How good are Altec 9845A’s?

[angelaudio]

I’m in negotiations with a local seller to trade some equipment for a NM pair of Altec 9845A’s with what appear to be all original components.

Included in the trade will be two early version McIntosh MC30 mono blocks and a pair of ~1980 La Scalas with AL crossover networks and all original components. Have I lost my mind?

The look of the Altecs is appealing to me, and I’ve heard other altecs (604b with the coaxial driver) and loved the sound which is why I’m even considering the trade. So my question to you folks is have you heard or do you own this speaker and if so what are your impressions?

 

[bowtie427ss]

Unless the MC30's are trashed beyond repair, burnt out transformers, rusty chassis, etc., it's not even remotely a close trade.

Have I lost my mind?

Only if you do the trade.

Remove the MC30's from the equation.

If the LaScalas and 9845's are in equal condition, resale value of the LaScalas should easily be 50% or more above the 9845's. There are a lot of shortcomings in the 9845 design.

I am no fan of LaScala. But, in terms of resale value they should trump that particular Altec model in any market all day long.

 

[angelaudio]

My LaScala cabinets and crossovers are showing age and use and the 9845’s are NM so we’re far apart on condition. What are some of shortcomings that you see/hear in the 9845’s?

 

[Tom Brennan]

My LaScala cabinets and crossovers are showing age and use and the 9845’s are NM so we’re far apart on condition. What are some of shortcomings that you see/hear in the 9845’s?

I never heard the 9845s but they appear to be similar to Valencias---same woofer and compression driver but with a 511 horn and 500hz crossover rather than a 811 horn and 800hz crossover. I expect they'd sound similar to Valencias, a speaker I've heard many times and one I like. And a speaker generally held in high regard by Altec enthusiasts.

IME&O the shortcomings of the Valencia are a lack of deepest bass (though it's not bass shy and goes deeper than LaScalas, I speaker I was once very familiar with) and a lack of the highest highs---the top end is soft and lacks the etched, crisp top end of the LaScala. But it's also far smoother than the LaScala and has a nicer midrange; I think that between 100hz and 10,000hz the Valencia is very hard to beat by any speaker.

Since the 9845 has a significantly larger cabinet than the Valencia I think it should go deeper in the bass than the Valencia.

Now this is just what I'm figuring from a lot of experience with Altecs (and Klipsches) but it's not to be taken as the word from Sinai.

 

[angelaudio]

I never heard the 9845s but they appear to be similar to Valencias---same woofer and compression driver but with a 511 horn and 500hz crossover rather than a 811 horn and 800hz crossover. I expect they'd sound similar to Valencias, a speaker I've heard many times and one I like. And a speaker generally held in high regard by Altec enthusiasts.

IME&O the shortcomings of the Valencia are a lack of deepest bass (though it's not bass shy and goes deeper than LaScalas, I speaker I was once very familiar with) and a lack of the highest highs---the top end is soft and lacks the etched, crisp top end of the LaScala. But it's also far smoother than the LaScala and has a nicer midrange; I think that between 100hz and 10,000hz the Valencia is very hard to beat by any speaker.

Since the 9845 has a significantly larger cabinet than the Valencia I think it should go deeper in the bass than the Valencia.

Now this is just what I'm figuring from a lot of experience with Altecs (and Klipsches) but it's not to be taken as the word from Sinai.

What really made me start to lust after these was the fact that these were used as monitors at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland studios. If it was good enough for Hendrix & Eddie Kramer to mix music with then I’m guessing it’s a pretty darned good speaker. Whether the sound quality achieved in the studio would translate over to a home system I’d like to find out. The La Scalas definitely don’t go low enough for my liking, although I do enjoy the ‘woody’ bass plucking sound they produce when I play old jazz records.

 

[bowtie427ss]

What really made me start to lust after these was the fact that these were used as monitors at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland studios.

Ah yes, the rock star pedigree.

Are you aware of any commentary or testimonials from Hendrix or his agents that offer praise specifically for that Altec model?

It's just another pair of mediocre speakers at the end of the day. I used to let irrelevant anecdotes about the history of audio gear cause me to fall all over myself. It's a great way to make very foolish audio deals.

If one wants to own a significant piece of history, make Mel Bernstein an offer on the derringer that assassinated Lincoln.

Just my .02 y'all understand...

 

[Galaxie65]

I had this set as well and I have to agree with @bowtie427ss on the assessment. I was not impressed and I'm steeped with the experience of Altec products from the ideal time period. They are fun but really not close to what the name sake was. My set was clean and not beat and even after the crossover was recapped/upgraded it wasn't anything above and beyond what I've heard before.

I'm an Altec fan and many people know that, but like every manufacture there are some models that really didn't shine as much as others..

I would really reflect and also listen to them in person with tracks you are very familiar with. You might even want to bring what you would use to listen to these on. I know it's not ideal, but when considering the trade deals, I would lug my amp and pre out to be sure I was happy. Also take into consideration the room treatment, equipment, placement and so on.

At the end of the day if it sounds good to "Your ears" that's all that matters.

 

[bowtie427ss]

FWIW and IMO, all of Tom Brennan's points are valid and accurate.

Altec drivers were exceptionally well engineered, and you actually have to work at it to make them sound bad.

Since the main theme of the thread revolved around equitable trade value, i tried to approach from that angle.

I don't believe 9845's were built in very large quantities, and only for a span of a few years. IMO, Altec should have never used an 806 with such a low crossover point. Simply swapping out the 806 for an 802 would improve both HF extension and a more seamless transition @ XO.

Altec did some wanky things with the 9845. By 1976 or so they were loading them with 416-8B woofers in place of the 416-16A, yet the catalogs still state 16 ohm system impedance.

The 9845 also uses the N500G network which is a high power network designed for 515's and 288's. This network does not use a variable L-pad, rather fixed resistance and a 5 position rotary switch. There is no indication that the N500G was in any way revised for use in this speaker system. But, it would have to be given the nearly 15db sensitivity difference between an 806 and a 288. One caveat of Altec speaker systems is that many revisions and improvements took place with no supporting documentation that survives today.

Ultimately, the model 19 took their place as iconic 2-way studio monitor, and for good reason.

 

[BillWojo]

I'm a big Altec fan and I have to say, that's a really great deal!!! For the other guy. Don't do it.
Post pics of the Macs, they could be worth thousands even if totally stock.

BillWojo

 

[angelaudio]

I'm a big Altec fan and I have to say, that's a really great deal!!! For the other guy. Don't do it.
Post pics of the Macs, they could be worth thousands even if totally stock.

BillWojo

They ain’t so pretty but I’ve seen worse. And they both sound good except for a ground hum I can’t seem to track down in one of them

 

[BillWojo]

Those are very restorable, don't get rid of them. It's a really bad deal for you. Do an ebay search for sold MC30 amps. A LOT of folks would love to get their hands on those.
How did you get them in the first place?

BillWojo

 

[angelaudio]

Those are very restorable, don't get rid of them. It's a really bad deal for you. Do an ebay search for sold MC30 amps. A LOT of folks would love to get their hands on those.
How did you get them in the first place?

BillWojo

One I found on Reverb and the other I got off my local Craigslist. I do plan to restore...slowly but surely. The first thing I want to do is replace the RCA input jacks, then chrome and re-screenprint chassis lettering, paint TF’s, then redo the guts