Altecs, which would you choose, and why?

[seanrr]

I have 604C duplexes in big old vintage mahogany cabinets, but I didn't really hear their beauty come to fruition until I drove them with a 3.5 wpc 2A3 SET amp. This was actually the first amp to bring their bass out - but I do have them in a fairly small listening space. This thread has me curious about the Altecs with multiple drivers though.

 

[hotroady]

I'm just going to go with the Model 19's. Once I heard a pair, I had to have them! As luck would have it, I"m getting a pair!

Heard about them..heard them..got them. :thmbsp:

 

[bowtie427ss]

Putting a 414 kit with a heavy cap in a 417 sounds like a decent idea, but IMO 417s are far too good an MI speaker to alter... but then I feel the same about 418s, so whadda I know ...

No worries, i wouldn't butcher any of those MI series drivers in working condition. There's plenty of broken ones and hacked up re-cones out there for us to experiment with.

AFAIK they're exactly the same as the corresponding 414 versions save the paint and moving assy.

In discussing this a bit with the ole fella over at the "other place" it's been revealed that all of the alnico 414's use the smaller 1.8lb alnico slug while the 417 uses the same 2.4 lb slug as the 416. He also suggested that a 3124 cone kit might be an interesting possibility.

I don't need more projects right at this time, but every time i encounter an broken or damaged 417 it whets my appetite for some experimentation. So, i'm trying to gather all the info and input i can so that maybe my first time out won't be a complete wank.

 

[EarlK]

Thanks Brad & Bowtie for the info on the 413's added mass ( metal ) dustcap .

 

[Altec Best]

Hi Ken !

No contest Model 19's, then the Model 17/604-G's, Magnificents,and then the Valencia's.. In that order IMHO..

Best of Luck with your quest..