I assume you meant the 8 ohm tap on the amp/receiver which is what I am currently using.
Altec 846a Valencia
- Thread starter Jenkster
- Start date
I assume you meant the 8 ohm tap on the amp/receiver which is what I am currently using.
Thanks for the info., the woofer baskets and horns are black.
That's interesting. The horns & baskets in my Flamenco's are green.
IIRC, they were dated as mid '68. I wonder when they changed colors?
IIRC, they were dated as mid '68. I wonder when they changed colors?
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
It would have been a slow transition across many components. Horns like 511's and 811's were probably made in great numbers in advance of production demand with "on hand"(read green) supplies lasting well beyond the time 416's began production with charcoal colored frames.
diamondsouled
Recycle belly button lint!
Sometimes a good idea to do a 180 on the woofs. Let gravity pull them the other way for the next forty years :yes:
I actually did just that. I'm pretty sure they had never been out of the cabinets.
My friend and fellow AK'er Rajoo came by today to give them a listen. To my surprise, he was very impressed with their sound. It may have been a life changing moment?
I don't think he will dump his Dahlquist speakers and Yamaha gear for tubes and horns just yet but......:scratch2:
I've had the A's & B's and like the sound of the A's better. You cannot hear the ports breathing on the A's. I went to a active crossover 6 years ago and used it on both models and still use it on the B's. It made a huge difference to my ears. The A's went to my niece since she enjoys music as much as I do. I bought the A's in 1967 and would like to find another pair with good cabinets. Mine were pretty beat from all the moves and such.
Here are the B's I have now.
Here's the A's I gave my niece. they look good from 20' away or further.
Here are the B's I have now.
Here's the A's I gave my niece. they look good from 20' away or further.
Here are the B's I have now.
Wow. That is a very impressive system you have there. Mac & Altec... it doesn't get any better than that!
Two questions: Why so many amps? and which do prefer most with your Valencia's?
I measured the height to ear level sitting in the recliner (Old Geezers like recliners) and built the risers accordingly. I used ordinary 2X8's and braced them internally to stop resonance. Then I sprayed a plastic rough finish bedliner like material on them and there they are.
To answer both you and seacliffe I have done the following to the B's. I switched to 902 drivers on the horns (the 802's wouldn't fit without cutting a hole in the cabinet back) and like the improvement over the 806's. I also removed the crossovers and replaced them with a board I used to hold the speaker connections when I went to an active crossover. The active I use is a Rane AC-22. I've played with the crossover frequencies a lot and finally settled on 1200hz.
As for the amps I use the MC-275 for the horns, the MC-2205 for the woofers and the MC-2505 runs a pair of outdoor speakers. I ran the original 846A's for 37 years with the MC-2505 50WPC amp. I hope this answers your questions. Feel free to ask more or PM me if you like.
Very impressive. You've elevated system configuration to a whole different level. I would love to spend a day mixing & matching your components. I would especially love to hear the 275 with Altec's. That must sound incredible.
Your original system I know very well. My first Mac was the 2505 paired with my Flamenco's. I used that amp for better than 10 years before upgrading.
Thanks much for the info.
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Thanks for the compliment Bill. I'd really love to hear your 604's. I've always wanted to hear Altecs on a SET amp.
After deciding to go separates I saved up and bought a C-26 & MC-2505. Then came family and not much disposable income until recently so my system stayed fairly static for a long time.
The 275 adds what I call a sparkle to the top end. I'm not to familiar with using terms to describe what I hear. I have used a mc-2125 for the horns at one time and it sounds good but lacks what I perceive to be the extra smoothness I get with the 275. I'm probably all wet but it's what I hear.
dc270
Now Off the Reservation
I measured the height to ear level sitting in the recliner (Old Geezers like recliners) and built the risers accordingly. I used ordinary 2X8's and braced them internally to stop resonance. Then I sprayed a plastic rough finish bedliner like material on them and there they are.
To answer both you and seacliffe I have done the following to the B's. I switched to 902 drivers on the horns (the 802's wouldn't fit without cutting a hole in the cabinet back) and like the improvement over the 806's. I also removed the crossovers and replaced them with a board I used to hold the speaker connections when I went to an active crossover. The active I use is a Rane AC-22. I've played with the crossover frequencies a lot and finally settled on 1200hz.
As for the amps I use the MC-275 for the horns, the MC-2205 for the woofers and the MC-2505 runs a pair of outdoor speakers. I ran the original 846A's for 37 years with the MC-2505 50WPC amp. I hope this answers your questions. Feel free to ask more or PM me if you like.
aHHHH a man after my own heart! Short of differant electronics and an Ashly xover my bi-amped system sounds quite good. I too am x-ing at close to 11200hz as well. Bi amping like you have done is the near perfect way to really enjoy a horn based two way system. Ever since I started bi-amping, about a year or so back, I cannot imagine anything else being substantially better for a 15" horn two way. Congrats on your system- the 902 driver is a pretty good one I agree, however I went with a Radian 475PB along with a AE 15" TDM and like it a lot as well.
DC
That looks like bituthene. I use it on window installs.
Prineville is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away. Straight shot north on 97 then take 197 to Dufur. You are welcome to come visit. Everything is out in the shop so it's not a fancy setup. The pictures make it look better than it is.
Prineville is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours away. Straight shot north on 97 then take 197 to Dufur. You are welcome to come visit. Everything is out in the shop so it's not a fancy setup. The pictures make it look better than it is.
Sounds great Mike, we may make the trip in early summer. The shop is fine, my "man room" is a one car garage.
Is anyone still following this thread ?
I have a pair of these in rough cosmetic shape but sound great.
I try to follow the lingo you guys use in describing the different speakers and I simply don't follow/get what you mean. It is also hard for me to hear a major difference between speakers (Unless they are real bad/cheap quality).
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.