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Altec Lansing 105A thrift find!

metalmando

metalmando

Active Member
Hey all,

I was excited about my find today of a pretty nice pair of Altec Lansing 105-A bookshelves. However, I can't find any information on them. I'm going to hook 'em up and give them a listen. Anyone know anything about these? 2-way, maybe a 5" woofer, mahogany veneer.
 
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These speakers have 6" woofers, and sound GREAT! They have the most beautiful mahogany veneer. I use a Large Advent/EPI T/E 100 stack, and I might like these better than the EPIs, with a Pioneer SX 1010.Clear, very defined treble that aill almost cut you, and tight mid-bass as typical with 6" stuff. Sounds good with the bottom on the Advents. So...another victory in thriftland!! I'd still lioke to know what you guys know about these. They don't exist on the 'net!
 
around 1991, AL made a model # 105, 6" woof, 1" tweet, freq resp 40 - 22hz, 91 eff, crossover @ 2.5k, 17 x 10 x 9", 20 # each. The 105A must have been a later model. List price was $375/pr. in 1991.
 
Sparkomatic bought Altec in 98 ? However these models from 105 to 512 are incredible state of the art speakers. WHY? Sparkomatic is a Japanese Co. They had 4 or five years in America to become a solid state speaker Manufacturer. They are famous for old school tube speakers w/16ohms of resistance these models are from 4 t0 8 ohms depending on model , year. Sparkomatic does not make speakers that are made with carbon fiber woofers and Titanium coated tweeters . Not now and certainly not in 1990. These were Engineers that had an unlimited budget for a few years and made the best sounding speakers I have heard FOR THE MONEY. better speakers yes but you will pay a hell of a lot more because everyone says oh those were Sparkomatics. Therefore no one buys them . The model 508 ex: 2, 8" carbon fiber woofers a 2" Titanium mid and 1" Titanium Tweeter. Also real Walnut veneer. A stereo review I found on the 508's said they couldn't tell the mid to high crossover point! low to high was at 500 Hz. Frequency response was 30 to 20k they specifically mentioned the 30 Hz. was room filling and feeling. And their last sentence said we can not find anything negative to say about these speakers. Stereo Review Magazine I believe . Remember Sparkomatic does not make or sell in the 508 case $1100 speaker or the 511 which is insane 4 terminals in the back for 4 way terminal hook up Also testing the 508 proved the speaker showed no signs of clipping until almost 1100 watts . 512 (Flagship of series) 2 10's a 6.5" mid a 2" titanium mid and a 1" Titanium tweet all woofs are carbon fiber on all these models 5 sets of terminals! Those were $3300 new. No way is that expensive for what you get . Only reason I know is in 89 I bought a pair of auto 6x9's w/the same materials, carbon fiber titanium. $ 599. They have not yet been equaled in my auto stereo setups. not even close. they blew apart the 6x9 boxes they wee in. I though well they r junk already blown. nope they blew up the boxes! Anyone reading this do not buy them I need either the 5120's or 508's. I am currently running a pair of Jamo E770 w/ 4 of the Jamo round satellites. These are fabulous also. I got a great deal Literally hooked up and reboxed and sold to me. $160 for all 770's and the 4 satellites he kept 1 out of 5 for a center channel? whatever . But Altecs of this era are the best outrageous. Loud detailed they disappear pretty good when decoupled from floor. The response of the Carbon graphite is really great fast tight. They are using Titanium and carbon on high end speakers NOW. You get that technology in these from30 ears ago. That's no Sparkomatic. Good old USA taking advantage of a bad situation for one last glorified speaker lineup. Sonance 2120 amp Boston Acoustics pre amp. If you never heard a Sonance amp another one no one knows about. Factory direct sales only. 10k Micro Farad power filter Caps. 2 ohm stable the 60 watt RMS amps do not clip until 120 rms That is unreal. I have made quite a few believers . Wish I could find another pair of the 6x9's. One pair a few months ago appeared but he wanted $500 . crazy. Well long article but I hope people learn these are the best Altecs ever made for Solid state amps. And best speakers of that time that equal a very expensive speaker. I joined this specically because of the Sparkomatic references. 91 or 92 these were gone and Altec then became Sparkomatic computer speakers. Which for the$40 I spent were very decent. I did get Bose ones which were much better and 5 times as expensive. Get a pair and see for yourself prett rare but incredible.
 
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