HBTim
Critical listener of beer fizz
What he said...
Let's talk Altec speakers / please share your experience and impressions
- Thread starter Onebean
- Start date
604man
Super Member
the 8-G resonant freq. Fs is 25hz and the Vas is about 20 cu ft. so box volume, Vb = Vas
the duct is PVC pipe , 6 in. with a coupling on the end so you can adjust the duct.
these speakers will easily go below 20hz , my bathroom is a resonant cavity at 17hz.
With my BGW 8000 the bass is not flabby but nice and tight. any more questions ?????
rider33
Active Member
I've owned several sets of Altec's and they are indeed fine speakers but keep in mind their sweet spot is those with the big compression horns & those really were developed for theaters, not small listening rooms. You can put a an A7 (Voice of the Theater) speaker in a small room but it is never going to live up to its potential, they need room to breath. Duplexes, maybe, I've never owned one but the big horn systems for which Altec is known are just not small room speakers IMHO,
alteclipsch
Super Member
I've had a pair of 846A Valencias for 40+ years and am still in awe of what they do. They effortlessly fill our 12 x 20 listening room with clean, crisp everything, usually driven by a small Kenwood integrated amplifier. In a 12 x 12 room they might be a bit compressed, but I'm betting they'd still sound wonderful. 15 watts of clean power is more than enough to drive them.
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Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
It’s easy to get caught up into the excitement
Of not only Altec’s but, 2 great speakers.
19’s and the many 604 versions. Both will exceed 100+dbs with low powered tube amps
Having had 2 pair of 19’s and now again
Getting back into 604’s. The 19’s are Too big for your room
I am More a Jbl type. The 2226 is not a good home Woofer for Low Bass. Especially in smaller cabinets . But Imho the Jbl LE15’s-or 2215’s have much deeper lower Bass than any Altecs and in as little as 5.5 cu ft cabs. Unless you want Huge 10’ cu ft or more
And yea with 15-20 Watts also.
You didn’t mention your budget? Jbl’s will probably be a bit more $ to do it right.
My advice is read the Threads on both Altecs
And the bigger Jbl’s. Go and listen to both if you can.
The Klh’s will be banished to the Garage
Enjoy
Bobhorn
All great advice here but don't forget the bolero,it does need a sub ( I use a old rebuilt audio pro ) and is not as sensitive as the bigger brothers,I use a pair in my wife's work room which is 12 by 14 and it fun except the horn is questionable on some recordings,but it's worth rebuilding the crossover,they made a few versions I use the c version with the hepner horn ,runs well with many small amps as well.
carpe-diem
tubes and tubes
following many wonderful advises as I am dreaming of Altec too and my room size is not big. Thanks.
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My budget is wide open, at this point I'm still fishing for direction, and in no hurry. As mentioned, I like my KLH's, but I know there is more to be had from speakers. I have a very nice restored McIntosh mx110z, and wonderful sounding Fisher SA-100 updated and restored, a wonderful sounding fully restored Fisher X-202-B, an awesome sounding pair of restored and updated Acrosound ULII's, and another pair of Acrosound mono's in the works, along with several Scott integrated amps and a Fisher tube receiver in various states of repair. I feel like I've got preamp / amp well covered, and need to focus on speaker upgrades. I'd like to make a move that will be a perfect fit for my 12' x 12' room, play into the mid 90's db with around 15 watts of tube power, deliver full range sound, and jaw dropping sonics. I'm not asking for much right? 
I don't mind making a significant investment, if it will delver on these criteria. I also don't mind building cabinets, but the cost and time associated with that type of commitment forces me to have a really good idea how they will sound in the end. Here are the "other" speakers I own currently, but are not in use (or very limited use).
Klipsch Cornwall I- like most everything I end up buying, these are a project. Currently drivers and cross over only, I have Oak plywood for cabinets, I just haven't had time to get the cabinets together. These potentially check quite a few of my requirement boxes, but I'm concerned with their size and performance in my small room. I am committed to getting these going, and trying them in my room.
Bozak 302- these are in Barzilay cabinets, and need some modifications to be their best. Crossovers are stock, and they need the mid range flower pot covers. I've read these like solid state power better than tube power. Again, I am committed to getting these modified and trying them. Their size isn't terrible compared to Cornwall's and Altec 17's.
Bozak Symphony- these were an impulse buy. They work, but need some cabinet restoration, and a cross over rebuild. These are big too, but not really deep, so they could work in my room. Again, I'm assuming they like more power from solid state amps, but I haven't listened to them other than when I bought them.
ADS L-910's- I used these in my room for a brief time, but they seemed to struggle. I assume it was not enough power and not enough space. They sound quite nice in a much bigger room, with my Pioneer SX-1250 or Pioneer SX-1010 driving them.
Altec seems to be on a lot of folks holy grail list. Maybe there are others I should be considering. Stephens Tru sonic??? JBL??? Some fully proven DIY design?
Thanks for all the feedback.
I don't mind making a significant investment, if it will delver on these criteria. I also don't mind building cabinets, but the cost and time associated with that type of commitment forces me to have a really good idea how they will sound in the end. Here are the "other" speakers I own currently, but are not in use (or very limited use). Klipsch Cornwall I- like most everything I end up buying, these are a project. Currently drivers and cross over only, I have Oak plywood for cabinets, I just haven't had time to get the cabinets together. These potentially check quite a few of my requirement boxes, but I'm concerned with their size and performance in my small room. I am committed to getting these going, and trying them in my room.
Bozak 302- these are in Barzilay cabinets, and need some modifications to be their best. Crossovers are stock, and they need the mid range flower pot covers. I've read these like solid state power better than tube power. Again, I am committed to getting these modified and trying them. Their size isn't terrible compared to Cornwall's and Altec 17's.
Bozak Symphony- these were an impulse buy. They work, but need some cabinet restoration, and a cross over rebuild. These are big too, but not really deep, so they could work in my room. Again, I'm assuming they like more power from solid state amps, but I haven't listened to them other than when I bought them.
ADS L-910's- I used these in my room for a brief time, but they seemed to struggle. I assume it was not enough power and not enough space. They sound quite nice in a much bigger room, with my Pioneer SX-1250 or Pioneer SX-1010 driving them.
Altec seems to be on a lot of folks holy grail list. Maybe there are others I should be considering. Stephens Tru sonic??? JBL??? Some fully proven DIY design?
Thanks for all the feedback.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
You have some nice tube gear !My budget is wide open, at this point I'm still fishing for direction, and in no hurry. As mentioned, I like my KLH's, but I know there is more to be had from speakers. I have a very nice restored McIntosh mx110z, and wonderful sounding Fisher SA-100 updated and restored, a wonderful sounding fully restored Fisher X-202-B, an awesome sounding pair of restored and updated Acrosound ULII's, and another pair of Acrosound mono's in the works, along with several Scott integrated amps and a Fisher tube receiver in various states of repair. I feel like I've got preamp / amp well covered, and need to focus on speaker upgrades. I'd like to make a move that will be a perfect fit for my 12' x 12' room, play into the mid 90's db with around 15 watts of tube power, deliver full range sound, and jaw dropping sonics. I'm not asking for much right?
Klipsch Cornwall I- like most everything I end up buying, these are a project. Currently drivers and cross over only, I have Oak plywood for cabinets, I just haven't had time to get the cabinets together. These potentially check quite a few of my requirement boxes, but I'm concerned with their size and performance in my small room. I am committed to getting these going, and trying them in my room.
Bozak 302- these are in Barzilay cabinets, and need some modifications to be their best. Crossovers are stock, and they need the mid range flower pot covers. I've read these like solid state power better than tube power. Again, I am committed to getting these modified and trying them. Their size isn't terrible compared to Cornwall's and Altec 17's.
Bozak Symphony- these were an impulse buy. They work, but need some cabinet restoration, and a cross over rebuild. These are big too, but not really deep, so they could work in my room. Again, I'm assuming they like more power from solid state amps, but I haven't listened to them other than when I bought them.
ADS L-910's- I used these in my room for a brief time, but they seemed to struggle. I assume it was not enough power and not enough space. They sound quite nice in a much bigger room, with my Pioneer SX-1250 or Pioneer SX-1010 driving them.
Altec seems to be on a lot of folks holy grail list. Maybe there are others I should be considering. Stephens Tru sonic??? JBL??? Some fully proven DIY design?
Thanks for all the feedback.
You mentioned Jbl Last!?
While You’re at it! If you can audition a pair of 4430’s or better yet 4435’s! They use a superior horn to most anything out there
While they can be power hungry,
Will sound great with a Fisher X202 or x200
Even better with the bigger Monoblocks
You won’t need much in your smaller room!
Here’s a couple of pictures from my 4435
Horn and Xover project I’ll probably never get around to!
It’s sitting on top of my current Big Red 604g
Project
Attachments
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
No Offense at all!
I have Altec Jbl’s and k-Horns,. And I know I will get Flamed by the Klipsch lovers,but the Jbl’s have far Superior components then the Klipsch have
Btw I meant to say your Sa100’ would also work great as long as you stay with single Woofers, as the 4435’s use 2-15’s per cabinet.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
In fact I used both ALTEC and Jbl DriversHell Yes!
In my KHORNS Biamped of course
Lol
- Nice implementation 604man!
- To the OP: IMO the 511b on the M19 is probably not optimal for a small room, I'd expect you to find it beaming too much. The late model 604's (even with thier CD horns) are just a touch close @ ~15ft (line-of-sight to the horn) IME. Not that they're not nice to listen to, but druthers being had, I'd have another +5 or maybe even +10 ft.
IME the late model 'modern' 16" frame 604, 904's fit into the applicable 8000 series cabinets:
http://lansingheritage.org/images/altec/catalogs/1989-pro/1989-11.jpg
Put inversely, as orthogonal cabinets go - they aren't appreciably deeper than they need to be, so may be the best option for pushing them deep into room corners, for max distance. The 8256, 8254 cabinets are all ply and not particularly sought-after, so consider looking around for those or similar as a (presumably) cost-effective option. You'd need to block off or populate 1/2 of the 8256 of course.
For B/C/D/E/G you'd want to check both BCD and depth, and of course some of them are not designed to be mounted from the outside. (an impediment to some, not for others)
- To the OP: IMO the 511b on the M19 is probably not optimal for a small room, I'd expect you to find it beaming too much. The late model 604's (even with thier CD horns) are just a touch close @ ~15ft (line-of-sight to the horn) IME. Not that they're not nice to listen to, but druthers being had, I'd have another +5 or maybe even +10 ft.
IME the late model 'modern' 16" frame 604, 904's fit into the applicable 8000 series cabinets:
http://lansingheritage.org/images/altec/catalogs/1989-pro/1989-11.jpg
Put inversely, as orthogonal cabinets go - they aren't appreciably deeper than they need to be, so may be the best option for pushing them deep into room corners, for max distance. The 8256, 8254 cabinets are all ply and not particularly sought-after, so consider looking around for those or similar as a (presumably) cost-effective option. You'd need to block off or populate 1/2 of the 8256 of course.
For B/C/D/E/G you'd want to check both BCD and depth, and of course some of them are not designed to be mounted from the outside. (an impediment to some, not for others)
HBTim
Critical listener of beer fizz
Wow, so much good stuff here and from I have read, all on the money. So many good choices but I agree that you cannot go wrong on the end game speakers if they are the JBL/Alec variant.
From what I am am seeing the duplex on a single driver and the SA-100 would be where the magic is. I bought my Altec's from a friend of mine that ran the exact ones I bought from him with an SA-100 and man, I was done. I currently use the Scott LK-72 on them but have an SA-100 in route. Be here Saturday. I will then get my end game pre-amp. To me, this is end game hunting for me.
NOW... in regards to you mentioning the ADS/Pioneer SX match up... well, agreed big time!! I have two set ups for different moods. I will have the Fisher/Scott Altec combo for vocals, Jazz, easy listening and then an SS Pioneer SX-1010/ADS L1590 on the other side of the room when I want some hard hitting punch and dynamics. Not that the Altec's can't do that but the 1010/1590 set up is a house rocker and the highs are rolled off nicely. It is just not the same... I can play them loud and use heavy genre music and electronica that is really amazing as well. So for me, I am almost end game for whatever I want to listen to. Chill or bang my head.
Anyway, thought I would share. You may want hold onto that 1010/910 combo to stick around as moods change.
From what I am am seeing the duplex on a single driver and the SA-100 would be where the magic is. I bought my Altec's from a friend of mine that ran the exact ones I bought from him with an SA-100 and man, I was done. I currently use the Scott LK-72 on them but have an SA-100 in route. Be here Saturday. I will then get my end game pre-amp. To me, this is end game hunting for me.
NOW... in regards to you mentioning the ADS/Pioneer SX match up... well, agreed big time!! I have two set ups for different moods. I will have the Fisher/Scott Altec combo for vocals, Jazz, easy listening and then an SS Pioneer SX-1010/ADS L1590 on the other side of the room when I want some hard hitting punch and dynamics. Not that the Altec's can't do that but the 1010/1590 set up is a house rocker and the highs are rolled off nicely. It is just not the same... I can play them loud and use heavy genre music and electronica that is really amazing as well. So for me, I am almost end game for whatever I want to listen to. Chill or bang my head.
Anyway, thought I would share. You may want hold onto that 1010/910 combo to stick around as moods change.
Nyjblbob
Hooked on Horn's and Tubes. Go big or go home
Yes they will. The Pro version of the L-300’s
Squared off Cabinets instead of the Classic
L300 shape. Had both but not side by side
for a/b comparisons.