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Altec Lansing Flamenco 848 vs Valencia 846a

michigannick

michigannick

Well-Known Member
I was poking around ebay and started to notice that the Valencia 846a seems to sell more easier than, and for much more money than, the Flamenco's. I was under the impression these were essentially the same speaker? What am i missing ?
 
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michigannick said:
I was poking around ebay and started to notice that the Valencia 846a seems to sell more easier than, and for much more money than, the Flamenco's. I was under the impression these were essentially the same speaker? What am i missing ?
Click to expand...

The components are the same, it's the cabinet decor that is different. I would agree that there seems to be more Valencia's in the world than Flamenco's, but I wasn't aware of any difference in price. I attribute that to the rather outspoken appearance of the Flamenco, I'm sure they're a love or hate item. In my home, I love 'em, my wife hates them (which is why they are relegated to a media room where home decor takes second stage to video/audio and musical instruments LOL). As a long time Flamenco owner, my impression has always been that they were comparable in price to the Valencia, with overall condition being the deciding factor.
 
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Flamenco and Milano sold at a premium, there was more cabinet and mill work involved in their construction, and they were made for a much shorter span of time than the 846A. 846A was the base model.

If i had to hazard a guess i'd say 846A production exceeded production of both 848A and 871A by a factor of 10

April 1965 studio net price list has the 846A at $333.00 ea.
 
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I am struggling to decide what i want to do .. i don't keep speakers .. i am just one of them guys ..if Speakers were women, there would be a line with pitch forks, thankfully i am FAR less fickle with my taste in people than in speakers. That said;

I have a set of Flamencos that I do not know much about (see driver pictures attached) The bake lite grills are in perfect condition, there appears to be no badges i see in pictures very few have them) they were factory built as indicted by the non pretty magnet covers, the varnish is awful now but they are basically scratch gouge free they WILL turn out amazing! with a few hours of stripping time and a refinish, the grille cloth is gone (the orange stuff) but the Bakelite ornate stuff is mint.

As for the guts If i am reading it correctly these are 1970 drivers? but still 16 ohm which i thought they had gotten away from by then? I am not sure if that is good or bad. I am so new to Altec


I was considering is it that they are so love or hate it that is the issue, or is it that people know to go searching for Valencia but not for the others and have no clue they even exist as pointed out these are kind of rare.
 

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Yes, you;re reading correctly, 1970 23rd week. Summertime!

They probably made 8 and 16 ohm versions of the Valencia concurrently for at least a year or two, and i think 806 production ran right up to the end of alnico.

Raw drivers would continue to be available in 8 or 16 ohm version right up to the end of Altec and the best established drivers are still produced new in 8 and 16 ohm versions by Great Plains Audio today.
 
michigannick, hook those speakers up to a tube amp! Than will you meet a woman that cooks, cleans and is at your bidding, beautiful and faithful as well.
There keepers man, enjoy them.

BillWojo
 
I'm a JBL guy but I came across some unidentified Iconic Flamencos without grills for 50 bucks at a yard sale and set them up for my elderly folks at their place. I have to admit they sound so clear and present they made my mom cry listening to Alison Kraus. I found some perfect grills for 200 bucks and now have a set of 250. awesome speakers. I can see why they called them Voice of the Theater. Don't tell my L-300's.
 
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Welcome Gregg looks like some 075s? in your pictures? when you re-grilled them what color fabric did you use .. i have perfect Bakelite grills but that orange was cut out and from the little edges i can still see it was an awful orange i was considering a linen colored grill for them it seems they would really pop and sharpen the look
 
Hi,

Shaansloan ( over at LHF ) remade his Altec Corona grills with a beautiful off-white fabric bought from these people;

shaansloan said:
Here is where I got it ..... Mill Outlet Fabrics
2906 North Prospect Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
(719) 632-6296
sales@milloutletfabric.com

I did it all through email and phones calls. I sent them pics and they sent some samples I I ordered the one I thought was best...
Click to expand...

( Click the pic for the link to the LHF thread )

Corona19_zps5620c731.jpg

Corona18_zpsb35f4598.jpg


:)
 
Yep, don't like that wrought-iron "spanish style" finish - then again,
my Heathkit versions of the Valencias have their own kind of style as well.
(The pattern is made into the grill cloth!)
Then again I hated the faux Morroccan faded pecan wood treatment as well ... badly dated!

Heaths-fr_5863.jpg
 
Pretty cool, i am on to a pair of heathkits i should get here over the weekend.

as for the look ... if i do them myself i would go with the look if the white linen
EarlK has the right look nice dark cabs fresh finish and light grills with the wraught iron look out front would be a lot less offensive than the orangeish
 
I love the look of the Heathkit AS101 grill cloth much better than the Spanish inspired grills on the Altecs. Every time I look at mine I just smile.

BillWojo
 
Gregg Payne said:
I'm a JBL guy but I came across some unidentified Iconic Flamencos without grills for 50 bucks at a yard sale and set them up for my elderly folks at their place. I have to admit they sound so clear and present they made my mom cry listening to Alison Kraus. I found some perfect grills for 200 bucks and now have a set of 250. awesome speakers. I can see why they called them Voice of the Theater. Don't tell my L-300's.
Click to expand...
Do you really have L-300's? By any chance have you done an A/B comparison with the same amp?
If not, are there any general observations that you can make comparing the two? I've always felt if there are set of speakers that would cause me to swap, it would potentially be the L-300.
 
I haven't done A-B comparisons since they are in different properties. My take is the Flamencos sound perfect, clear and real and plenty loud with a lower power amp like my old SX-850 Pioneer. My L300's will blow me out of the house with whack me upside the head mids and crispy highs combined with knock me off the chair bass, when hooked up to my SX-1980 Pioneer. The closest thing so far to dancing up front, too close to the stage at the concert. The L300's are my all time favorites. Proof that money can buy happiness.
 
Hey all, I have been interested in purchasing a pair of Altec Valencias, since I have an Art Audio PX25 SET amp that I love. I found several pair of Valencias for sale, but note some distinct differences (not just in price). The most expensive pair ($3,800) has no ports on front or back. The next most expensive ($1,600) has a set of round ports, one on each side of the front cabinet just below the horn. The least expensive ($1,200) has a set of square ports, on each side of the cabinet below the woofers. Does anyone know what any of that means regarding the Valencias themselves? I understand in general terms the difference between sealed box speakers (which one pair seems to be) and "bass reflex" ported speakers, which the other two seem to be, but wondered why the same model of speaker (Altec Valencia) would be offered in these different versions? I've read a bit about them (mostly from Art Dudley), mostly about differences in make of drivers, but don't remember anyone mentioning the difference in ports or no ports. Any insight?
 
Welcome Rush, You probably came to the right place, but i am not the right guy to answer your question, but wanted to give you a welcome. Where are you located? as for the differences My impression was they were all ported, are you sure on the most expensive pair that there are not ports with foam filling to each side of the horns?
 
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