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altec lansing 305

ducati2

AK Subscriber
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I just acquired a pair of Altec Lansing 305 speakers (these are not the 305 "s" models) and need some info on them. They are made in Milford, PA and have serial numbers around 05306. The units are about 27" tall and maybe 16x16" foot print. 10" woofers, one mid and one tweeter. 200 watts stated on the back.

1. can anyone tell me when these were made? I suspect mid 80s or so..
2. can you tell me the approximate original cost?
3. I need an owners manual and crossover schematic,, can anyone help??

Today's Altec Lansing company does not even acknowledge these exist. They will only talk to me about their little blue tooth units. Any leads or help appreciated.
 
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right, but it seems they made a great deal of good product before they disappeared and someone, somewhere would have a database of the different products. I have found close, but nothing on the 305.. mostly trying to figure the date of manufacturer and crossover details.
 
I just googled altec lansing 305 and up popped the owners manual and lots of other info. The crossover values probably aren't available, but the normal way to get them is to take a look at the actual crossover.
Fans of the classic Altecs sometimes react to questions about the later ones as if the post sale 'Altec's are somehow toxic. Some of them were very good, some were pretty mediocre (just as is true of the older ones). It is true that the build quality of the drivers is different (not neccessarily worse, since modern materials sometimes are genuinely better, and big old castings are not necessarily better than lighter castings or evens stamped parts), and the voicing in certainly different -- later ones aim for a more modern version of accuracy, which strikes many people as being less 'real' or involving than the classical Altec sound.
Not everyone can afford Voice of the Theaters or A 19s, and not everyone likes the sound (or the size, or the look). So the 305s may be absolutely the bees' knees in your book, in which case, be delighted with your purchase.
 
[QUOTE = "ducati2, должность: 9081240, член: 56272"] Я только что приобрел пару Altec Lansing 305 динамиков (они не модели 305 "S") и нужна информация о них. Они выполнены в Милфорд, штат Пенсильвания, и имеют серийные номера вокруг 05306. Блоки около 27 "в высоту и, может быть, 16x16" отпечаток стопы. 10 "НЧ-динамики, один середине и один высокочастотный динамик. 200 Вт, указанные на задней.

1. кто может сказать мне, когда были сделаны эти? Я подозреваю, середине 80-х или около того ..
2. Вы можете сказать мне приблизительную первоначальная стоимость?
3. Я нужен инструкция и кроссовер схематическое ,, кто может помочь ??
 
"Fans of the classic Altecs sometimes react to questions about the later ones as if the post sale 'Altec's are somehow toxic. Some of them were very good, some were pretty mediocre (just as is true of the older ones)."

Could you share what classic Altec gear is "mediocre"?
 
I think the old Altec home gear in small cabinets using stamped frame woofers and cone tweeters was mediocre. But then I don't consider that classic Altec, just old Altec.
 
I think the old Altec home gear in small cabinets using stamped frame woofers and cone tweeters was mediocre. But then I don't consider that classic Altec, just old Altec.
I agree. I'm just curious about other's opinions on gear, Altecs in particular. Part of my obsession with my hobbies is that I get to a place, occasionally, where I think I must improve on what I have. As if value is in the object, it's a cruel twist.
 
From one perspective the 603, and maybe the bi-flex speakers, maybe the 602 could be considered mediocre.

On the other hand, those models are all examples of pushing the then current technology to it's limits so that the consumer might get the last bit of available fidelity within a constrained budget.
 
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Even back in the 'classic' era, Altec made small bookshelf speakers, most of which were not exactly great. The big Altecs are great, certainly, but that's to be expected -- large, heavy, expensive speakers tend to be a manufacturer's best efforts. I fail to see what is contoversial about noting that the cost constrained mid and down market products are not necessarily as successful (even within their price levels) as the flagship efforts. One might even note that companies that make nothing but inexpensive speakers may be more likely to produce better products at their level since it is their life blood, not a marketing afterthought.
I've had several versions of the Capri, and a small 8 inch two way called the Verde (confusingly, there is also a bigger Altec with the same name). And I've listened to, and not bought, BiFlexes. Fun speakers but not world beaters. Mediocre to my ears.
And I've heard some of the Milford PA speakers -- they didn't sound Altecy, but they were respectable for what they were, and possibly better at being small speakers than the Capris were. And the flagship model got very good reviews. So I don't get why they are dismissed without being heard.
Don't get me wrong -- I like Altecs, and a pair of Valencias are my regular speakers, having displaced several other fine speakers.
 
Can I just come in here & give a level headed opinion without bias towards Altec Corp. I own speakers from both era’s. I have some 1970’s bookshelf’s made by the Altec Corp & some newer bookshelves from the 80s/90s which were a joint effort designed by Altec Corp in Anaheim but made in Milford PA basically in production during the crossover period. They were both similarly priced & I can honestly say the newer crossover model with proper tweeters blow away the 1970’s Altec Corp bookshelves with those paper HF units. Even after swapping out the paper HF units for proper tweeters there was very little improvement. What I will say is you can listen to the newer speakers for hours on end without ear fatigue they sound musical but sonically neutral. The old 1970’s models sound like the midrange is being forced rather than being naturally delivered. Each to their own of course but from my experience I agree with the previous comment. Maybe the later Altec made better bookshelf speakers than the original Altec Corp who made their name making large professional speakers. The only Altec Corp mini bookshelf I was really impressed with was a very rare model called the Mini Monitor 8A.
 
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