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45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?

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Posted on April 1, 2016 at 16:41:48
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Hello.. been quite awhile since I posted; I have an Oliver Sayes 45 amp coming to me in a month, and thought I would ask the members for opinions on speakers or drivers for a nearfield set up. Ill be living small for awhile, and prefer nearfield. My own inclinations are Altec 601/414/802 or Pioneer PE series + small sub. I plan to high pass whatever comes, at 100Hz. Thanks.

 

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RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 1, 2016 at 17:59:09
Randal P
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: NYC Area
Joined: August 19, 2004
 You're getting an amp from Oliver? Is it an all-DHT amp he's working on?

If you're talking 2 watts, nearfield, and a small sub, I would give my highest recommendation to a pair of Omega Super 3's.

I have two SE amps (a 421a amp my Oliver and an Inspire KT88HO by Dennis Had) and three pairs of high efficiency speakers: Omega Super 3's, Omega Super Alnico, and Goodmans Triaxiom 212's in big aperiodic boxes. Both Omega's are good to 40-60hz and are about 94 - 95 dB efficient. The Goodmans hit an honest 30hz at about 100dB (16 ohm).

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 2, 2016 at 09:04:19
drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005
 How large is your listening room ??

Jeff

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 2, 2016 at 12:53:06
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Do not know yet, but it will be a small apartment, so perhaps 14 x 20 etc.

Yes to the question, Oliver has a DHT 45 6n7 5U4, set aside.

Im preparing for a move, and a wind-down, semi retirement gig entirely outside my regular work, in a new town and State, and I find myself listening to almost exclusively acoustic music, guitar, Renaissance, chamber orchestra, etc., and tend to listen to "fuller" stuff using phones anyway. btw, the KEF M500 are wonderful, and reasonably priced. iFi iDSD is my source. Sounds legit, no intention of changing it.

So far, Ive been thinking about 601/414 in the 614 size box, or the Pioneer PE series, with a small sub or slot loaded servo bass machine

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 2, 2016 at 15:09:08
HiFiOd
Audiophile

Posts: 707
Location: Oakland, Califonia
Joined: May 30, 2001
 Congrats, I have one and coul not be happier.

 

For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 3, 2016 at 08:08:00
Jim Hodgson
Audiophile

Posts: 399
Location: New York City
Joined: March 9, 2006
 "JE Labs Altec 2-way horn system redux" (link below).

I have 414/804/3000 and also 601. I'm still experimenting with various bass cabinets and open baffles. Power amp is 45-based. Bulk of listening material is solo and small ensemble acoustic instrumental.

Best of luck...

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 4, 2016 at 10:35:07
drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005






I am able to run ALTEC A7-800s ( 515Bs and 802Ds ) in a 14 by 18 foot sized apartment living room in my place. I use my DIY Direct Coupled Type 45 amp.

The efficiency of an optimally re-wired A7 VOTT makes it FUN to hear, dynamic range-wise, on playback.

Jeff Medwin

 

RE: For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 4, 2016 at 10:45:50
drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005
 IMHO.

The horn load of the 15 inch woofer in an A7 enclosure is SO MUCH FUN to hear. It makes it hard for me to go back to a flat-baffle-mounted 15 inch ALTEC woofer !!

I use 515Bs and 802Ds, 16 Ohms.

Jeff Medwin

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 04:54:27
GEO
Audiophile

Posts: 4749
Joined: April 7, 2000
Contributor
  Since: September 9, 2000
 Something along these lines.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 06:35:58
amandarae
Audiophile

Posts: 2591
Location: So.Cal
Joined: November 30, 2004
 Hi Daniel,
I answered your email!!

Regards.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 14:11:29
geoff
Audiophile

Posts: 3502
Joined: April 5, 2000
Contributor
  Since: September 10, 2003
 +1

 

RE: For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 5, 2016 at 18:01:59
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 I would LOVE something like that, truly, however room size will make this an Unobtainium dream.

however, around 1974 I played in a band and our practice PA was A7 VOTT and it was set up in my parent's garage. So I got to spin records in the garage listening to the A7's using a very very nice 2 channel Bogen PA amp, the common one, a PPP design. it all sounded fabulous. Age 15.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 18:04:24
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003



Here is a beauty shot of Oliver's Korneff 45 circuit. uses Tamura output and power irons from a Sony reel deck. perfect.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 18:06:40
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Please resend, cannot find it. Thanks in advance.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 18:26:02
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 How do you like the Goodmans? Those interest me more than small drivers with ceramic magnets. The Omega 3 are definitely cool, small speakers.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 5, 2016 at 22:10:27
amandarae
Audiophile

Posts: 2591
Location: So.Cal
Joined: November 30, 2004
 Resended! Please check your AA mail.

 

Where is the AA email button located ?, posted on April 6, 2016 at 08:52:38
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 I cannot find the AA email button anywhere. Please help.

 

RE: For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 6, 2016 at 10:47:51
drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005
 You need to go BACK to an optimized A7. Time is getting short.

When I was 8, my Dad had 604Bs in our Recreation room. Bought many speakers and amps as I grew up.

In 2016, MANY decades later, I am pleased as punch to be in front of ALTEC VOTTs .

Jeff

 

Here It Is With Pics!!!, posted on April 6, 2016 at 12:55:40
amandarae
Audiophile

Posts: 2591
Location: So.Cal
Joined: November 30, 2004
 Should be automatic and shows up to your email address you provided on your AA registration account. Anyways, here what I sent you:

Hi Daniel,
Yes, I sold my 604-8G's so no more OB's.
When I was experimenting with the Altec 612C cabs and Altec drivers, I made an adaptor so that the 612C cabs with 16" driver cut out can take a 12" driver. After that, I installed the 414-16A as LF driver, then use Azura conical horns and Altec 288C's and 802D's in 16 ohm config. What I heard moved me!

So now, I am in the middle of finishing my cabinets for the 414's then use the horns and mini DSP as XO to play with the setting. Afterwards, once I have an idea about the XO, then I can build discrete components crossovers.

With a 45 amp, I will suggest Altec 414Z's or 414A's just like my friend Joseph Esmilla has(JE Labs). I heard his speakers with a 45 or even a 91A amp and it is truly amazing.

http://jelabs.blogspot.com/2014/01/altec-2-way-horn-system-redux.html

Regards,
Abe



 

RE: Here It Is With Pics!!!, posted on April 6, 2016 at 15:08:20
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Thanks Abe, fantastic pic, informative. JE did say several years ago just go for 45 + 414 and be done. Glad you are enjoying the new thang.

 

RE: For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 6, 2016 at 16:10:51
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 "Time is getting short." -- this is part of the reason for the #45 amp, a an "excuse" or reason for something truly sweet in the speaker department.

I remember listening to Prokofiev on the A7, gargantuan orchestration, you would have to listen to that stuff on those speakers to get a handle on what ol' Sergei had in mind.

 

RE: For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 7, 2016 at 09:29:58
drlowmu
Manufacturer

Posts: 9730
Location: East of Kansas City
Joined: January 10, 2005
 The ALTECs are merciless in showing up what is right and wrong in feeding them. It takes ALL I know, to get them to really go. Still working on that, a new ( re-do ) of my Direct Coupled Type 45 amp. FUN to do. Can't wait to get it all done and playing. A week away maybe. BACK to soldering now !!

Jeff

 

RE: For All Things 414/802-Related, Check Here:, posted on April 7, 2016 at 10:19:38
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Ive decided Im going to start with the 414's, and use the N3000 crossover on a Pioneer PM series mid/tweet, which are every so nice as the Altec 3000 unit, eventually going for the 802 and want the 32B horn.

Not a kludge, an evolution. The 414 is pretty flat to 4kHz.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 7, 2016 at 17:17:39
Randal P
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: NYC Area
Joined: August 19, 2004
 I like them a lot - great bass and very efficient. Very much like a more efficient Tannoy (I had heard that the cones were made by the same manufacturer). They need either a very big box (12,500 cu inches) or a 7,800 cu inch aperiodic enclosure.

Chris Templar put a pair of Axion 201's in a back loaded horn and directly compared to a Tannoy 12" Red.

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/diy_goodmans_horn_e.html

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 7, 2016 at 17:17:58
Randal P
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: NYC Area
Joined: August 19, 2004
 I like them a lot - great bass and very efficient. Very much like a more efficient Tannoy (I had heard that the cones were made by the same manufacturer). They need either a very big box (12,500 cu inches) or a 7,800 cu inch aperiodic enclosure.

Chris Templar put a pair of Axion 201's in a back loaded horn and directly compared to a Tannoy 12" Red.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 8, 2016 at 04:11:34
horn kid
Audiophile

Posts: 128
Joined: November 2, 2014
 I am so much with drlowmu on this. In proper condition (correct diaphragms, cones, etc.) the A7 800 is so natural, even, easy to listen to, dynamic, that I don't care to even try to improve them at this point. I add in a JBL 2405, which only adds, never subtracts, from the musical beauty of these speakers.

I have heard poor crossovers, aftermarket diaphragms, and wrong horn / woofer balance make these speakers sound awful, and I'm convinced that this must be why some people might not have loved a pair they heard at someone's house. But done right with factory or GPA diaphragms, and not setting the the top horn too high to try to get real HF out of them (and I'm convinced that this is exactly what a lot of folks have done) they are glorious.

One place I differ from drlowmu is that I find them very forgiving, more so than any other speaker I can think of that is as detailed and transparent.

I urge anyone trying Altec to go with the true horn loaded woofer instead of panel mounted woofer. Though they look big, remember that in a smaller room the added control (directivity) of a horn makes it easier to fit, sonically, not harder. Folks see a big speaker and think it won't work in a small room, but a big horn has far more controlled dispersion than a mini-monitor, so is an easier sonic (if not aesthetic) fit. This is why those little rooms in Japan often have huge horns....they can disappear even in a small room.

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 8, 2016 at 06:51:03
DrD
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: SoCal
Joined: July 17, 2003
 Agreed, wholeheartedly. those memories of sitting in this repurposed stable, listening to those things is still, to this day a very fresh, full color memory. I think I do not listen to enough music because in retrospect my ears got so wined n dined on great sonics as early as that. Fender Twins, Gibson ES1175, Hammond, Leslie, the Altecs, ... pretty hard act to follow..

I am wondering if there is a simple, proven back-horn design that works with the 414/601..

 

RE: Here It Is With Pics!!!, posted on April 10, 2016 at 16:58:45
Don Reid
Audiophile

Posts: 890
Location: Rural NW Georgia
Joined: February 2, 2001
Contributor
  Since: April 1, 2010
 Looks like my kind of speaker!
I dream of an America where a chicken can cross the road without having it's motives questioned.

 

Thanks Don! (NT), posted on April 10, 2016 at 18:30:03
amandarae
Audiophile

Posts: 2591
Location: So.Cal
Joined: November 30, 2004
 nt

 

RE: Here It Is With Pics!!!, posted on April 12, 2016 at 14:25:17
Steelhead Mike
Audiophile

Posts: 104
Location: New England
Joined: September 2, 2000
 Abe,

Very lovely. Which model Azura horn are you using?


Mike

 

RE: Here It Is With Pics!!!, posted on April 12, 2016 at 18:21:18
amandarae
Audiophile

Posts: 2591
Location: So.Cal
Joined: November 30, 2004
 Hi Mike,
It's Azura AH-425 with 1.4" throat.

Abe

 

RE: 45 Amp Coming. Nearfield speakers/drivers Opinions ?, posted on April 13, 2016 at 06:39:40
hifipaul
Audiophile

Posts: 735
Location: NY
Joined: December 22, 2008
It seems to me that; if you're going to listen near-field, a pair of Altec 755Cs or 755As would work well. I have a pair of Cs that I rotate into my system every so often, and I am totally enamored with the coherency of the sound. They work best with small scale jazz, vocals, and acoustic sets. 2 watts gets satisfying sound.

 

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