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Original Message

RE: Altec Valencia Cabinet Mods

Posted by Palustris on December 13, 2009 at 08:05:03:

Yes, I did end up using the 802Ds. I also covered the horn with Dynamat and removed the bug screen. These changes made a huge improvement in the clarity and freedom from artifacts in the sound. I eventually ended up with the big Magnificents boxes. I have been using them for a decade going through several other much more expensive speakers once in a while, but going back to the Altecs each time.

A few more points. Even with bi-amping you can replicate the Altec crossovers with new good quality coils and caps. The crossover for the tweeter and woofer can be built separately and still be exactly as Altec designed; each connected to its own amplifier. Even the best of the Altec crossovers can not come close to the freedom from artifacts that a rebuild using modest components can achieve. This reduces all the sizzle and hard steely highs and allows the 802 to really be heard clearly. It is the same reason to remove the bug screen. I have my Magnificents toed in so that the speakers are aimed at the listening position.

You will need to adjust the distance from the rear wall to ensure that the bass is accurate and firm while leaving enough space behind the speakers for the image to "bloom" with full depth of soundstage.

OK, now for a wildly OT comment: it is my building of small 1 and 2 liter racing engines for sports cars that made it impossible for me to leave the bug screen in the interface between driver and horn. In a racing engine the object is to cram as much fuel/air mixture into the cylinder for detonation as possible and to then evacuate the exhaust as rapidly as possible so that the next charge of fuel/air can replace it. In fact, the object is to get the exhaust gas flowing out to pull in the fuel/air mixture.

To achieve this, the air filter, carburetor (or fuel injection), cylinder head, and exhaust system must be as unrestricted, straight, and turbulence free as possible so as not to restrict the flow of fuel. Now imagine putting that bug screen in the intake side of the system or in the exhaust. What percent of the horsepower would be lost by that horribly restricting screen. I would bet probably 30% as a wild guess.

Now imagine that the compression driver and horn were an engine... Oh wait, they are an engine! They are an engine whose complete function in life is to move air in and out of that horn up to 20,000 times a second and more. Obviously we want that air moving in and out of that horn to do so in as unrestricted a manner possible so that the relationship between the horn throat and the compression driver is a perfect as possible for the most clear and accurate sound. While that may not be a perfect an analogy, there is no way I would put that bug screen in my racing engines and there is no way I would leave it between my horn and driver.