would some help identify the Model of these Altec Speakers?

[plschles]

It says on the back of the speakers N-1285-8B. Thx.

 

[biscuithead]

The N-1285-8B is the crossover. The cabinets could be Altec, or another manufacture. If they are inexpensive, just buy them and figure out the guts later. The crossover is indicative of good stuff inside.
I don’t know if anyone can give you a definitive answer with that photo.

@bowtie427ss ?

 

[bowtie427ss]

9864's of some iteration, or somebody was able to source the engine and horn, and built their own cabinet based on the 9864.

They did not leave the factory with a passive crossover, they're a bi-amp only system.

Sounds like somebody probably wanked the 1285 networks in there to simplify their setup and operation. Problem is they were designed to be flown in splayed arrays.

You WILL NOT re-purpose the parts(except the XO's) in any other speaker system, the engine is proprietary.

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/altec/specs/pro-systems/9864/page6.jpg

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/altec/specs/pro-systems/9864/page1.jpg

 

[plschles]

Thank you. So not worth pursuing?

 

[bowtie427ss]

FWIW, the engine was a great innovation that arrived just a little too late to pull Altec's financial bacon out of the fire. It is basically a full range driver based on the 515 woofer, and large format 288 compression driver. In the engine, both HF and LF sections share a common magnet structure similar to the Tannoy dual concentric design.

What really sets them apart is that they're designed specifically for use in mid-bass horn type enclosures with a co-axially mounted large format horn. A single cabinet is capable of a higher acoustic output than any other single 2-way 2 element speaker system made.

 

[biscuithead]

Thank you. So not worth pursuing?

They ARE worth pursuing. How much does the seller want?

I didn’t see the black fronts of the 9864s... I was looking at the backs of the other speakers in the picture. Is it a four piece sale?

 

[bowtie427ss]

Thank you. So not worth pursuing?

That would depend on the price, the environment you have to use them in, and your level of enthusiasm.

They can certainly be EQ'd and massaged for use in an other than flown setup. But, to respectfully track their dynamics and general sensitivity and output, they would likely need a substantial subwoofer system to support them.

 

[bowtie427ss]

Also note, they were indeed designed to use the 1285 crossover as a dealer/installer option.

 

[Galaxie65]

I'd pick them up honestly. They look like it wouldn't cost much based on cosmetics, but worth the fun if the price is right. I'd say if you can get them for a few hundred then why not?

 

[kwingylee]

Thank you. So not worth pursuing?

I picked up a set of of speakers very similar to these. The 9864-8A biamp complete with brackets. Unfortunately, mine did NOT come with the N1285-8B crossover, which IME is one of the best sounding Altec crossovers. Instead of active XO, I am using mine with ESS AMT-10B crossover, which has XO frequency around 1000Hz, the recommended XO frequency by Altec. They sound respectable. If you can get them for the right price, they are fun. You can always part them out: you can probably get $200 for the crossovers alone. The cabinets are not bad either.

 

[Tom Brennan]

Kwing knows. He has big horns AND the big Harbeths.

 

[kwingylee]

Kwing knows. He has big horns AND the big Harbeths.

Hi Tom! Happy New Year. We still miss you in Chicago.... picked up the pair of 9864-8A last summer. Price was decent.... about 1/2 the size of the A7 and weights a ton.

 

[kwingylee]

An update on this, I replaced the crossovers with the ESS AMT-1B bookshelves, which allows for more adjustments for mids and highs. They are sitting atop of JBL 4530 scoop horns now. Would be a fun project for the summer once the COVID-19 virus blows over..