Altec Model 9 - Refoaming

[doctorolds]

Thanks for sharing the info on your Model 9's. For some reason the bookshelf speakers that Altec produced in the 70's do not get to much love or attention. I picked up a pair of Model 7 Series II's at the end of last year but I have not had the time to begin their restoration or even listen to them. I am glad to hear that you are enjoying yours and decided to hang on to them for a while longer, even though you have the JBL 4311's. My 7's can be seen in the following thread, but I did not receive very good thoughts about them from other member posts.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=633294

Here are some links for some information on your Model 9's.

http://audio-database.com/ALTEC/speaker/model9-e.html
http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/altec/catalogs/1978-home/page04.jpg

 

[GordonW]

Those white caps used to be glued to the back of the midrange magnets.

Yep!

I've run into situations with Altec 9s, which were not that fortunate, in that the original caps were gone. I've had to take dust caps and glue to the back of the midrange magnets, to duplicate the function of that original cap. It's important that those caps be there to seal the rear of the midranges, in order to prevent air pressure inside the cabinet, from the woofer movement, from moving the midrange cone and modulating the sound from the midrange.

Regards,
Gordon.

 

[62caddy]

Thanks for sharing the info on your Model 9's. For some reason the Altec's from the later part of the 70's do not get to much love or attention.

I think interest in Altec falls more along the lines of whether being a horn type model, rather than era.

Model 14, 15, 18 and 19 all have a strong following and all were manufactured in the late '70s and beyond.

Thanks.

 

[doctorolds]

I think interest in Altec falls more along the lines of whether being a horn type model, rather than era.

Model 14, 15, 18 and 19 all have a strong following and all were manufactured in the late '70s and beyond.

Thanks.

Agreed, I used the wrong choice of words. The models 9 and below were referred to as bookshelf and the others were called floor-standing and professional in the catalogs.

 

[Bubo]

Nice work, thanks for posting it!

 

[corpblues]

Yep!

I've run into situations with Altec 9s, which were not that fortunate, in that the original caps were gone. I've had to take dust caps and glue to the back of the midrange magnets, to duplicate the function of that original cap. It's important that those caps be there to seal the rear of the midranges, in order to prevent air pressure inside the cabinet, from the woofer movement, from moving the midrange cone and modulating the sound from the midrange.

Regards,
Gordon.

Without AK advice I would have thrown the caps away. I only found them as I heard something rattling in the speaker when I carried them. As always AK provides great advice.

Perhaps missing midrange caps partially explains lack of proper love for the model 9's. They do sound more clear with the caps properly glued back on. I would assume that unless they have been glued back on they have fallen off due brittle glue due to age like mine had.

I do find it humorous that the Altec Model 9's are called bookshelf speakers. I've never seen a book that big in my life.

I am needing a bigger music room. Currently loving my Altec Model 9, JBL 4311, OLA and a pair of modern by comparison Klipsch RF-5. Each sound different but I'm enjoying them all. All keepers in my opinion.

 

[rromeo]

I recently acquired a pair of these and am working on refurbing the cabs and refoaming the woofers and mids.This thread has been helpful. Question when you refoamed these did you glue the new foam for woofers on top or under the cone?

 

[corpblues]

I do not remember. I bought the proper kit and refoamed the identical to how they were originally. Sorry I don't recall off top of my head.

 

[A4a]

Good thread, I picked up a pair of Altec nines (series 1) a few years ago that needed re-foaming. I had never done re-foaming before, my ESS AMT 1B speakers needed re-foaming but i was scared to use them for my first re-foaming attempt. As I scored the Altecs for only $20 they seemed like they would be good to experiment on. It turned out that it was really pretty easy to do. Bring these speakers back to life has been a thrill and with new foam on the original covers now they look a lot less obtrusive in the living room. I've thought of selling them a few times but just can't bring myself to part with them. They really are big beasts but are a great rock speaker as others have said....... like chest thumping good. At 55 lbs each you better have a pretty sturdy bookshelf for then, lol. I've since re-foamed my ESS speakers as well,I really like my vintage audio equipment.

Re-foaming speakers my seem a little daunting at firts but is really pretty easy. When refoaming my ESS speakers I found the old glue used was water soluble
, I literally only needed a damp cloth to prepare the surfaces after rubbing the old foam off (comes off easy cuz its all disintegrating)

 

[tjohnusa]

I sold audio in the late 70's and loved the model 9's. In my opinion the 9's Ohm C2, and L100 were the top "bookshelf" type speakers around. Some of the comments on those model 7's are most likely from folks that have never heard them or the 9's I currently have a set of JBL L112 and would maybe trade for a nice set of original 9's.