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Looking for some Altec A7 VOTT speaker system suggestions

SgtBilko

SgtBilko

New Member
My first post. Looking for some Altec speaker system suggestions. I have an odd mix of Altec's without a good plan yet … back in the early 1980’s I first fell in love with the sound of Altec VOTT A7’s that I used in a 1920’s era 2,500 seat auditorium.

I bought my first pair of vintage A7’s from a Beverly Hills estate sale about 8 years later & love them even though they’re in JBL Olympus C-50 cabinets. They have Altec 811B horns with 416-8A woofers. I forget which HF drivers they have. (I’ll check soon)

More recently I purchased four Altec 511B horns, two are loose with Altec 808-8B HF drivers and the other pair are in cabinets with Great Plains 909-8A HF drivers. I plan to buy some Altec/Great Plains 416-8B’s and A7 cabinets & bi-amp them with the 4 channels of DBX active crossovers that I already have. Currently have 4 channels of QSC USA900 power amps. (need more) DBX driverack makes the setup easy.

Some of this is for home listening & mixdowns. Then some of this I plan on using for occasional sound jobs a few times a year… (also have recording & processing gear but that is for another day) I’ve always wanted to bi-amp my own system & Now I'm almost ready to do so for the first time!

My primary listening is Symphonic/soundtracks, Classic Rock & Jazz. Clean, Clear & Loud! ((Okay I I suffer from two PTSD’s. Post Theatre Sound Disorder/AKA Altec VOTT disease & Post Traumatic Sarcasm Disorder)) I wouldn't call myself wealthy & most everything I bought was a super deal that I just couldn’t turn down. Thus the odd mix of audio gear. Call me crazy but I would buy some good VOTTs over buying a nicer car.

So I’m looking for some general suggestions and opinions here. First opinion is to keep or ditch the QSC amps? Bi-amp with active crossovers or just plain passive crossovers? Add your own suggestions if you’re up to it.

THANKS
GSA-after-restoration.jpg JBL Olympas.jpg 511B horns.jpg
 
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In my experience big Altec speakers sound best driven by high quality tube amps . Single ended being the best . Maybe a class A solid state like a Nelson Pass amp. Use the right crossover for the Horn , driver and woofer you are using together. I would prefer the Altec drivers be in an Altec cabinet designed for the drivers .
 
I do love McIntosh tube amps and remember getting a wonderful warm feeling when listening to them but its been quite a while. the theatre was outfitted with a large rack of Altec tube power amps.
A friend manufacture's pro audio processing gear and he was sourcing his tubes from Russia, but his $20,000.oo retail price tag for a great EQ is out of my price range even with a buddy deal.
 
The MC225 is a fine amp . For a lot less you could check out the decware amp. It delivers the quality at a much reduced price. With the Altec A7 or model 19 , it should have plenty of power unless you are doing sound at an outdoor event.
 
If you don't want that honking sound you use a 800 Hz crossover with the 511 horn and a 1200 HZ crossover with the 811 horn. Personnally I would bi-amp using an electronic cross over. No matter which drivers you have except the 806 which you should chnge diaphragms I would want new diaphragms from great plains audio. The diphragm in the 909 is very fragile and the diaphragm in the 808 has little output above 13 Khz. But if you want great bass below 50 HZ, you either need to change to a 817 enclosure with two 416 woofers and then you will be flat to 40 HZ and you can eq down to 32 hz. And a 817 box is more efficient than an 828 or 825 A-7 box so you wouldn't need as much power for the woofers. Or you can put two 604's in the 817 and tri amp using the 511 B horn as the midrange and then you can use the 808 as is with a 7 KHZ electronic crossover between the 604 tweeters and 511 horn.
 
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twiiii said:
If you don't want that honking sound you use a 800 Hz crossover with the 511 horn and a 1200 HZ crossover with the 811 horn. Personnally I would bi-amp using an electronic cross over. No matter which drivers you have except the 806 which you should re-ell I would want new diaphragms from great plains audio. The diphragm in the 909 is very fragile and the diaphragm in the 808 has little output above 13 Khz. But if you want great bass below 50 HZ, you either need to change to a 814 enclosure with ywo 416 woofers and then you will be flat to 40 HZ and you can eq down to 32 hz. And a 817 box is more efficent than an 828 or 825 A-7 box so you would need as much power for the woofers. Or you can out two 604's in the 817 and tri amp using the 511 B horn as the midrange and then you can use the 808 as is with a 7 KHZ electronic crossover between the 604 tweeters and 511 horn.
Click to expand...

If you fit the wings used in movie theatres for the 825 you get down to 45 Hz. Reduce the bass reflex opening to 75 square inches and you are comfortably into the 30’ies. No need to change the box and no need for EQ.
 
Have a vintage A-7 VOTT in furniture-grade polished wood enclosure. Sounds Amazing! Do not have room for it in current house. This is a Large Object! Anyone have a loving home for it?
 
I have A7's , I've run them using a McIntosh 2105 along with a c26 preamp also have used a vintage dynaco st70.
I like both but the dynaco st70 seems to be my favorite.
It just doesn't take much power to make those beast sing like a song bird.
 
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