to hang above the proscenium, they are just too big for use in a modern sound system. Don't get me wrong, I love Altec and have used A-7's for both film and regular theatre sound work but, the A-5 was designed to go on stage behind the picture sheet.
Clyde
Unless you are intending to continue to exhibit motion pictures, the A-5 really doesn't work for much else. Unless your house is very large and the cabinets could be modified to hang above the proscenium, they are just too big for use in a modern sound system. Don't get me wrong, I love Altec and have used A-7's for both film and regular theatre sound work but, the A-5 was designed to go on stage behind the picture sheet.
Clyde
Billfort
Addicted Member
Very good point Clyde and I certainly agree with you. The A-5 and even the A-7 (IMO) are great at what they where designed to to do which is work in large spaces behind screens but for regular domestic environments, there are much better ways to 'do' Altecs.cfoster said:
I hope this guy wasn't a hit and run, I'm dying to see the pix. We gotta convince them to restore the place right!
I've used many types of Altecs in my homes, both domestic and pro models, and IMO the A5 was the best.
Note that there's no single standard A5 as far as the treble horn goes, various multicell (and later CD) horns were available, there you need to find the pattern that best suits your room.
The A5 uses the 515 rather than the 416 in the 825 bassbin, the result is better midrange but weaker bass. So for domestic use the A5 needs help on the bottom more than an A7 does. I used a pair of JBL Pro 4648 bassbins to help below 100hz.
I used the 288K drivers which have the best high frequency response of the 288s, highs were a little soft but very clean and effortless. Sometimes I used Fostex horn tweets but usually I didn't.
I used tar-filled 1005 horns. These have a wider pattern than the 1" Altec radials and sound very smooth. They can certainly work as well in a home as 511s, 811s or the horns used with Duplexes.
Were I in a home where I could use them I'd go back to A5s (I'm married now and decor is an issue), no doubt about it.
Note that there's no single standard A5 as far as the treble horn goes, various multicell (and later CD) horns were available, there you need to find the pattern that best suits your room.
The A5 uses the 515 rather than the 416 in the 825 bassbin, the result is better midrange but weaker bass. So for domestic use the A5 needs help on the bottom more than an A7 does. I used a pair of JBL Pro 4648 bassbins to help below 100hz.
I used the 288K drivers which have the best high frequency response of the 288s, highs were a little soft but very clean and effortless. Sometimes I used Fostex horn tweets but usually I didn't.
I used tar-filled 1005 horns. These have a wider pattern than the 1" Altec radials and sound very smooth. They can certainly work as well in a home as 511s, 811s or the horns used with Duplexes.
Were I in a home where I could use them I'd go back to A5s (I'm married now and decor is an issue), no doubt about it.
Kegger
R.I.P. 1/12/1966 - 6/1/2017
While I like vintage and good equipment, saying that anything newer is just crap
and a degrade to the sound quality is just going to far. It's very possable what
was installed works better for this situation then it previously did! Not all stuff
new is crap or inferior!
Oh yah and it's allready done and paid for so going back I'm sure is not an option!
Now if you want to find the Altec's a new home for someone who will appreciate them
then that would be great!
and a degrade to the sound quality is just going to far. It's very possable what
was installed works better for this situation then it previously did! Not all stuff
new is crap or inferior!
Oh yah and it's allready done and paid for so going back I'm sure is not an option!
Now if you want to find the Altec's a new home for someone who will appreciate them
then that would be great!
Hi Kegger,Kegger said:
I think our point here is that you have to spend an obscene amount of money on new stuff to get good sound in most cases. I find with todays receivers that I'd probably have to buy a Denon for over a grand just to get the full bodied sound I could find with a used, vintage Marantz for less than $150. In the Altec arena, the new A7's are $12,200 a pair, prepaid, shipped to your door, for a grand I'd rather have a vintage set, the new ones just aren't worth 12 times as much as the vintage ones, their price just doesn't support the cost of what goes into them. Yes, trashing all new gear might be taking it a bit far, but, there's a big price tag on good stuff, just like the old days when all of us could only dream of owning the stuff we buy today (Marantz, Pioneer, Fisher, etc.). To your other point, all of this is just spilled milk anyway since it sounds like they already installed and paid for the new stuff. BTW, EV makes some damn fine sounding plastic systems for theatre's at a very reasonable price, Dave. :yes:
Altec Legacy A7 Reissues
Kegger
R.I.P. 1/12/1966 - 6/1/2017
I kinda agree with yu Dgwojo except maybe the "obscene amount of money" part.
Sure if you want good brand new stuff you gotta spend the cash but you also had
to back in day when the old was new. And there is good affordable high end out in
the market these days let alone gently used newer gear.
I was just commenting on the "all new stuff is crap comments".
Old horns and and old tubes, give it to me by the bushells! But I also like and use
some newer great audio equipment.
Have a good one!
Sure if you want good brand new stuff you gotta spend the cash but you also had
to back in day when the old was new. And there is good affordable high end out in
the market these days let alone gently used newer gear.
I was just commenting on the "all new stuff is crap comments".
Old horns and and old tubes, give it to me by the bushells! But I also like and use
some newer great audio equipment.
Have a good one!
Midwest Theater
New Member
Midwest Theater
New Member
More Pictures
ok, here are some more.
Since i has posted this, a few of you have emailed me. Thanks, But i need some more help is that would be possiable. I have been told to take pictures of the drivers ? what are these ? sorry , not into the tech side of these older speakers. love the way they sound. I did take so close up shots of the ser tag plate on each of the 2 speaker that are in the A-5 was only able to take the back off of one of the yesterday, was alone and could not move it alone.
Hope you like
Billy
ok, here are some more.
Since i has posted this, a few of you have emailed me. Thanks, But i need some more help is that would be possiable. I have been told to take pictures of the drivers ? what are these ? sorry , not into the tech side of these older speakers. love the way they sound. I did take so close up shots of the ser tag plate on each of the 2 speaker that are in the A-5 was only able to take the back off of one of the yesterday, was alone and could not move it alone.
Hope you like
Billy
Attachments
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RussinOhio
Super Member
Cool pics Billy! I've never seen VOTT's that looked like THAT before. You sure those are A-5's? I could be wrong but I thought the A-5 was a single woofer cabinet...with the woofer centered.
Driver: loudspeaker.
Russ
Driver: loudspeaker.
Russ
Midwest Theater
New Member
To Late Damage has been done.....
Yes, i wish we were able to restore the theater as it was , with her old speakers. But they have been already removed and put into storage for now.
They are so BIG, by taking them out, we now have SOME back stage space, along with putting in a roll up movie screen. In a town as small as we are, movies will not pay the bills to get the doors open. but our hopes are that by making the theater a venue that is more able to adapt itself we will be able to keep her open for many years to come and for many more people to enjoy her.
With , that said. Our group is hoping to find a home for these speakers , where some one will love &take care of them. They are somthing we will never be able to replace. And as we all know, they will never be able to make a speaker who sounds this way ever again.
If they are NOT VOTT A-5's Any one else have an idea of what model they are ?
Thanks
Billy
Yes, i wish we were able to restore the theater as it was , with her old speakers. But they have been already removed and put into storage for now.
They are so BIG, by taking them out, we now have SOME back stage space, along with putting in a roll up movie screen. In a town as small as we are, movies will not pay the bills to get the doors open. but our hopes are that by making the theater a venue that is more able to adapt itself we will be able to keep her open for many years to come and for many more people to enjoy her.
With , that said. Our group is hoping to find a home for these speakers , where some one will love &take care of them. They are somthing we will never be able to replace. And as we all know, they will never be able to make a speaker who sounds this way ever again.
If they are NOT VOTT A-5's Any one else have an idea of what model they are ?
Thanks
Billy
intotubes
Well-Known Member
Yes, I'd have to agree. These are a gold mine. Try not to part them out if you can. Try to find a buyer that can keep them whole from a historical standpoint. Of course the drivers and driver/horn combos are worth a fortune on E-Pay but then a piece of history would be lost.
I wish I could have been involved in your restoration. Looks like a very worthwhile project.
I'll bet those speakers Do sound good. It's a shame you won't be using them.
-Mark
I wish I could have been involved in your restoration. Looks like a very worthwhile project.
I'll bet those speakers Do sound good. It's a shame you won't be using them.
-Mark