Altec Valencia 846A And Console Values

WildWilly83

WildWilly83

New Member
Hello
Finally decided to post here. Longtime audiophile and this site has been so useful over the many years. I have recently landed a pair of 846A speakers and correct matching Valencia console. This was all one owner family system. Console is loaded with mid grade components. Kenwood KR-4070 receiver, Aiwa AD-6300 tape deck and a Dual 1218 table. I've gone through the Kenwood and the turntable. Tape deck needs more than I'm looking to mess with. Cabinetry is in amazing shape on speakers and console. Grilles of course need to be replaced and found the seller on E-Bay that offers them, can't beat his pricing. Contemplating the grille situation. One grille has few large chunks missing, other is presentable but cracked here and there. Other finding is, they have the 12" 414A drivers in them. Albeit period correct, was a bummer to find they were 12's and not 416Z 15's. Correct horns though. No high freq adjust pot either. My guess is original owner got some sort of deal on them from dealer without the 416 drivers and opted for the 414's. Crossovers are the N-800-D units. Sound unbelievable however and I am happy with them. The Kenwood is fully operational now as is the turntable of which sounds awesome with the Shure M91E in it.

So this leads me to the question of values. I've seen the 846A's go for crazy money here and there. However, have yet to find any past sales anywhere as a complete setup with the correct console piece. I do plan to sell but looking for direction on how and where to market and what this setup might be worth. Kinda have a number in mind but wanted to get some input. Hopefully my load of pictures are acceptable.

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Valencias have 15 inch woofers. (Mine do).
No 15s? Then they are not Valencias.
 
While not cost effective for maximizing your return
You could sell the 12’” 16 ohm 414a’s and search out a pair of more
expensive 16 ohm 416’s,
Then they would be correct 846a Valencia’s
 
WildWilly83 said:
Crossovers are the N-800-D units.
Click to expand...
Correct crossover is N-800-F. Attenuator pot is built into the network, the shaft protrudes through the housing.

WildWilly83 said:
My guess is original owner got some sort of deal on them from dealer without the 416 drivers and opted for the 414's.
Click to expand...
Missing original crossovers, woofers, horn mounting brackets, etc.. There's more to the story that we'll likely never know.

Do the cabinets have the correct back panels and paper labels?

The cabinets were available unloaded from the factory. Sadly, there's been too much done to these to even determine if they're early enough to be Iconic, or just later 846A.
 
Thanks for the replies and opinions. Cabinets in fact have the Iconic labels on the horn clearance plate and the 846A labels as well. My best guess is original owner purchased without drivers or empty entirely. They do have the correct horns as stated but yes, lacking oem style horn bracket. I've included pictures of the crossovers as well. In more thinking, perhaps previous owner bought the cabinets at a minimum with the horns. Then grabbed the 414 drivers and the crossovers. We'll never know but definitely was a diy kinda deal I think . There are a few singles and pairs of 416Z's on ebay currently. The pair that's available auction ends Saturday and they'll be pricey as they're at $475 now I think. Also just ran across pair of N800F's as well at $200 on ebay. If I were planning on keeping this package, sure.........I'd invest in correct woofers, crossovers/attenuating pots combo and new grilles. What I am trying to determine is rarity of the console and speakers even with fact speakers are not entirely correct. If this is of no value to a collector or noses will be turned up at the non correct drivers etc, probably easier to keep in my collection. The entire package currently is the best sounding setup in my collection. Since it has been up and running, it's the only system that is on daily.

So, looks like two options. Search out all the correct pieces and parts for the speakers to make 100% original. Or, figure out a fair value in order to market properly and make a bit of return on investment.
 

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Kinda figured these were at one point, proper 846A's from factory. I believe the HF drivers are 806A's. Yes......had noted early on in project that 416A would be correct woofer. They bring big money, couple on ebay now at $475-$500 a piece. Far as the equipment cabinet, I've yet to find one anywhere in past sales. Did see that one in Minneapolis though :)
 
WildWilly83 said:
Far as the equipment cabinet, I've yet to find one anywhere in past sales.
Click to expand...
They're uncommon for sure. Somebody will pop up here at AK with one maybe every year or two. We probably discuss 10 -20 pairs of Valencia in that span of time.

I think the most recently discussed cabinet here was the one that matches the Flamenco cabinets.
 
I'm looking at a pair of empty 846A cabs. currently FS on C-L. No woofs,horns,drivers,or grilles. He does have the orig.Xovers though. I just scored
a nice pair of 511B's and I have a fresh pair of JBL 2226H's. I think I'm going to end up with a pretty decent pair of VOTT type speakers on the very
cheap. So far I've got about $225.00 into the horns ,drivers, and JBL's. About another $200.00 and I'll have the missing pieces of the VOTT puzzle...
I have one ALTEC 421A, With shipping Etc.,It would take 4-5 hundred to get another one so I'll be selling the one I have(like new). I'm told the JBL's
will work great...Stay tuned... Wild willy has a beautiful trio,nice score!
 
I think if your plan is to sell I would part all components out of speakers other than horns. Then sell cabinet and speakers as a set.
 
YTthedrummer said:
I'm looking at a pair of empty 846A cabs. currently FS on C-L. No woofs,horns,drivers,or grilles. He does have the orig.Xovers though. I just scored
a nice pair of 511B's and I have a fresh pair of JBL 2226H's. I think I'm going to end up with a pretty decent pair of VOTT type speakers on the very
cheap. So far I've got about $225.00 into the horns ,drivers, and JBL's. About another $200.00 and I'll have the missing pieces of the VOTT puzzle...
I have one ALTEC 421A, With shipping Etc.,It would take 4-5 hundred to get another one so I'll be selling the one I have(like new). I'm told the JBL's
will work great...Stay tuned... Wild willy has a beautiful trio,nice score!
Click to expand...
I would sell the 421a and use the 2226 for sure. Usually a 421a is under $250 including shipping though.

Make a thread about it in the Lansing heritage forum when you get all your parts together for the build.



I wonder whatever happened to wildwilly83 and his speakers. He hasn’t been seen since ‘21.

I bet those 414 sounded pretty good in 846 cabs. Maybe even better than the 416, since the volume of an 846 cab is about what a 414 wants.

I’m a 414 fanboy though :banana:
 
Way too late for a response, but you never know what you might find in Valencia cabinets. Bought an early pair that came from the factory with 515Bs, which sent me on a quest for A-7 cabinets and 511B horns. Now I just need decent drivers for the horns.
 
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