ALTEC 846-b One Owner Super Nice
- Thread starter 7miles
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bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
That money will buy a very nice pair of model Nineteen which are fully on another level above 846B.
Unless you are local and willing to pay a huge premium to avoid shipping/distance moving, that would be a crazy price to pay.
Unless you are local and willing to pay a huge premium to avoid shipping/distance moving, that would be a crazy price to pay.
Stephen J
Suum Cuique
:yes:
Brad Muller
Super Member
Bowtie is right. Try to find a pair of 19's locally. Don't pay that for a pair of 846B's. Even a beat up pair of 19's is a great start, if wear is limited to the cabinets. The finish work is easy. There are options available for acquiring a pair of 19's.:yes:
Nipper
"His Masters Voice"
For Gods sake people....
There is NOTHING wrong with the 846B! Some of us prefer them to the 19's and if they are decent thats a fair price if you can pick them up. I don't see them dropping in price anytime soon.
According to Altec:
"The most sought after full size Altec system in history -- the Valencia. The identical components as our A7-8 Voice of the Theatre housed in a elegant contemporary enclosure.
IIRC they were also the best selling full size Altec speaker in their history as well. There might be a reason for that and apparently the majority of us did prefer them.
One would have to admit that in the past 40+ years the 846B's have spoken for themselves very well.
Dont get me wrong, I would love to have a set of 19's and some A7's as well.
There is NOTHING wrong with the 846B! Some of us prefer them to the 19's and if they are decent thats a fair price if you can pick them up. I don't see them dropping in price anytime soon.
According to Altec:
"The most sought after full size Altec system in history -- the Valencia. The identical components as our A7-8 Voice of the Theatre housed in a elegant contemporary enclosure.
IIRC they were also the best selling full size Altec speaker in their history as well. There might be a reason for that and apparently the majority of us did prefer them.
One would have to admit that in the past 40+ years the 846B's have spoken for themselves very well.
Dont get me wrong, I would love to have a set of 19's and some A7's as well.
alteclipsch
Super Member
Well, I've certainly enjoyed my Vals for the last 30+ years. I have to admit, though, that I'd like to hear the 19s.
SoundsAlike
Super Member
Like the Valencia, I have the Santiagos which is a different woofer, slightly less sensitivity and in a sealed cabinet with faux slate tops with a flat and black grill.
I love staring at the tweeter! But there seems to be a strange consensus amongst "Altec collectors" that the Santiago isn't as good as the other very similar voice of the theater speakers.
I had a pair of Heathkit As-101 or Valencias and ran them with an against my Santiagos. The 878b Santiago could simply do bass way better and lower than the ported Valencia.
I love staring at the tweeter! But there seems to be a strange consensus amongst "Altec collectors" that the Santiago isn't as good as the other very similar voice of the theater speakers.
I had a pair of Heathkit As-101 or Valencias and ran them with an against my Santiagos. The 878b Santiago could simply do bass way better and lower than the ported Valencia.
There's a pair of Val's that are local to me and very reasonably priced. I've been thinking about bringing them home but I wasn't impressed with their sound. Does a recap put some life in them? I know it won't help the lower bass but I thought the top end was muted sounding.
If the top end sounded muted did you check to see where the HF attenuator was turned to? If it wasn't then something is wrong with the high end. That's one complaint I've never heard about Altec horn systems.
A recap brought mine to life in the upper end. Smother was a bonus.
Nipper
"His Masters Voice"
As someone who has owned them since new I can tell you they are very amp sensitive. I have tried mine with many different amps over the years and a lot of amps did not deliver the sound I like. Some of the new amps make them sound like hell. The difference is incredible.
I would strongly suggest trying them with the amp you plan on using before evaluating them.
I would strongly suggest trying them with the amp you plan on using before evaluating them.
7miles
Well-Known Member
Like I said I wouldn't mind owning them.....I should of added that they are way out of my price range right now. I mainly posted it for others enjoyment. I do see 19's more so then these and usually at a much better price as noted in this thread. That is not saying these are not as good as the 19's or worth what the seller is asking for them.
Brad Muller
Super Member
I've been restoring a set of Altec 871a Milano cabinets. I think these are a close cousin to the 846b. With my old Sherwood S7100a they sounded much better than with the Altec 714a. A Ziltch crossover modification might also improve them. I've never heard a pair of 19's without the Z19 crossovers. Anyone who has feel free to chime in. I can't vouch for how crummy the 19's sound without the Z19.
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