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Altec N801-8A Identification help

pantoramasan

pantoramasan

AK Subscriber
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I recently purchased these Altec Networks off the big auction site for a project.

Does Anyone have an Idea what improvements if any were made by replacing these components in the N801-8A Crossover network? And is this something that its common? Any information would be appreciated.
 

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pantoramasan said:
I recently purchased these Altec Networks off the big auction site for a project.

Does Anyone have an Idea what improvements if any were made by replacing these components in the N801-8A Crossover network? And is this something that its common? Any information would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
You’re Lucky here! He obviously bought new Coils and Caps,
Finished one and lost interest.

If I were you I would try them both out amp in Left and Right Speakers ! And compare them!
You should know that they are 800 cps 8 ohm Xovers
If you hear the modded one sounds better, just install the original one the same way. If it doesn’t you can bring them back to stock
 
Yeah, Thanks for that. I am aware they are 800khz 8ohm. I was wondering if what he did may have changed that or not. But I guess I could try them out in the Altec Santiago speakers and see how they sound.
 
pantoramasan said:
Yeah, Thanks for that. I am aware they are 800khz 8ohm. I was wondering if what he did may have changed that or not. But I guess I could try them out in the Altec Santiago speakers and see how they sound.
Click to expand...
If you do you will blow the Paper Tweeters
They can’t take 800 cps
Those Xover are made for Horns 811’s or 511’s usually and the stronger voice coils .
 
Air coils are not supposed to have saturation issues that coils with iron center might have. Depending on the speaker quality you can hear the differences between capacitors of the same value depending on the properties of the capacitor. Ceramic, Mylar, oil, etc etc. Some caps have a higher DCR which will attenuate the signal and rob power from the driver. , Same goes for coils with air coils usually being better. Any DC resistance in a coil allows the woofer to be less controlled by the amp and is one major reason people like to bi-amp Altec speakers.
 
twiiii said:
Air coils are not supposed to have saturation issues that coils with iron center might have. Depending on the speaker quality you can hear the differences between capacitors of the same value depending on the properties of the capacitor. Ceramic, Mylar, oil, etc etc. Some caps have a higher DCR which will attenuate the signal and rob power from the driver. , Same goes for coils with air coils usually being better. Any DC resistance in a coil allows the woofer to be less controlled by the amp and is one major reason people like to bi-amp Altec speakers.
Click to expand...
Yes
everything in a Xover Caps and coils has it’s own sound.
5 different brand caps different configurations n materials even with the same values will all
Sound different! Same with coils and inductors!
Ask any big name speaker designer!
They spend countless Hours listening!
Then comparing them!
Even if following a chart and in theory design
It. The final version might be different.
A big Co like Klipsch has Hundreds of different
Components to try to voice them correctly.
Who can compete? When trying to design a Xover? An adjustable Electronic Xover is the only way!
Jmho
Bobhorn
 
twiiii said:
Air coils are not supposed to have saturation issues that coils with iron center might have. Depending on the speaker quality you can hear the differences between capacitors of the same value depending on the properties of the capacitor. Ceramic, Mylar, oil, etc etc. Some caps have a higher DCR which will attenuate the signal and rob power from the driver. , Same goes for coils with air coils usually being better. Any DC resistance in a coil allows the woofer to be less controlled by the amp and is one major reason people like to bi-amp Altec speakers.
Click to expand...

Nyjblbob said:
Yes
everything in a Xover Caps and coils has it’s own sound.
5 different brand caps different configurations n materials even with the same values will all
Sound different! Same with coils and inductors!
Ask any big name speaker designer!
They spend countless Hours listening!
Then comparing them!
Even if following a chart and in theory design
It. The final version might be different.
A big Co like Klipsch has Hundreds of different
Components to try to voice them correctly.
Who can compete? When trying to design a Xover? An adjustable Electronic Xover is the only way!
Jmho
Bobhorn
Click to expand...

Thank you both for the explanation.
 
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