I have no idea if price is fair, and have no affiliation
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ele/1342643166.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/ele/1342643166.html
VINTAGE ALTEC 9844a speakers - $750
- Thread starter kaliph11
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theebadone
Super Member
600.00 would be a better deal. the 414 is a pretty nice 12 inch woofer, and the 806 drivers are nice too along with the 811 horns. The altec speakers are getting hard to come by. see if he will go 6 if not get em as low as you can and take em. You will love those altecs.
similost
Rockin and Rollin....
Hopefully Bowtie will trip along here soon.. He has several of these, and is usually really good about knowing prices for Altec... To me, the price seems a little high as a whole, but I'm sure parted out they are worth more... I paid less for my A7's with equally reguarded drivers, but the shipping took them to be more expensive..
spartanmanor
Lunatic Member
Interesting looking speakers Altecs. I have not seen that model before. Upsidedown?
Axcel
Accuphase all the way
perhaps he has them upside down>?
M Jarve
Audio Geek and NGE Freak
Back in high school, the choir bought new speakers (Bose 802's) for the newly built choir hall. I managed to scrape up the $50 the school wanted for the old ones, which happened to be 9844a's.
I never actually got to try them at home, as they were too large for my bedroom. They sat in the garage for about 2 months, and then a friend of mine, who reckoned himself some sort of rock-star asked to borrow them for some party.
Unfortunately, I allowed him to do it. They came back positively trashed with only one of the drivers still working. He told me that they "sucked" and actually chewed me out over them blowing (as an aside, I later found that their "PA" amp was a Marantz PM-520 DC
; it belonged to my friend's dad, and a couple years later, he had me repair it- apparently he didn't know that his son had abused it so, and it was passing severe DC). He did, however, reimburse my $50 for the speakers.
About a week later, my dad, who wanted to regain use of the garage asked what I was planning on doing with them. I told him to go ahead and take them to the dump.
And that's my Altec 9844a story. Seeing the pics brought back the memories.
I never actually got to try them at home, as they were too large for my bedroom. They sat in the garage for about 2 months, and then a friend of mine, who reckoned himself some sort of rock-star asked to borrow them for some party.
Unfortunately, I allowed him to do it. They came back positively trashed with only one of the drivers still working. He told me that they "sucked" and actually chewed me out over them blowing (as an aside, I later found that their "PA" amp was a Marantz PM-520 DC
; it belonged to my friend's dad, and a couple years later, he had me repair it- apparently he didn't know that his son had abused it so, and it was passing severe DC). He did, however, reimburse my $50 for the speakers. About a week later, my dad, who wanted to regain use of the garage asked what I was planning on doing with them. I told him to go ahead and take them to the dump.
And that's my Altec 9844a story. Seeing the pics brought back the memories.
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Actually those are sitting upright.
9842, 9844, 9845, and 9849 are all engineered and voiced to be soffit mounted with the woofers in very close proximity to the ceiling, the horn belongs on the bottom. They sound best in this placement hands down, but in people's homes this might not always be ideal, or even possible.
One unique feature of the 9844 that makes them very "special" is the polar response of the tandem woofers which is nearly identical to that of the horn. 9844 also observes proper phase alignment in the vertical plane, notice how far the woofers have been pushed rearward and the horn brought forward with double offset baffles.
These speakers start out great and can be significantly upgraded. Search out the Zilch/Skywaverider thread dealing with 9844's for one tasty option.
9842, 9844, 9845, and 9849 are all engineered and voiced to be soffit mounted with the woofers in very close proximity to the ceiling, the horn belongs on the bottom. They sound best in this placement hands down, but in people's homes this might not always be ideal, or even possible.
One unique feature of the 9844 that makes them very "special" is the polar response of the tandem woofers which is nearly identical to that of the horn. 9844 also observes proper phase alignment in the vertical plane, notice how far the woofers have been pushed rearward and the horn brought forward with double offset baffles.
These speakers start out great and can be significantly upgraded. Search out the Zilch/Skywaverider thread dealing with 9844's for one tasty option.
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Price wise, i wouldn't pay that for anything but an absolutely pristine pair. But, that's not to say the price isn't fair. I have seen just the horns and drivers bring 500 for a pair, the XO's up to 200, and around 300 for a clean good working pair of 414's. I've seen the speakers whole sell as pairs from just under 400 to over 1200.
I think thebadone nailed the price right on, everything working properly and nice presentable boxes should bring 600, if the boxes are a little beat and/or have holes from being suspended/mounted, i'd push for closer to 500.
If the seller won't budge from 750, you cannot really blame him, somebody will pay it eventually as the value is easily there just in components, but it won't likely be a quick sale at 750.
FWIW, at least a couple if not all of mine are veneered in oak under the gray lacquer.
Just my .02.............
I think thebadone nailed the price right on, everything working properly and nice presentable boxes should bring 600, if the boxes are a little beat and/or have holes from being suspended/mounted, i'd push for closer to 500.
If the seller won't budge from 750, you cannot really blame him, somebody will pay it eventually as the value is easily there just in components, but it won't likely be a quick sale at 750.
FWIW, at least a couple if not all of mine are veneered in oak under the gray lacquer.
Just my .02.............
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
I really just cite the most memorable averages in recent history. As you well know, the prices on vintage altec go all over the place for reasons beyond explanation.
Nearly anything is possible.
Here's an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-1950s-Alte...s_R2?hash=item5634368885&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Those 515's aren't even red, white, and blue Hollywoods. Sure, they're kinda minty with original paper surround cones. IMO, worth about 2500 tops.
Back to our topic tho, IMO, a clean working, ready to plug n play pair of 806's on 811's should regularly fetch 450 to 600, greenies on the 600 end, blackies on the 450 end of that range.
Nearly anything is possible.
Here's an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pair-1950s-Alte...s_R2?hash=item5634368885&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Those 515's aren't even red, white, and blue Hollywoods. Sure, they're kinda minty with original paper surround cones. IMO, worth about 2500 tops.
Back to our topic tho, IMO, a clean working, ready to plug n play pair of 806's on 811's should regularly fetch 450 to 600, greenies on the 600 end, blackies on the 450 end of that range.
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
I just wish i were the seller......................... and i had a truckload.
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Just looking at the OP's pic, why's that cab on the left have a bare looking strip across the top front edge?
Missing veneer?
Have they been wet?
Missing veneer?
Have they been wet?
bowtie427ss
Lunatic Member
Simi, i'm pretty sure the materials used will depend on the vintage. Mine are all circa 1975 and fully made of ply, and possibly a solid piece of pine or spruce that the horn is mounted in. All of the exterior surfaces, including that front edge appear to be veneered. I think later cabinets would probably have MDF backs, but i would hope and suspect they used ply for the sides, they need the strength.
