Does Anyone Know These Old Bookshelf Altecs?
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MunkeyQ
Super Member
I'd pass on these unless the price was very good and they were complete - IMO they're not really worth the work of making a cabinet for. I don't know the model, but these look like they were made when Altec were past their prime but not making crap yet. Very average speakers.
The tweeter looks like a cheap-ish Mylar thing, available from PE for not much $.
The tweeter looks like a cheap-ish Mylar thing, available from PE for not much $.
The tweeter cutout doesn't seem to match the tweeter, you'll need to make a box, you'll need to find a second tweeter, you'll need to find grill mounting plugs etc. They'd better be really dirt cheap. Probably a decent speaker, but you'll probably be a hundred bucks into it before you hear anything. Meanwhile, there are Voice of the Theaters selling for twenty bucks at some tag sale somewhere...
Saint Johnny
Bon Ton Roule
Made In Pennsylvania Altecs< Made In Anaheim Altecs.:yes:
Goodwill_HiFi
Super Member
Altec has never made crap....... they're may be products that have the Altec name that sound like crap, but they weren't made by the real Altec. Altec sold/leased the home speaker business to Sparkomatic in 83. Then Sparkomatic bought the name and many patents when Altec was shut down in the 90's.
HarryB
Active Member
actually Altec was shut down by Electrovoice. The name was sold to Sparkomatic.
who changed their name to Altec Lansing Technologies. Sparkomatic tried to live off the Altec name for a while before people wised up to the stuff they were producing was NO WAY CLOSE to being the old Altec standards.
Harry
who changed their name to Altec Lansing Technologies. Sparkomatic tried to live off the Altec name for a while before people wised up to the stuff they were producing was NO WAY CLOSE to being the old Altec standards.
Harry
The big Sparkomatic Altec got very good reviews -- it was a triamplified large tower system, which has been discussed in a couple of threads over the years, especialy when someone was CLing a pair in Miami.
I have to say I think the standard line that the original Altec was great and the Sparkomatic Altec reeked isn't fair.
If all the original Altecs were so great, why'd they run into trouble? Regardless of whether you think dome tweeters etc are overrated (and yes, probably they are) the later original Altec producst were behind the market, and not just on theoretical grounds -- the small Altecs were fun but not exactly accurate, and that cone tweeter with the aluminum dustcap isn't particularly extended, well dispersed, or flat in response.
Of course the big semi pro Altecs are a different matter, but so is that big Sparkomatic.
Everyone's made some dogs, even the grand old firms. And many companies have made really good speakers, even annoying upstarts.
I have to say I think the standard line that the original Altec was great and the Sparkomatic Altec reeked isn't fair.
If all the original Altecs were so great, why'd they run into trouble? Regardless of whether you think dome tweeters etc are overrated (and yes, probably they are) the later original Altec producst were behind the market, and not just on theoretical grounds -- the small Altecs were fun but not exactly accurate, and that cone tweeter with the aluminum dustcap isn't particularly extended, well dispersed, or flat in response.
Of course the big semi pro Altecs are a different matter, but so is that big Sparkomatic.
Everyone's made some dogs, even the grand old firms. And many companies have made really good speakers, even annoying upstarts.
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Goodwill_HiFi
Super Member
Plenty..... there's more to running a business than a great product. One of the big reasons is that they were purchased (long ago) by Ling, who transferred it's debt onto Altec.
Of course, but that's not the same as making junk.
What's annoying is that Sparkomatic continually tries to pass themselves off as the real Altec, even going as far as "re-releasing" the A7 and "re-establishing" Altec Pro. I have those words in quotes because I doubt they ever sold any of the re-release A7's......it was a marketing scam. They were priced insanely high.....higher than an real set in perfect shape would cost. And Altec Pro was all made in china junk, just like the computer speakers.
I'm not sure what "big" Sparkomatic speakers you are referring to, but if they are any good, it's only in the frame of reference of run of the mill home speakers....... the real Altec's 83 and earlier home line was mostly pro-components.....they were a whole different caliber of speaker. Sure they made a few lower end models, with CTS drivers, but those are not the ones people talk about.