Myers9090db
Member
The back story:
Since I was a kid I can remember thinking that Altec was the be all-end all in speakers.
My Dad had a pair of Model 7 series 1’s paired with a Sansui 9090db. My grandparents had a pair of Model 9’s paired with a Yamaha CR-1020.
I remember as a kid thinking both setups sounded fantastic, and later in life Altec became my go to brand.
Fast forward a few years and I was given the 7’s that were in rough condition and not worth repairing to an original state, they ended up with replacement drivers that sounded ok at best.
Years later I purchased a pair of Model 14’s and wow are they fantastic speakers.
A few years after that I acquired a pair of Altec Capistrano speakers in excellent condition that have a big live sound. The Model 14’s have better top end and the bass is capable of going lower. Overall They sound better.
Since then I was given the pair of Model 9’s by my grandparents. They were always kept indoors and in very good condition. I had the mids reconed, reconed the woofers myself. I recapped the crossovers and they sound great, but not as good as the 14’s.
After the Model 9’s I found a pair of Pioneer HPM-100’s at Goodwill for $20 that needed very little work to get back to working order. They sounded pretty darn good, I would put them on par with the Model 9’s.
Recently I completely rebuilt a pair of ESS towers. New diaphragms in the heils reconed active and passive 12” woofers. They sound great, but the passive woofer leaves alot to be desired and the heil isn’t as clean sounding as the horn on the Model 14. The 14’s are better.
Anyway,
Getting down to it:
I have tried to best the 14’s over and again. They always end up finding my way back to them.
The next step to me is I need to find a pair of Altec 19’s, but will I be disappointed or will they officially replace them? Do they have what it takes? The size is of no consequence, the sound is what matters. I’m looking for stronger bass able to reach a little deeper than the 14’s, but just as capable in the upper frequencies. Does that sound like an unreasonable task? Are they up to it?
Anyone out there that has had both the Model 14 and the Model 19 or at least had the opportunity to compare them with scrutinizing ears?
I would love to hear any opinions on the subject, as well as the discussion about variation of the drivers used in the production of the 19’s, I’m referring to the 416-8b vs c vs z and the 802 alnico with radial plug vs 902 ferrite driver with the tangerine plug
Since I was a kid I can remember thinking that Altec was the be all-end all in speakers.
My Dad had a pair of Model 7 series 1’s paired with a Sansui 9090db. My grandparents had a pair of Model 9’s paired with a Yamaha CR-1020.
I remember as a kid thinking both setups sounded fantastic, and later in life Altec became my go to brand.
Fast forward a few years and I was given the 7’s that were in rough condition and not worth repairing to an original state, they ended up with replacement drivers that sounded ok at best.
Years later I purchased a pair of Model 14’s and wow are they fantastic speakers.
A few years after that I acquired a pair of Altec Capistrano speakers in excellent condition that have a big live sound. The Model 14’s have better top end and the bass is capable of going lower. Overall They sound better.
Since then I was given the pair of Model 9’s by my grandparents. They were always kept indoors and in very good condition. I had the mids reconed, reconed the woofers myself. I recapped the crossovers and they sound great, but not as good as the 14’s.
After the Model 9’s I found a pair of Pioneer HPM-100’s at Goodwill for $20 that needed very little work to get back to working order. They sounded pretty darn good, I would put them on par with the Model 9’s.
Recently I completely rebuilt a pair of ESS towers. New diaphragms in the heils reconed active and passive 12” woofers. They sound great, but the passive woofer leaves alot to be desired and the heil isn’t as clean sounding as the horn on the Model 14. The 14’s are better.
Anyway,
Getting down to it:
I have tried to best the 14’s over and again. They always end up finding my way back to them.
The next step to me is I need to find a pair of Altec 19’s, but will I be disappointed or will they officially replace them? Do they have what it takes? The size is of no consequence, the sound is what matters. I’m looking for stronger bass able to reach a little deeper than the 14’s, but just as capable in the upper frequencies. Does that sound like an unreasonable task? Are they up to it?
Anyone out there that has had both the Model 14 and the Model 19 or at least had the opportunity to compare them with scrutinizing ears?
I would love to hear any opinions on the subject, as well as the discussion about variation of the drivers used in the production of the 19’s, I’m referring to the 416-8b vs c vs z and the 802 alnico with radial plug vs 902 ferrite driver with the tangerine plug
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