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My Altec 19 Story

MarbleSwitchboard

MarbleSwitchboard

AK Subscriber
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Recently I found a pair of Altec 19s for an unmentionable price. Let's just say it was a good deal ;)

I just barely managed to fit them into my car! I had to remove the woofers and the horns in order to lift them. They are mighty heavy speakers after all. :)
tyQVddz.jpg



After I got them home I hooked them up tested them and they worked nicely (other than the cone buzzing). So I contacted Great Plains Audio and got them sent off to be re-coned.
Pmc54Ae.jpg



In the mean time I thought it would be a good use of time to rebuild the crossovers. All new solen caps, and new cabling was put into the crossovers. Here is how they look!

vYxH39P.jpg

Cnc5Nxh.jpg

VhH6UjO.jpg


I then drilled and added binding posts.
ztf31KA.jpg


Here they are in all their glory!
3hLpSPI.jpg

GVoYP1R.jpg



And in my room for some quality listening time.
cxT7Mh2.jpg

DVlfejR.jpg


The amplifiers are RCA 4288 Cinema amplifiers. (not yet finished).

Let me know what you guys think! I know I am happy with them :p
 
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Gorgeous speakers, gorgeous set up. Nice job on the restoration. Can only imagine how great they sound. Enjoy!
 
Wow those 19's came out great:thumbsup: I can imagine those cinema amps will be right at home driving them as well and that must be a sweet sounding rig.
Were you able to fit both 19's in the rear of your vehicle or did it take 2 trips? Also would your vehicle be a santa fe?
There's a reason for my questions...........I know where there's a big pair of vintage Altecs looking for a new home and my speaker transporter is also a santa fe:)
 
Yep they both fit nicely in my Santa fe. Just fold down the back side.

It would fit better it you don't take out the drivers. I wasn't worried much about the drivers since the cones were destroyed anyways.

I'm really happy with the sound. A little forward with the upper mids but an addicting sound nonetheless. There is something about the effortless of high efficiency drivers that has to be experienced for oneself. That's why I'm on my way to Ohio today to pick up some university classic 100db efficient all horn speakers ;)
 
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Great job on the speakers. I've had a couple sets of model 19's and they are great speakers.

It looks like your speakers are missing the "kick plate" on the bottom that lifts them up another 1.5 inches. If you add those in around the bottom, you can then put caster wheels on the inside and then they will be easy to roll around.

Keep up the good work and enjoy!
 
Congratulations with these beautiful speakers I have heard a pair and they have a very special sound. I see what looks like a pair of RTR cabinets in the back. What's going on with those? I have a pair of 280DR
 
Unfortunately the speakers are indeed missing the little stands or kick plates. I am planning to build them myself fairly soon.

The 280drs are in the process of being rebuilt. The crossovers are being redone and a few of the woofers needed to be re-aligned.

I actually have 4 of those RTR 280dr speakers. Two are finished and the other two should be within a week. I will make a thread about the journey :)
 
Yes you've put together an awesome system.Ive owned the 14/15 and 19's in my day and I concure on their efficentcy and effortless presentation of content from source.
The RCA mono amps are intregueing as well are they PPP 4 output tubes per mono?
I'm reserecting a pair of early Stromberg Carlson theater amps at the moment with 4-6L6gc's per.Those will be going on a Pair of late 50's Stephens Trusonics.
By the way...maybe time to buy a truck??
lol

hunter
 
I just picked up a set of HeathKit AS101 speakers from a member in North Jersey yesterday. They are basically Altec Valencias, 416 woofer, 811b horn and 806 drivers. I know exactly what you mean by the sound of them. They are replacing a set of Klipsch Heresy's. Effortless and very smoooothh.... I'm really enjoying the sound of them.
My friend has a set of the 14's, it was his speakers that turned me onto the Altec world. My only complaint is the size of them, but if you want big effortless sound....It's the only place the Heresy's beat them.

BillWojo
 
hunter00 said:
Yes you've put together an awesome system.Ive owned the 14/15 and 19's in my day and I concure on their efficentcy and effortless presentation of content from source.
The RCA mono amps are intregueing as well are they PPP 4 output tubes per mono?
I'm reserecting a pair of early Stromberg Carlson theater amps at the moment with 4-6L6gc's per.Those will be going on a Pair of late 50's Stephens Trusonics.
By the way...maybe time to buy a truck??
lol

hunter
Click to expand...

They really are incredible! Unlike my KLH Model Nine electrostatic speakers these have plenty of headroom for how loud I can play them.

The RCA amplifiers are 6c5 input 6c5 phase splitter driving push pull parallel 6L6s. 5z3 rectifiers as well. They have very high quality output transformers that have FULL range sound!

BillWojo said:
I just picked up a set of HeathKit AS101 speakers from a member in North Jersey yesterday. They are basically Altec Valencias, 416 woofer, 811b horn and 806 drivers. I know exactly what you mean by the sound of them. They are replacing a set of Klipsch Heresy's. Effortless and very smoooothh.... I'm really enjoying the sound of them.
My friend has a set of the 14's, it was his speakers that turned me onto the Altec world. My only complaint is the size of them, but if you want big effortless sound....It's the only place the Heresy's beat them.

BillWojo
Click to expand...

Altec valencias are very cool speakers. I have heard of the heathkit AS101s as well. Similar to the 19s with more elegant cabinets.

Big speakers are definitely a must ;) I will be making another thread soon enough about some speakers much much bigger than even these. (yes that big!!)
 
JazmynFox said:
Recently I found a pair of Altec 19s for an unmentionable price. Let's just say it was a good deal ;)

I just barely managed to fit them into my car! I had to remove the woofers and the horns in order to lift them. They are mighty heavy speakers after all. :)
tyQVddz.jpg



After I got them home I hooked them up tested them and they worked nicely (other than the cone buzzing). So I contacted Great Plains Audio and got them sent off to be re-coned.
Pmc54Ae.jpg



In the mean time I thought it would be a good use of time to rebuild the crossovers. All new solen caps, and new cabling was put into the crossovers. Here is how they look!

vYxH39P.jpg

Cnc5Nxh.jpg

VhH6UjO.jpg


I then drilled and added binding posts.
ztf31KA.jpg


Here they are in all their glory!
3hLpSPI.jpg

GVoYP1R.jpg



And in my room for some quality listening time.
cxT7Mh2.jpg

DVlfejR.jpg


The amplifiers are RCA 4288 Cinema amplifiers. (not yet finished).

Let me know what you guys think! I know I am happy with them :p
Click to expand...
nice job, Now that's what you call a great day out.
 
JazmynFox said:
Very true :)

Especially speakers like the Altec 19s. Worth every bit of struggle.
Click to expand...
I'm with you Three mac pre amps 2 mac amps 6 tube amps 6 ken woods 1 marantz 2sansusi 1 pair A7 VOTT speakers 1 Bozak set 2 pairs of 601's 2 pairs of altec model 15's and a pile more speakers.
Oops:yikes: I think I need therapy!
So I guess we are alike on being crazy about audio!
You have some really nice speakers there:banana::banana::thumbsup:
 
I actually live with my parents so I am not quite sure of the dimensions.

It is a very large room though.

I have already claimed the basement below for a huge listening room where my triple pair of KLH Model Nines can finally shine. ;)
 
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