Altec 19’s w Other woofers

[Nyjblbob]

I’m looking at a pair of Really Rough 19 empty cabinets .For Cheap!
I have had them a while ago.
I know about the value of them as Originality
Is important. A fresh Veneer will be in the future
Questions:
How many cubic feet for just the bottom.?
Is it big enough for Altec 515’s? Probably won’t use them due to the back side ribs on the older frames.
Is the top horn section removable?
I have a pair of Tad 15’s big Alnico Foam edgers, and plenty of Jbl’s to try out.
For Drivers either Altec 288’c or Jbl375’s
Many different horns to choose from
And yea Biamped

Thoughts?
Bobhorn

 

[twiiii]

The big drivers won't have the smoothness or the extension of the 802 driver. So unless you are into loud I would stick with the 802. 416 is the preferred woofer as the 515 being more efficient but will not reach as low as the 416. of course the newer 416 from GP will handle more power and have less distortion. Now if you have one of the modern woofers from the DD series JBL you will have less distortion but require more power. Personally I would rather have a 4430 or 4435 JBL rather than the Altec.

 

[Nyjblbob]

The big drivers won't have the smoothness or the extension of the 802 driver. So unless you are into loud I would stick with the 802. 416 is the preferred woofer as the 515 being more efficient but will not reach as low as the 416. of course the newer 416 from GP will handle more power and have less distortion. Now if you have one of the modern woofers from the DD series JBL you will have less distortion but require more power. Personally I would rather have a 4430 or 4435 JBL rather than the Altec.

Yes me too I prefer the Jbl’s.
I have a pair of 2” but cheeks horns coming.
So my plan is to make A pair of super 4430’s
And I know I will have to use Tweeters EV St350a will match the mid horns.
with the big Mids
Still trying to get these Altec 19 Cabinets !
And see what Woofers will work best

 

[Nyjblbob]

Yes me too I prefer the Jbl’s.
I have a pair of 2” but cheeks horns coming.
So my plan is to make A pair of super 4430’s
And I know I will have to use Tweeters EV St350a will match the mid horns.
with the big Mids
Still trying to get these Altec 19 Cabinets !
And see what Woofers will work best

Look what just came! For my Frankenstein 4430’s
The 2” but cheeks horns!
Notice the difference in size to the smaller 1”2344 horn on the left
Also a new toy to get them sorted out
A Dbx EQ triamp system including the mike
Getting closer to getting the 19!cabs

 

[300man]

I think I might know where those 19s are coming from...I was tempted myself but just don't have the room Hope you get them!

 

[Nyjblbob]

I think I might know where those 19s are coming from...I was tempted myself but just don't have the room Hope you get them!

Yep

 

[BillWojo]

They won't be anything like 19's when your done with them. Why bastardize beautiful cabinets that were designed for specific drivers? Put the proper driver load and crossover network in those cabinets and enjoy them as designed. If you want JBL speakers than build the appropriate JBL box for them.

BillWojo

 

[bowtie427ss]

They won't be anything like 19's when your done with them.

I don't think this can be overstated.

The model 19 cabinet with it's resonant cavity, was engineered specifically for the 416-8B woofer. There's some engineering behind why it isn't a simple rectangular box.

There's at least a dozen woofers that will work in the 19 cabinet. There's only one that's right for it.

 

[Nyjblbob]

They won't be anything like 19's when your done with them. Why bastardize beautiful cabinets that were designed for specific drivers? Put the proper driver load and crossover network in those cabinets and enjoy them as designed. If you want JBL speakers than build the appropriate JBL box for them.

BillWojo

Don’t worry about the cabinets
I know the value of original speakers
I will make sure that they can be returned to Original.status. I’m actually rescuing them.
I couldn’t build cabinets this big for less than I am paying for them. I’m not going to change anything on them including the top portion.

 

[Nyjblbob]

I don't think this can be overstated.

The model 19 cabinet with it's resonant cavity, was engineered specifically for the 416-8B woofer. There's some engineering behind why it isn't a simple rectangular box.

There's at least a dozen woofers that will work in the 19 cabinet. There's only one that's right for it.

Now that I own these Altec 19 cabinets,
I’m thinking about bringing them to Frankenfest, for a Fleapowered Amp comparison.Unfortunately I don’t have the 416-8b woofers. The only 15” Altec’s I have are 515b’s, cannot be front mounted., and a pair of
3156’s. Same big 16” frame as the 416’s, similar cones and surrounds. They are a bit more efficient than the 416’s but don’t go quite as deep 38 cps 3156 compared to 30 with the 416’s. I used them very successfully in a pair of 1233’s and 811’s with 808’s drivers. I played them out for over 40 Retirement parties and many other events.no one ever complained Really efficient
it’s not really showcasing the speakers, it’s more about comparison of Low power amps
They finally went to my sons College Frat House And somebody snatched them . After 30 years of good service. I have 811’s 808’s and soon a pair of 1233
Xover’s. I’m pretty sure the 19’s and 1233’s are close to the same 7 and change Cubic Feet . They are my choice to bring to Frankenfest, because they fit in my Pickup and I can close the tonneau cover. My Jbl Scoops are Too big.
And I m not going to risk damaging my Valuable Jbl monitors
Might even put a price on them for Less than
A pair of Rough Valencia’s. And certainly play louder.They can easily be brought to 7 out of 10 condition
What do you think Bowtie427?

 

[bowtie427ss]

The 3156 will be close to the 515 with regard to physical parameters. It's the modern day version of the 421/921 with less exaggerated mid-range bump, and no shiny dome that people love to dent. The biggest difference between it and the proper 416 will be in low end extension. It's different across the board. But, we're talking small/subtle differences which half of just about any crowd will be clueless to unless pointed out.

 

[Nyjblbob]

The 3156 will be close to the 515 with regard to physical parameters. It's the modern day version of the 421/921 with less exaggerated mid-range bump, and no shiny dome that people love to dent. The biggest difference between it and the proper 416 will be in low end extension. It's different across the board. But, we're talking small/subtle differences which half of just about any crowd will be clueless to unless pointed out.

Thanks
Do you know what Xover frequency the 1233’s
Had ? Waiting for them to come.no L pads
My pair of 1233 cabinets had Huge Peavy 1,000 cps Xover’s that were excellentI I just had to add an Lpad to turn down the Horns

 

[twiiii]

Call Great Plains Audio and ask them if you can successfully re-cone your 515's with 416-8b cones and what the results will be?

 

[Nyjblbob]

Call Great Plains Audio and ask them if you can successfully re-cone your 515's with 416-8b cones and what the results will be?

My 2 pair of 515’s are Reconed and don’t appear to be Original cones. Tags from Orange County
Speakers on one pair, and the other pair look Identical. Both came from California
Also they have the smaller frames so front mounts won’t work .
Thanks for the Idea

 

[Nyjblbob]

Been Looking at These Model 19 Cabinets,
The bottom is just like the a 604 cabinet,
When I finally get my 604 g’s reconed
Put them in the 19 Cabs , They have the same big frames
as the 416-8b .
Remove the Bases flip them Upside Down,
Make nice big wood blocks to get them up ear level.
2 issues solved
Replace the not so nice looking Big Reds,
Have bigger and far nicer Altec Cabinets
To better the Bass response.
No Altec any thing is damaged.
And I’ll have some real Efficient Speakers to use
on my flea powered Triode amps
Also fun comparing them to my
Jbls
,

 

[Nyjblbob]

Been Looking at These Model 19 Cabinets,
The bottom is just like the a 604 cabinet,
When I finally get my 604 g’s reconed
Put them in the 19 Cabs , They have the same big frames
as the 416-8b .
Remove the Bases flip them Upside Down,
Make nice big wood blocks to get them up ear level.
2 issues solved
Replace the not so nice looking Big Reds,
Have bigger and far nicer Altec Cabinets
To better the Bass response.
No Altec any thing is damaged.
And I’ll have some real Efficient Speakers to use
on my flea powered Triode amps
Also fun comparing them to my
Jbls
,

 

[westend]

If I was going to do all the work to refurb old Model 19 cabs and restore the drivers, I'd sell or give away the cabs and build new ones. In fact, I did just that. Instead of using the funky 19 bottom box, I built MLTL's and skid mounted horns/super-tweeters on top.

If you think using the boxes as test beds are a good deal, who am I to bitch.

 

[Nyjblbob]

I understand all the reasons why I shouldn’t do this.
I’m just thinking why not?
And it makes for an interesting if not controversial read. And experiment

 

[bowtie427ss]

I understand all the reasons why I shouldn’t do this.
I’m just thinking why not?
And it makes for an interesting if not controversial read. And experiment

An old girlfriend long ago taught me that if it fits and feels good, do it!

I ran 416-8B's in 620 cabinets EQ'd to hell and back as a woofer system under large format mantarays with Selenium clones of JBL slot tweeters hanging from stiff wire in the center of the mantaray mouths. Sounded damn good, looked atrocious.

I know more than one fella who has loaded 825/828 cabinets with 604's with very satisfactory results. I'm sure that makes the 604 crowd shriek with horror.

 

[Nyjblbob]

An old girlfriend long ago taught me that if it fits and feels good, do it!

I ran 416-8B's in 620 cabinets EQ'd to hell and back as a woofer system under large format mantarays with Selenium clones of JBL slot tweeters hanging from stiff wire in the center of the mantaray mouths. Sounded damn good, looked atrocious.

I know more than one fella who has loaded 825/828 cabinets with 604's with very satisfactory results. I'm sure that makes the 604 crowd shriek with horror.

My Big Red Cabinets actually have the front baffles machined
To front mount 604 E’s and other older 15” woofers.
I would never attempt to try and duplicate those cutouts.