Altec 345A

[archie2]

Anybody here own an Altec 345A?

 

[twiiii]

We use to have a large share of Altec amps we sold come pay a visit at Mcintosh's Amplifier Clinics. The Mono 1568 and 1569 at full power were around 2% distortion amplifiers with the midrange dipping below . 5 % but we;re well over 1% below 100Hz on the bottom and 6000 on the top. They were better than Scott and Fisher amps in the extremes, which meant the Peerless transformers were built to tighter specs. The 345 like its mono brethren was about a 2 to 3% amplifier being less than .5 % briefly in the midrange... It would clip around 10% distortion close to 40 watts in the midrange. Signal to noise was n't that great 75 to 80 db as I remember. I have the charts on the pro amps with only a brief reference to the 345. They sounded pretty nice with Altec Carmels, Capistranos, and Coronados. Sounded good with 604s and 605's,too. But then none of the speakers performed really well above 12 khz with a lower limit just below 40 HZ. So it didn't matter if the amps were compromised back then. Speakers were all pretty efficient except for AR, so 30 watts a channel was adequate. But I would take a Marantz model 8 or 8b any day. A Mac 240 with 55 watt capability would really out perform the Altec. We used to use Altec 210 speakers with 1003b horns with y throats and pairs of 288 C drivers pushed with 1569 power amps for live concerts and the sound was great. PP&M, Al Hirt, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller bands come to mind in the middle 60's. A Mac MI200 was really big power back then. For Altec sound my Favorite amp was the Altec 1570b

 

[archie2]

We use to have a large share of Altec amps we sold come pay a visit at Mcintosh's Amplifier Clinics. The Mono 1568 and 1569 at full power were around 2% distortion amplifiers with the midrange dipping below . 5 % but we;re well over 1% below 100Hz on the bottom and 6000 on the top. They were better than Scott and Fisher amps in the extremes, which meant the Peerless transformers were built to tighter specs. The 345 like its mono brethren was about a 2 to 3% amplifier being less than .5 % briefly in the midrange... It would clip around 10% distortion close to 40 watts in the midrange. Signal to noise was n't that great 75 to 80 db as I remember. I have the charts on the pro amps with only a brief reference to the 345. They sounded pretty nice with Altec Carmels, Capistranos, and Coronados. Sounded good with 604s and 605's,too. But then none of the speakers performed really well above 12 khz with a lower limit just below 40 HZ. So it didn't matter if the amps were compromised back then. Speakers were all pretty efficient except for AR, so 30 watts a channel was adequate. But I would take a Marantz model 8 or 8b any day. A Mac 240 with 55 watt capability would really out perform the Altec. We used to use Altec 210 speakers with 1003b horns with y throats and pairs of 288 C drivers pushed with 1569 power amps for live concerts and the sound was great. PP&M, Al Hirt, Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller bands come to mind in the middle 60's. A Mac MI200 was really big power back then. For Altec sound my Favorite amp was the Altec 1570b

That's certainly a lot of interesting comparative information. I have an Altec 345A running through Wharfdale W70's and alternately through Polk 10A's (peerless tweeters) probably doesn't do it justice but it sounds good to my old ears. There used to be 3 other AK members who also owned the 345A and I was wondering if they were still around and had their 345A's. The 345A is a rare bird. I replaced all the components in mine with top of the line components. The only things original are the 4 power Mullards. Now that I'm pushing 80 hard I don't collect anymore but still hang onto my better stuff. A lot of audio stuff has passed through my hands over the years and some will still pass through. The only Marantz's I have are a 2220B and a 4270 quad mostly used as conversation pieces as they look good in their vintage wooden cabinets. I'll check out the Marantz 8 and 8B and the Altec 1570B just out of curiosity. I have a question, how do you think the 345A would sound through Spica T60's assuming you are familiar with the T60's? Thanks for your input.