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Big Studio Monitors (esp Altec)

Aref

Aref

New Member
Hi,
I've always used small nearfields like Yamaha NS10, Neumann Kh120 and Genelec 8020. Recently, got a nice pair of Studer A732 (three way with 10" woofer) and started to realized what I've missed!!

These days I also find even bigger monitors like Altec 19, 9844, Tannoy gold monitor 15", Jbl 4311.
I know that these speakers were so popular in studios around 50 years ago and now hi-fi enthusiast enjoy them in their TV or listening room, but are they still usable in studios.
Have seen people who modify even the latest 9844's (cabinet, crossover and tweeter/ horn) to get the sound. Is it that bad in its original condition?
Are these considered one step further in the way I experienced the difference with my Studer?
Unfortunately, I can't hear the Altects before buying them!!
Thanks
Aref
 
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Hard to answer that. As most studios moved on, likely not. I've owned a pair of 9846-8A for 20+ years now and I certainly enjoy them.
 
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Aref said:
Have seen people who modify even the latest 9844's (cabinet, crossover and tweeter/ horn) to get the sound. Is it that bad in its original condition?
Click to expand...
While I can't speak either way on the speakers, just because someone modifies something doesn't mean it was bad to start with...
For example,
 
Nice...
Today I found a pair of 9849-8A. Don't know about the condition and components yet. They seem smaller than 9844A...
Don't know about their sound difference....still think 19 is best among these!
Any comment?
 
Aref said:
Any comment?
Click to expand...
I've owned most of the Altec monitors at one time or another. I still own 9846-8A's and 9849-8D's if that tells you anything. Oh, i guess i also still have some model 15's, and several various theater and sound reinforcement Altecs. Seems they multiply while i'm sleeping.

19's are good, too big for my listening space, and the value vs performance is too "hype driven" these days, they moved on. 9844's are great for jazz, big band, and acoustic stuff, best mids of any monitor at the cost of rolled off extremes. I found that stacking 9844's on their sides in pairs gave useful extension at both ends of the spectrum.

9849's have been my daily drivers for a while now, set up for nearfield listening with 80wpc of clean fast SS power they are quite satisfying and as a stand alone speaker they trump the other Altecs in terms of overall tonal balance, and imaging.
 
Thanks for reply,
9849-8a frequency range is 40-15000hz (94db spl) and the 9844a is 35-20000hz (99 db spl). both 60 watt.
 
Aref said:
and the 9844a is 35-20000hz
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In the marketing department's dreams.

The 806A's response tends to fall off steadily above 13K. Some of Altec's marketing literature is laughably inaccurate with regard to frequency response claims.

9849's were equipped with various HF drivers, most of which would offer a significant degree of usable extension coupled to a much smoother and better sounding horn than the 811. I might also mention that the 9849 uses an equalized and compensated crossover.
 
Another aspect is - the size of your listening space. The big monitors you mention were typically built for, and used as, mid or far field listening - as in playback after a mix down. Their sweet spot is further back from the desk. If you have the room and can fill the bottom octave with distributed subs, go for it. These monitors are something to behold as you'll hear the mix as the creators did before their works were made available to the public. I had a pair of 604-8h and a pair of VOTT A7 - I still miss them, but my listening room currently is smaller than where the Altecs resided. I built a pair of 4Pi and if I'm not in heaven, I'm only a half block away.
 
My room is about 25*18 foot (5.5*7.5 m). There are not many Altecs of this series around here, they are mainly seven and nines...
I wish I could get the 604-series. It goes almost for a price of one hand and one leg! 19 is same....
Good news, 9849-8A seems to have more fair price and "Bowtie" says it has a nice sound too.
Which model do you have? and do I need to modify the original 9849-8A crossover for better result?
 
I live in Iran. Someone has two pairs of 9849-8A here, but none of them are in a good condition.
One has a tiny scratch on a woofer's paper, but he says it sounds all right.
The other one has a faulty woofer which makes high frequencies and not lows!
Unfortunately, they don't share the same parts!
I want to inspect them soon...
Maybe I can get both for a fair price.
 
JBL 4311 (4310, 4311, 4312 and 4313) are not what most JBL fans consider "Big Studio Monitors".
I think many folks figure they need at least one 15inch (or 18 inch) woofer to qualify. ;)
(same thing with Altecs)

Aref said:
Hi,
I've always used small nearfields like Yamaha NS10, Neumann Kh120 and Genelec 8020. Recently, got a nice pair of Studer A732 (three way with 10" woofer) and started to realized what I've missed!!

These days I also find even bigger monitors like Altec 19, 9844, Tannoy gold monitor 15", Jbl 4311.
I know that these speakers were so popular in studios around 50 years ago and now hi-fi enthusiast enjoy them in their TV or listening room, but are they still usable in studios.
Have seen people who modify even the latest 9844's (cabinet, crossover and tweeter/ horn) to get the sound. Is it that bad in its original condition?
Are these considered one step further in the way I experienced the difference with my Studer?
Unfortunately, I can't hear the Altecs before buying them!!
Thanks
Aref
Click to expand...
 
The trick with the JBLs and Altec speakers is they are older, so the price has come down quite a bit from their heyday ...
 
botrytis said:
Studio's want accurate and that is something many big Altecs are not. Big speakers for recording studios now are the B&W N 802's and that family.
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i listened to them before. they must be heavily compensated as well cause, from 15khz and up they're are extremely bright sounding and strident speakers and i wouldn't blame the amps or sources either. always sounded like a driver resonant issue to me with them... i think pair of altec 802 or 902 on the right horn will sound overall way smoother from midrange to the air response from my experience. i really like the model 14's and the little mantarays they use. only altecs i still have around in my home. i have much larger EV HR9040 horns as well but, need some large format drivers i been saving for. still deciding between jbl d2(one used for the jbl m2 monitors) or altec 288/290...still deciding...
 
Sorry, you're right about the size. It's not the best title for what I'm asking here.
Maybe because I think in term of size the model 19 and 9844 might be the starting point of big bros world.

I saw both 9849-8A pairs last night. One has a 414-8b and the other is "c", same network (32343) and same (23746) compression drivers. Both woofers and drivers have different metal covers at back. The older model has non-metal horn, but the other is metal. Generally, the cabinets are not in good condition, but It seem easy to repair or build.

Tried one of them with my studer amp, although everyone says they sound good with tubes. One of the compression drivers doesn't work. Swapped the network...same problem...
Generally it sound nice, but nothing that blows my mind. My studer A723 has much fuller sound with details.

Maybe I have to find the 604!
By the way, the guy has a pair of 416-8A too. Does it sound much different?
Thanks
 
Aref said:
Maybe I have to find the 604!
Click to expand...

I used this quote in another thread yesterday:
From the Lansing Heritage web site: "The 4310 had a unique design goal. That was, to mimic the sonic character of the industry standard 604 in a small package. Even though JBL was making inroads in the monitor business, they could not displace the 604's reputation as an industry standard. What is interesting, is that the 604 was anything but accurate. It had a pronounced midrange peak and a high frequency response that is noticeably rolled off. However, because it had become ubiquitous in studios throughout the 40's and 50's, it became a reference that all studio engineers knew how to work with. This was arguably more important than accuracy since it was a consistent basis of comparison."
 
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