What diaphragm in my 802-8G drivers?

[Ikke&Altec]

Hi,

Asking the experts here, identifying what diaphragm I have in my Altec M19 horns.

The diaphragms are installed in my Altec 802-8G compression drivers (model code 033952 on the back of the drivers).

The code on the diaphragm reads: 391809 (see pictures), I have done a search on this code, no results.

Questions:

• Is this genuine Altec diaphragm or a knock-off?
• If a genuine Altec, what type / partn# would it be?

You help would be much appreciated!

 

[Dr. Beaker]

The part number is on the inside of the voice coil. Looks like 23744, which is the Altec lightweight diaphragm.

 

[WntrMute2]

I'm sure you've considered this but call, don't bother with email, GPA and ask them. They are the best repository of Altec knowledge IMO.

 

[Ikke&Altec]

The part number is on the inside of the voice coil. Looks like 23744, which is the Altec lightweight diaphragm.

Thank you for your quick response! You might be hitting something here.
I had another look at the printed number on the voice coil. Originally I was reading: 2974418726 based on the pictures I took a while ago. I did search on this number.

After your comment, I had another look at the picture (see attached), the second digit I interpreted originally as a "9" can also be read as a "3". Which changes the printed number to 2374418726. The first 5 digits point to Altec lightweight diagram.... the last 5 digits I'm not sure what to make out of these, manufacturing date code?

 

[Ikke&Altec]

I'm sure you've considered this but call, don't bother with email, GPA and ask them. They are the best repository of Altec knowledge IMO.

Thank you for your suggestion, I have contacted them in the past with some questions, no response. Thought I try this forum. Looks like I got a great hint.

 

[spicer]

Hi,

Asking the experts here, identifying what diaphragm I have in my Altec M19 horns.

The diaphragms are installed in my Altec 802-8G compression drivers (model code 033952 on the back of the drivers).

The code on the diaphragm reads: 391809 (see pictures), I have done a search on this code, no results.

Questions:

• Is this genuine Altec diaphragm or a knock-off?
• If a genuine Altec, what type / partn# would it be?

You help would be much appreciated!

How does it sound. It's an Altec model 19, right. I had a pair of those for years, downsized with smaller home. That looks like original Altec diaphragm, the links to the coil looks correct, after market are not as delicate looking, shorter, without the flex of the original. I might be wrong. I tried non Altec replacements including one set from GPA and they did not sound the same, bought new old stock.

 

[mvandyke]

The 23744 is the light weight diagrahram defined above. It is an official altec. It's the best one to have and highly sought after from collectors.

 

[Ikke&Altec]

The 23744 is the light weight diagrahram defined above. It is an official altec. It's the best one to have and highly sought after from collectors.

Thank you for the confirmation.

 

[Ikke&Altec]

How does it sound. It's an Altec model 19, right. I had a pair of those for years, downsized with smaller home. That looks like original Altec diaphragm, the links to the coil looks correct, after market are not as delicate looking, shorter, without the flex of the original. I might be wrong. I tried non Altec replacements including one set from GPA and they did not sound the same, bought new old stock.

I bought the M19s with the above-mentioned diaphragms, didn’t like the mid & highs, after I updated the cross-over there was an improvement, however I was not really satisfied. Too bright for my taste. I bought a pair of Radian 1228 Diaphragms, which mellowed the sound significantly and the M19s improved to my taste.

I’ve kept the Radian diaphragms in, while switching to active bi-amping and coming to the conclusion that you want to drive Altec horns with a decent tube amp. I’ve tried decent B-class amps and the latest Hypex D-class amps, but I keep going back to a tube amp. Against all logic, a tube amp is noisier, has more distortion, does not measure as great as a i.e. D-class amp I have, but the Altec horns sound better with them, don’t ask me why. Currently, IMHO I have a pretty well dialed-in setup.

Now coming back to my original post & question …. Last week I got this itch “what if I go back to the original diaphragms with the active / tube amp set-up”? Before going through the effort remeasuring and tuning my setup, I wanted to make sure the original diaphragms were not cheap knockoffs but the real deal. Which seems like they are.

I will likely give in to my itch in the coming weeks. I might let you know regarding the results.

I would like to thank everybody who responded to this thread, very helpful!

 

[MissionX]

I have contacted them in the past with some questions, no response.

You have to keep calling until Bill answers his phone. Email is no reply and leaving a message has never worked for me either.

Between this forum, Altec User's Board, hifihaven, and DIYaudio, there is a monumental brain trust of information that can answer virtually any Altec question. Your best bet is to start here and somebody will be along.

 

[spicer]

I bought the M19s with the above-mentioned diaphragms, didn’t like the mid & highs, after I updated the cross-over there was an improvement, however I was not really satisfied. Too bright for my taste. I bought a pair of Radian 1228 Diaphragms, which mellowed the sound significantly and the M19s improved to my taste.

I’ve kept the Radian diaphragms in, while switching to active bi-amping and coming to the conclusion that you want to drive Altec horns with a decent tube amp. I’ve tried decent B-class amps and the latest Hypex D-class amps, but I keep going back to a tube amp. Against all logic, a tube amp is noisier, has more distortion, does not measure as great as a i.e. D-class amp I have, but the Altec horns sound better with them, don’t ask me why. Currently, IMHO I have a pretty well dialed-in setup.

Now coming back to my original post & question …. Last week I got this itch “what if I go back to the original diaphragms with the active / tube amp set-up”? Before going through the effort remeasuring and tuning my setup, I wanted to make sure the original diaphragms were not cheap knockoffs but the real deal. Which seems like they are.

I will likely give in to my itch in the coming weeks. I might let you know regarding the results.

I would like to thank everybody who responded to this thread, very helpful!

You're experimenting... enjoying yourself... with them in ways I never did except playing around with different diaphragms and my experience is the originals were superior, others lacked high end and mid seemed suppressed. It was quite the difference. I am not surprised by your experience with decent tube amps. I think Altec 19s are among the best sounding out of the box speakers one could buy and their efficiency contributes to much of it. I've always used decent SS amps and among them one could tell a difference. I was fortunate to have had a good room for them.