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altec lansing 604b

A

Adam Stein

New Member
hi, i’m adam and i’m new here, and to high quality audio altogether. my grandpa recently gifted me with four altec lansing 604b speakers, and gave me no additional info about them. i’m wondering how i can get them up and running, maybe a suggestion for a custom speaker cabinet company would be great. thanks in advance
 
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Technically, asking what they are worth means the thread would go into the Dollars and Sense threads - and turn into a primarily money discussion.
(If I am wrong, and resale is your main interest, no prob - just let us know and I can move it to the Dollars & Sense thread).
But since its from your grandpa, I figure it has a personal worth to you, so I deleted the money part of your post, and moved it to the Lansing Legacy forums.
Lansing since the ALTEC (Lansing) and JBL companies are both related to the late James B Lansing - but thats another whole discussion ...

If I remember correctly, there are some Altec fans here that can give you some ideas on how to best use those 604B speakers.
I gather they are just the raw speakers (drivers) and not currently in any kind of speaker cabinets?
 
If you check the sold listings for "Altec 604B" on eBay, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the value this model commands. Prices normally include the dividing networks which you don't mention if they are present. Do NOT attempt to use the speakers without them.

There are cabinet makers that specialize in enclosures for the Altec 604(x) duplex driver and there's considerable information here and throughout the web. @bowtie427ss is our resident Altec expert who no doubt will have more to add.

In short you have inherited what many would consider among the most prized of Altec and of vintage loudspeakers finds in general. Post some pictures when you can. Congratulations on your good fortune and welcome to AK.
 
Adam Stein said:
hi, i’m adam and i’m new here, and to high quality audio altogether. my grandpa recently gifted me with four altec lansing 604b speakers, and gave me no additional info about them. i’m wondering how i can get them up and running, maybe a suggestion for a custom speaker cabinet company would be great. thanks in advance
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Congrats
There are Thousands of Threads
On the 604’s Read as much as you can
Hopefully you also have the matching Xovers.
These 604’s must be mounted from the Inside!
Bobhorn
 
bluestime said:
http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/altec/plans/altec-plans.htm
The larger the cabinets, the better. Nine cubic foot or larger would be my recommendation.
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If you can post some pictures of them
Including the backs and where the cones meet the metal including any numbers printed on them to see if they are still original
Very important especially If you plan on selling them
For cabinets you need to look Locally.
As shipping can cost more than the cabinets!
 
Congratulations on getting some 604s. These are some of the best speakers ever made. For cabinet ideas, you can google the following: Altec 620; Billfort cabinet; Onken cabinet.

If you want to build crossovers, google Markwart 604b crossover. Build the 604b phase-corrected crossover with MF EQ.

Altec went out of business in the early 80s—the successor business that inherited this design is Great Plains Audio. They can provide expert service for these drivers if necessary.
 
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bluestime said:
The larger the cabinets, the better. Nine cubic foot or larger would be my recommendation.
Click to expand...

Zvezda said:
For cabinet ideas, you can google the following: Altec 620; Billfort cabinet; Onken cabinet.
Click to expand...

Folks need to realize that 604, and 604B are not capable of the excursion to play down as low as the later models. That kind of box volume isn't necessary.

While those cabinets are ideal for 604C, D, E, G K, and H models, they're larger than ideal for the 70 year old phenolic spiders and paper hinges of the early models.
 
thank you all for the help! anyone know of any experts in miami that could potentially build or help build some cabinets for me? thanks
 
Whatever you do... take these seriously if you haven't already. Take care of those paper cones as they are irreplaceable. Well, you can get others but will not be the original cones. The paper cones are extremely brittle and can dry out and the slightest touch can sometimes hairline split them.

Wow, 4 of them!! geez.

I myself like the smaller foot print of the Stonehenge V cab and the Onken sides look. I am looking to build a hybrid, much to the chagrin of the Altec purists, as these are end game speakers and have no re-sale value to me because they are not for sale. Anyway, to each his own.

Also, they are extremely sensitive speakers and take almost no watts to sing. They are 16 ohm so they can play with an 8 ohm amp but just be careful to not give it to much juice. The ideal marriage is a tube amp. they are just butter on them. Do not go throwing a 100 plus watt amp on there and look to get thump bass from them. These are known for an ungodly butter mid range that nothing on the planet can replicate without spending crazy money to get close.

As someone stated before, do you also have the orig crossovers for them? N-1000.

Man, what a gift your grandpa gave you. Simply wonderful speakers.

Just be careful with those cones man... oh oh, and also the rear caps behind the diaphragms. They should say Altec Lansing Hollywood on them. They are super thin and can also crack from the weight of the speaker. so, suggest not resting them on those.
 
bowtie427ss said:
Folks need to realize that 604, and 604B are not capable of the excursion to play down as low as the later models. That kind of box volume isn't necessary.

While those cabinets are ideal for 604C, D, E, G K, and H models, they're larger than ideal for the 70 year old phenolic spiders and paper hinges of the early models.
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Bowtie, I have been reading and reading and reading for the proper cabinet for my 604b's. I understand that the 612 was the cabinet that was originally designed for them ideally... I have also read that some have tried to have a smaller, taller foot print but keeping the cubic feet the same or similar.

I have read so much about this my head is spinning and have now forgotten what I should and should not do :crazy:

I have zero'd in on a Stonehenge III alteration that i found here but do not have the plans or drawing:

http://2a3-maniac.blogspot.com/search/label/Altec 604

@Adam Stein , did you settle on a cab or I was wondering if there was an update on your project?
 
300man said:
Hey Tim you may already have this but, I think these are the original Stonehenge III plans

https://greatplainsaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Stonehenge-Cabinet-Plans.pdf
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Hey bud!! Ya, I did have that and thank you just the same... I am on the hunt for that one in the link I have. If need be a friend of mine and I will draw up our own based on the design in the picture. if it turns out great we will unleash it to the forum for anyone wanting to build it.

My friend is a very nice wood workin' fool. He believes we will be able to pull it off no problem.
 
To the OP:
Did some research on the original 612 cabinet yesterday dating back to the 1950s (which is the era your speakers are from). It was smaller in Depth at 17 3/4 inches then the 70s version. Making the interior volume 6 cubic feet. Before subtracting for the bracing and speaker volume. Speaker volume being about .25 CF.
 
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