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Altec Lansing 605A Duplex speakers in A20 Cabinet

M

mguess

New Member
Hi all
I'm new to Audiokarma and looking for help. I recently acquired a pair of Altec Lansing 605A speakers mounted in a cabinet labeled A20. Does anyone have any information on these? They have four mounting holes with internal brackets on one side of the cabinets. Here is a link to a video on the speakers.
 

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Dswankey said:
Welcome to AK!!!

What kinda help and information are you looking for in addition to what you've explained in your video?

A very good amount of info on the web too

I found this via a simple search using "Altec Lansing 605A"

https://greatplainsaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/601C.602C.605A.1.pdf
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I should have been more specific about the help that I need. I'm familiar with the Altec 604/605 speakers but I haven't been able to identify or get any history on the cabinets. After discovering the mounting holes I assumed they were pro cabinets possibly used in some kind of smallish venue. They sure sound great in my basement listening room. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with these cabinets. The only label that I have found is the A20 tag on the back of one of the cabinets.
 
They look like 606 cabinets, probably a custom build for the installation they were used for. You could check the measurements against plans for the 606.

On the Bay there's an example of the 606 that is described as "early" which looks similar but not identical, but also has wall-mounting.
 
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Selmerdave said:
They look like 606 cabinets, probably a custom build for the installation they were used for. You could check the measurements against plans for the 606.

On the Bay there's an example of the 606 that is described as "early" which looks similar but not identical, but also has wall-mounting.
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They do look like 606 cabinets but taller, 40 inches vs 34 inches. They also have two vent openings rather than one.
 
mguess said:
They do look like 606 cabinets but taller, 40 inches vs 34 inches. They also have two vent openings rather than one.
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Are they 27½" along the flat sides? That would match the dimensions of the 820, and maybe the "A" you see in the model is really an "8"? Unusual with the two ports and likely a custom job but if the dimensions match it could be an 820 build.
 
Selmerdave said:
Are they 27½" along the flat sides? That would match the dimensions of the 820, and maybe the "A" you see in the model is really an "8"? Unusual with the two ports and likely a custom job but if the dimensions match it could be an 820 build.
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They are odd shaped five sided cabinets. Here are the dimensions starting with the front (baffle) side and going around counter clockwise. front side 24", 12 ", 28", 24" mounting hole side, 7". The baffle measures 21" x 37". The cabinets are 40" tall.
 
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That does not match the 820 then, so I would assume they are custom cabinets inspired by the 820/606-style. You have yourself a beautiful set of speakers, welcome and congrats!
 
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A20 Tag.jpg
Selmerdave said:
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That does not match the 820 then, so I would assume they are custom cabinets inspired by the 820/606-style. You have yourself a beautiful set of speakers, welcome and congrats!
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Custom cabinets? That would explain why I couldn't find another pair for sale on eBay. Thanks for all the help. I do feel fortunate to have acquired these speakers. They sound amazing. I picked these up at an estate sale. The gentleman who passed away was an audio professional in the area. Based on the amount of dust on the 605A speakers, they must have been in his living room for several decades.
 
OP's cabinets are not an Altec product, and they ring like a drum head when he taps various panels suggesting that no soul with seasoned speaker construction experience was present for the build.

Those were never commercially installed in a theater. Likely the pet project of a serious audio enthusiast. 605 is not performing optimally in them. Minimally, the ringing panels need to be braced and damped.

The concept is fantastic, they're a very handsome corner cabinet faithful to the style of the period.

Altec didn't make an "820 cabinet"

820 refers to a system of components which the 821 cabinet was part of.

The "A20" tag is some kind of inventory control for a moving/storage company.
 
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Hmm, I thought the 821 was the 47" high cabinet with twin vertically-mounted front-loaded 515s?

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Edit: I see now that the one with the side-by-side 12" is not an 820, but curious what that one is.
 
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Side by side 15's under a 511 horn.

Same cabinet as shown in the 1974 enclosure manual less the MCM legs.

Altec 830A Laguna.

sawyjoupr8ulqaou7wby.jpg
 
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