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Altec votts

You could have sprayed the highlights, but I recently did between 1000 and 2000 square feet of wooden table tops with a foam roller and matte black "rustoleum". Came out looking pretty good, before the tables went back into usage. Sure couldn't have sprayed them.
 
A7 Project

I used latex semi-gloss on mine. I tried to match the original color as close as possible. I just used a brush as I wanted to preserve the original decals. Anyway I am more interested in the sound than looks. My A7's have been very abused so, plenty of wood filler was needed. They have turned out actually better than expected. I had to use spray shellac in the bottom as it once was used by a cat for a home and cat pee is not a good thing for A7's.

I am interested in what to use for sound insulation inside the cabinet. It would seem audio grade fiberglass is not as available as the pink stuff.

I am also concerned about the size of the port. I understand the original port size sacrificed low bass for mid base due to the fact that these cabinets were to be used in movie theaters. Vocal frequencies were the main concern. To lower the bass for music in hifi the port size needs to be reduced. The size varies according to room acoustics and personal preference. All this is very confusing. Looking at the sides where the baffles were mounted I can see where many screws were used over time as the baffle boards were changed.

I would like to hear some opinions before I start cutting baffles.
Thanks,
Marvin
 
The port on my A7's were reduced from 200 square inches, to 100 square inches. In other words halved. I've read other places on the web that cutting the port size in half is pretty much the norm for the people that have made this modification.

Other alterations to my boxes:

They were completely disassembled, then re-assembled using glue and screws. The backs of the horns were sealed off, and all spaces inside the horns sealed. (caulked around the edges.) A second layer of 5/8" ply was added to the bottom inside the cab. The sides were braced inside with 2x4's. The back door was braced with 2x4's...

My boxes are stupid heavy compared to a stock box, and when I add some volume, they have a lot more bass than the non modified box I used to have.. but that one also had a different driver, but you can tell the differences...
 
What I have seen done is an adjustable port scheme. Basicly what was done is a sturdy board the width of the port opening has slots cut on each end. Screw in studs were put into the port opening ends, so the board with the slots cur at each end would cover the port and be adjustable up and down so the port area would become variable as well. It worked pretty good.

The screw in studs had wood screw at on end ( to go into the port opening wood) and normal threads on the other end where you can put a wing nut on them.
DC
 
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I've seen that done too dc... and if mine weren't solid boards already, I would probably have gone that route. I could still do that, but it would be more work that I care to mess with..
 
I tried getting as close to original color as i could, (theatre grey). I used enamel for better clean-up, and i think it hides a lot of stuff too. As for insulation, i was told the pink stuff will do fine, just staple the crap out of it. I insulated the bottom, sides, and top, with the pink stuff.I could not even imagine reducing the size of the port, that would be a project all by itself. Question for simi : you said people use foam and sand to fill the sides of the port, isn't that space needed when that 515 unloads ? I have been wondering that since the start. As far as base goes i think the 515B has plenty just like it is, or maybe its just (my) ears. One more thing, does it matter if you (hard wire) the components, or will speaker wire be ok ? Im not tryin to pat myself on the back, but these things turned out pretty nice, and i had no idea that they could get this loud, I think they sound better than my santiagos, and i love them things. Thanks again everybody :music: Now its time to enjoy them.
 
I'm not real sure about the 515, and closing off the backs of the horn area. Bowtie would be best to answer that. I know from all I've read that with the 416 it does help a lot with added bass extension. I do know to that if you work on lowering the extension for the 515, it will effect the mid range of them. As to how much, I'm not real sure since I really don't have any experience with the 515.

Hopefully Bowtie will be around soon again and can answer that question for you.
 
I liked the flexability aspect where one could custom tune the port- just depends on how flexable you want/ need to be.

I like the sound stage from a VOT- but decided to go with 19's for more conventional function and sound. I seriously doubt there is any such thing as a poor sounding large Altec product.

I am truly saddended this once great speaker company is no more. They made such an impact and contribution on premium sound one would think they should have lasted forever....alas not. At least EV, JBL and a few others are around to carry the torch that shines so brightly on our hobby. It is my intent to keep the ALtec sound alive and well for as long as I can work on them. Not only were they great- they still are great for a very long time to come!
DC
 
It is my intent to keep the ALtec sound alive and well for as long as I can work on them. Not only were they great- they still are great for a very long time to come!
DC
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Amen, DC! After living with the 14s for 12 months and the homemade 612s for just a couple of months, I get the warm-fuzzies just looking at nice examples of all the components...:thmbsp:
 
Yeah.. this is really starting to make me want to get mine done in the cherry, especially after seeing Toms speakers.. damn are those pretty...
 
Thanks everyone, And i couldnt agree more simi, what a great product they made. And i will be doin my best, for as long as i can, to preserve a fantastic piece of our audio history. I have a real problem seeing these bought up, to be shipped over-seas Sometimes money isn't everything. Let them listen to their own (junk), and stop tryin to buy ours up. If it keeps goin at the rate it is, none of us will be able to afford anything altec, except the wealthy.
 
Isn't great to be part of a group of a few who really know what a great speaker these onece were and to carry on that mantle of greatness. There are a lot of truly fine speakers out there but nothing like these big ALtecs and their sound is found anywhere else but in them. Just to have a pair of these and bring them back to life is quite something of an honor and show of respect. These are the American roots of big high quality sound developed & pioneered by the once great company of Altec. To have a pair is trully remarable history and fine sound.

Time and progress may have pushed this once great name to the sideline- but so long as there are people like us around that remember, rever and restoree them, then the sound gets to live on as the Maestro of Music!
DC
 
Yeh.. well I wanna help the old JBL name live on too.. but damn it.. you get people like powerman that buys up all the good stuff, and people like me can't find that... It seems to be easier to get your hands on Altec than it is the good old JBL stuff..
 
I know the feeling, i just missed a pair of JBL C-56 DORIANS for under 50, guess where they went......... over-seas :tears:
 
Yeah.. that too gets my goat.. people selling with only the biggest dollars in mind.. the hell with any history... I've been looking for a Motiograph amp for almost two years now, and can't seem to score one, because every time they come up for sale, it seems someone in Korea or Japan has a hell of a lot more money than I do... I'm willing to pay a pretty penny.. but damn.. not twice it's value just so I can say I have it..
 
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