altec/university speakers 260lbs each need opinions fast

[Jcricket]

I found these on the local CL. I am quite interested. The guy doesn't know a lot about them though.

This is what his ad says "ALTEC/UNIVERSITY - COMMERCIAL/STUDIO SPEAKERS, HORN MIDS&TWEETERS,20"DUAL CONE BASS SPEAKER, ALL DRIVERS ARE NEW. SUPER EFFICIENT BUT WILL TAKE UP TO 500 WATTS. PHENOMENAL SOUND, MUST HEAR THEM TO APPRECIATE THEM. I WILL HAVE THEM HOOKED UP THIS WEEKEND TO DEMO. I AM AN AUDIOPHILE AND HAD THEM IN MY HOUSE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT THEY ARE QUITE LARGE AND WEIGH ABOUT 260 LBS (each)."

Can anyone identifiy these/opinions. This is a copy of his photo from the ad.

 

[badbadbad]

For 400 bucks you better give John a call and go get them!

 

[Jcricket]

You local?
I just talked with john. I am little torn. These came out of a night club. He had the drivers professionally rebuilt 12 years ago by a local guy. The cabinets are a bit rough but they supposedly sound great.

hmm.............

 

[Axcel]

get em

 

[Axcel]

better pic?

 

[sheltie dave]

I would reserve judgement until you hear them.

They will NOT be super efficient AND handle up to 500 watts except in very rare conditions - and that type of sound reinforcement speaker is not a home stereo setup. Your KHorns will sound better.

 

[Jcricket]

Thanks for the input. I suspected the same on the sensitivity. I doubt they would even compare on that level with my khorns - and that is important to me. I am looking for a nice set of altec or other horn driven(mids/tweets) speaker with a high efficiency for my tube amps. I have fortes and they are nice, but they lack the richenss and fullness of the Khorns.

Any suggestions???

 

[Goodwill_HiFi]

.....20"DUAL CONE BASS SPEAKER

Huh? 20".... not likely.

ALL DRIVERS ARE NEW

You need to find out what this means! If they've been replaced with elcheapo's you're basincally buying cabinets and the Cobreflex horns.

SUPER EFFICIENT BUT WILL TAKE UP TO 500 WATTS

Nothing that vintage will take 500 watts......this suggests the woofers have been replaced......not good.

Can anyone identifiy these.....

They're a University folded horn with a Cobreflex used as mids ( I think) and I'm not sure what it's got for tweeters.

 

[theebadone]

nice find, if you buy them, you are gonna be doing a lot of modification to make them sound decent in your home. but well worth it. i say GET EM

 

[Jcricket]

Goodwill - some very good points.
I talked with the owner extensively. He really means well, but doesn't really know much about speakers. He paid a guy to "rebuild these" 12 years ago. He is regurgitating what he remembers. He specifically stated that he had all new diaphrams in the horns and hasn't used them in a couple of years.

If I were to do this, not only would I listen to them, but I would open them up and look see what is there first. I think these are not what I am looking for so I am going to pass. I think his price is right, but really these are more pro audio band speakers.

 

[similost]

I'd still at least give them a listen.. you just never know.. I gotta wonder about those 20" drivers too... Seems I remember not too long ago seeing someone that made a 20" driver, but these boxes don't look big enough to house them. HOWEVER, if they truly are a 20" I think I'd have to pop for them just for the rarity..