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Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers

62.44.134.180
Posted on October 1, 2016 at 12:49:41
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 I know nothing about Altec Lansing speakers, except that many people rave about them and I am interested in exploring this possibility further.

My amplifiers are.

Larry Moore Darling
45 SET monos
2A3 SET monos
300B SET power amp, and
KT66/KT88 Class A Triode wired PP (12W).

I have a small room area 3M x 4M that is in the middle of a much larger room, but I have to sit only 3M from the wall where the speakers are as the rest of the room is divided into a parlor and a dining space.

My Main speakers 8 Ohm/95 dB sensitive) are 2-way (single driver crossed over to a ribbon tweeter) made by Tonian Labs in LA.

I'm looking for a smaller monitor (floor or on stands). Are there any Altec Monitors that would fit into this room/system.

I have seen a number of Santana 879A models (with cabinets) for sale, but information is scant. Prices are around $500. But I have no idea what else is available that would fit my needs.

Am I barking up the wrong tree? I do not listen to bassy music. If a speaker sounds good on both Bach Unaccompanied Cello Suites and Violin Sonatas and Partitas, I would be happy. That is my range.

I just need a push or two in the right direction.

 

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RE: Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers, posted on October 1, 2016 at 12:55:59
tedk.
Audiophile

Posts: 401
Location: chicagoland
Joined: July 7, 2004

Boleros?

 

Can you tell me more, posted on October 1, 2016 at 15:53:25
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 I find it awfully hard to find anything meaningful to me about these speakers.

 

RE: Can you tell me more, posted on October 1, 2016 at 16:21:38
Uncle Mike
 try here, lots to read, Lansing Heritage is the place for all things Jim Lansing

 

I would take a pass on the Santanas............., posted on October 1, 2016 at 16:33:19
viridian
 as I don't much like the cone tweeters.

The Model 14 is a compact, horn loaded, system that is at the top of your price range and will work very well with low powered SE amps. It is just what you are looking for. The similar looking model 15 has a much lower quality woofer, though prices are generally lower as well so it may be an option.

The Klipsh Heresy should cost just over 300 per pair and may be a viable alternative though it has less bass reach than the Model 14.

Best of luck with the hunt!

Marty

 

RE: Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers, posted on October 1, 2016 at 17:12:19
mah
Audiophile

Posts: 87
Joined: May 26, 2008
 Frihed89, I am experiencing difficulty in posting.

Here is the link to part 1 of an article on the Altec Model 14 - all 4 parts are available on the site:



 

small is relative..., posted on October 1, 2016 at 18:46:08
mhardy6647
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Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016

The Santiagos aren't huge (a little bigger than the Santana) yet they are real Altecs (despite the prevailing opinion among the brethren).

The "Dynamic Force" woofers, despite the protestations of some (perhaps many) of the faithul, ain't bad drivers... yeah, not a 416, but I'll let you in on a dirty little secret -- the Santiagos produce bass (i.e., compared to the Valencia). And mind you, I like the 846A Valencias. A lot. They were my Altec gateway drug.

I write the above for one reason -- the 'cognoscenti' besmirch the Santiagos... and that keeps the price down.

Mine were 200 smackers (local CL find in MA).

They were my daily drivers for a while in MA and in the early days at the NH house.

DSC_5663
(see them jammed into the corners in the photo above)

They (to quote early Bottlehead adopter Steve Culton) -- do not suck.

Just a suggestion, of course.

all the best,
mrh

 

FWIW, I concur, in spades..., posted on October 1, 2016 at 19:01:44
mhardy6647
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Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 The Santana is -- not great.
If your heart is, for some reason, set on Santanas, you should be able to find a pair for far less than $500 (assuming you're in the Continental US).

That being said, in the interest of disclosure (and as you probably know) there were two flavors of Santana: The original version (879A) with the Altec "Biflex" extended range 'woofer' and an Altec cone tweetwer, and the later Santana II with a more ordinary (albeit probably still genuine Altec production?) woofer. The former seems to be more desirable (thus more expensive) than the latter, but either is pretty forgettable up against the "real" Altecs.

just my two cents, of course.
See my post above ;-)

all the best,
mrh

 

PS You are NOT barking up the wrong tree, posted on October 1, 2016 at 19:09:19
mhardy6647
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Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 Altecs and SE 2A3 get the job done at my house.

DSC_8059
DSC_0263

PS you've got a nice cadre of amplification opportunities to work with there! :-)

all the best,
mrh

 

+1 for the Santiago; another great choice! nt, posted on October 1, 2016 at 19:46:35
viridian
 nt

 

RE: Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers, posted on October 1, 2016 at 19:59:28
Inmate51
 Way back in the day, about 1979, I designed a cabinet for the Altec 604-8G coaxial speaker. They were for a disco nightclub. When the cabinets were done, I set them up (four of them, stacked two high) in my girlfriend's apartment, and powered them with her little 25 wpc Sansui amp. Pink Floyd sounded awesome.

I'm not normally a fan of 15" 2-way speakers, but these were killer. My point is simply to say that you might try to find a couple of 604s and build a couple of cabinets. They won't be small, but they'll sound great.

:)

 

Thanks for your replies. One thing more, though, posted on October 2, 2016 at 02:34:43
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 How well will these speakers do with 0.8W-3.5W SET amps in a small room? My 95dB Tonian Labs speakers do quite well.

 

There are few better loudspeakers than the classic Altecs for fleapower, posted on October 2, 2016 at 03:55:07
mhardy6647
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Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 Opinions do differ, but I think SE 2A3 (3.5-ish watts) is a perfect choice.

A Darling or SE45 may be unsatisfying with some kinds of music -- in your case, though, either may be fine.

I've used mine with SE EL84 in triode mode (Decware Zen SE-84B); sound was good, but things would get squishy at only moderately high volume with (as Tom Brennan would put it) "Little Girl with Guitar" music.

Here's a very cogent thread -- albeit focused on the Altec Duplexes (but they're pretty much cut from the same cloth, sensitivity-wise as the VOT family of Altecs... for the purposes of discussion!).

See link below.

PS my apologies for rather monopolizing replies to your question(s)! I am an UNAPOLOGETIC :-) Altec fanboy.

Good luck & have fun!




all the best,
mrh

 

RE: Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers, posted on October 2, 2016 at 10:15:17
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 I say skip the Spanish name home stuff and go for the more pro models.

Model 15 is a good target.

414 woofers and 802s is good (preferably not with 511/811 horn, if you ask me).

414s kill on Starker Bach cello, although the original LP set is worth more than the woofers.

The best Altec is DIY with Altec parts.

Larry Moore has been playing with an Altec rig. Since you have his amp, ask him how that worked out.

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

the question was begged --, posted on October 2, 2016 at 10:53:56
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 which horns for 802s, then?

Inquiring minds want to know, you know? :-)

Y'know -- no particular reason to ask, just academic curiosity.

other 802D 1


all the best,
mrh

 

RE: the question was begged --, posted on October 2, 2016 at 11:09:55
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004



Good question.

I like the 32 horns better for Altec. Or some other old stuff I have laying around. ;op

Somebody has to survey currently available pro horns. I am certain there are much better alternatives to 511/811 available via retail channels.

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 13:47:49
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 I ask because... if one excises the vanes (or whatever one calls them) from an 811B, it looks quite -- Emilar-ish.

Is it the throat?


I know that Tom Brennan always liked the Emilar 'bowtie' horns, as well

I will admit that the 811B and even 511B are OK by me. Both do seem to benefit from not using them as low as their nominal XO frequencies (though).


all the best,
mrh

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 14:34:05
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004



It is the throat.

Emilars are a lot better than 511s,I think, but I am sure there are many many more.

I guess it depends on what you have heard to compare. To me, 511s and 811s are far down the list. In fact, I can't stand them...and I listen to a lot of inferior stuff quite happily.

I bring this up to point toward a better world for those who like 5111s and reassure those who think they are nasty ringing things that they have company and that not all horns are like that.

If you like them, I am jealous!

Here is a waterfall plot of a _mechanically damped_ 511/902 measured in the anechoic chamber at a major technical university in Europe by a friend.

Throat impedance also drops off high, so not much loading at the specified 500hz.





------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 14:34:55
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004



Throat impedance of 511B

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers, posted on October 2, 2016 at 14:50:43
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 Hey Joe - besides Bach - which Starker performances might you recommend on CD format?

ah - "this" sounds ok on my Ihome Boombox

F. Reeder does some great transfers of 78s at the Internet Archive
Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 14:54:40
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 you talking about the "Bowtie" or other Emilar horn? Seems like I have some heavy cast horns which look 811-ish in size (might be Renkus-Heinz?) besides my Bowties - the Bowtie probably needs a baffle due to its "waist" - I've not run mine for years - very nice vocals compared to the Altec cowbells
Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: PS You are NOT barking up the wrong tree, posted on October 2, 2016 at 14:58:30
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 that reminds me - I've never tried my cheap Crown amp with 1K watt per channel into 8 ohms - little bit scared - ha
Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 15:26:44
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 There are Emilar 800hz horns aside from the bowtie.

I had a pair branded "Rauland" who used Emilar as a supplier. Just traded them towards a Gates table.

They can be distinguished from R-H by the greater thickness of the casting and a few other identifying features. The Renkus expos are decent too.

R-H made many constant directivity horns which seem nice, but CD isn't my thing for home listening. They were clean sounding however. Nice.

After leaving Altec, Renkus got rid of the throat disjunction that apparently causes some of the anomalies of the 511. In fact, most Emilar and Renkus horns don't actually have a throat per se...and the drivers were very thin so not much throat in the driver either.

The 500 hz horns pictured have the 2"->1" adapter, so they have a "throat," but it is a very smooth expansion. With 2" Emilar or Renkus drivers, you have a clear line of sight to the diaphragm from anywhere within the coverage angle of the horn.

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 16:06:22
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 is it "this horn"? - I should have the mate "somewhere" in my mess

its about 10.5" total from the flat mounting flange to the adapter's throat plate - the - the one to two inch conical adapter is marked "EE1-2" has a length of about 3.5" -- there's a little bit of cowbell from its "lips"

the mounting flange's outside dimensions are ~ 7.5" x 17" - 1/4" wider than a Karlson K12 ;^)


Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 16:22:04
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 Yeah, that's an EH-500. Way better than 511.

Not much mechanical ringing at all if you bolt them to a baffle, but the mechanical ringing is only part of the 511 problem. You can wrap them in raw meat and they still sound like they ring.

Far cleaner sound than the Altecs.

There MUST be conveniently available horns better than 511s for Altec 1" drivers.

Nobody is a bigger Altec fan than me. I have been using
Altec units for 30 years straight and I have a pr of 755As, a pr of 756Bs, two 32Bs, and five 802s within 15 feet of where I am sitting.

In fact I am listening to 802s right now, but I hate those stupid 511s. I tried them 10 times over decades, hoping they would work "this time."

Many seem to like them and I say they are lucky. I immediately dial in on a weird abrasive edge that drives me bananas.

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 16:35:40
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 I would use 511 as a midhorn for La Scala type setups with headbanging rock - this Emilar looks awfully small for a 500Hz horn - looks like it need long studs to reach through that adapter's flange. I'll play with it soon. Thanks for mentioning its existence.
Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 17:13:32
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 Headbang is the best use for the 511s. Good Death Metal horn.

Also possibly great for an outdoor poolside system, which is a kind of job this sort of horn was designed to do.

Try the Emilar. Way more sophisticated sound than the Altec.

I don't like to cross at 500hz, preferring to use cones that can get me to 2 or 3k whenever possible, so I don't break up the heart of the vocal range.

An Altec 15" can't, so maybe 800 or 1200 xover by default.

Also, I sense that many 500hz horns are starting to run out of steam at or near that spec and offer little loading with a 500hz second order crossover. Certainly, the 511 is guilty if the measurements above are to be believed.







------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 17:56:06
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 here's a cheap Selenium D250 Trio on a 511b - clean as a whistle on a ~500Hz sine - spl maybe around 100dB back 3-4 feet - loud enough to notice


Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 18:39:43
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 Enjoy it! ;op

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 20:29:53
gilmorneau
Audiophile

Posts: 288
Location: Colorado
Joined: August 10, 2004
 For what it's worth, I'm on team Joe when it comes to 811's and 511's. Tried 'em, many times, and just couldn't love 'em. If you can find 32's, they're much better, but don't cross them too low. I have had a few pairs of those bent horns through here and really liked the sound. Kind of wish I hadn't sold the last pair, but oh well.

I have a pair of late Lansing H-808 tar-filled multicell horns that I'm using these days. Love them more than the 32's, though I could live with either. Woofers are 414A's in just over 5 cu ft. Kind of like a 12" version of a Lansing Iconic.

For "small" Altec, my suggestion for the best you can do would be the JE Labs Altec 2-way (latest version with 32B horns). You could probably mess with the crossover, if you were so inclined, to squeeze a little more music out of them, but that's a pretty darn nice place to start. MUCH better than anything with an 806 + 811 horn, IME. Would work great with any amp from a SET 71A up to a 300B, unless you have a huge room or listen crazy loud.

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 2, 2016 at 20:43:33
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 Steve,

Whew! Glad you showed up, Man. I was feeling outnumbered...not that this ever stopped me before! Hahaha.

H-808s are indeed excellent but stupid rare. If I want to start naming rare horns that are better than 511s, I could go on for a while. But where does this get us?

Unfortunately I don't have the answer on currently available 1" horns but I imagine there must be something decent out there that you don't have to outbid Asian and German collectors to obtain.

Even plastic 32Cs are drying up.


The supply of 511s will outlast Keith Richards and the cockroach.





------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

sorry, I was asleep! :-), posted on October 3, 2016 at 04:00:04
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 Nah, you're not outnumbered -- and I won't stick up much for the 511B in particular. As a guy who owned and lived with (had my brainpan soucred by the midrange from) a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls for a decade, though -- it's hard for me to feel too bad about the 811B!

And DO note that, although there are still pairs of 511B and 811B here, I ain't using either on a regular basis.

The OP was looking for inexpensive (I think?!) sensitive fun for low/fleapowered amplifiers.

Would you really rather listen to a LaScala or a Heresy midrange? Aiyee.

;-)

all the best,
mrh

 

OK, I need to see a man about some horns! :-), posted on October 3, 2016 at 04:01:28
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 Needless to say Joe, you're not the only one who's been trying to convert me to better horns :-)

This is great stuff; thanks for sharing both the data and the opinions!

all the best,
mrh

 

I came SO CLOSE to buying a used Crown "Drivecore" amp a coupla weeks ago..., posted on October 3, 2016 at 04:05:37
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 it ain't funny!

:-)

Fortunately, sanity prevailed.
all the best,
mrh

 

hope you (i,e., the OP) didn't mind the topic drift! (nt), posted on October 3, 2016 at 05:05:16
mhardy6647
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Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 :-)
all the best,
mrh

 

RE: sorry, I was asleep! :-), posted on October 3, 2016 at 06:41:51
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 I don't do Klipsch.

But I quietly suspect Klipsch was kicking back listening to that WE gear he had and producing Klipsch for the mullets!

I see that in the early articles about the Klipsch midrange horn, he was using a nice WE 713 driver not one of those shitty Atlas units! ;op

And he was probably drinking Old Grand Dad bottled in bond and smokin Cubans, not half gallons of Cabin Still on sale and floor sweepins cigarillos.

As for cheap fun, we all know that buying 9 different cheap fun speakers gets expensive. Better to pick out a good one at the start. Unless, perhaps, if one could hear the Valencia or whatever and liked it enough to venture forth.

Gilmorneau is spot on with the JE Labs 414/32 recommendation. Not as easy as it used to be to get the parts but still one of the best moderate solutions.


I didn't take part in the great Econowave experiment but some of the parts uncovered in that sort of experimentation may have some merit.

I heard some Volti Audio horns sounding real good at the recent DC Audiofest. He's using some plastic pro horn that worked great. Deja Vu had a modern plastic horn with some unspecified vintage Japan driver....also great. They are out there but I just don't know what they are.


------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

"Friends don't let friends 'do' Klipsch" ;-) , posted on October 3, 2016 at 07:04:08
mhardy6647
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Posts: 16016
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 dampedcornyhornies
all the best,
mrh

 

Another recommendation, posted on October 3, 2016 at 07:27:08
Salectric
Audiophile

Posts: 1358
Location: East Coast
Joined: February 23, 2003
 This is a great thread with lots of useful advice. Just to muddy the waters a bit, if we are talking DIY versions of Altecs, I recommend using a 15" Jensen P15LL woofer instead of the Altec 414. I started out with a 414-8G (Alnico) with a 32B horn and 802-8G driver, in a 3.2 cu ft bass reflex cabinet. That worked out fine once I started using the Altec crossover from the 9849 speaker which used the same drivers and a 32B horn. The one complaint I had with it was the bass was not as weighty and satisfying as I liked. Eventually I switched the 414 woofer to a Jensen P15LL in the same cabinet with the same BR tuning. The Jensen gives me the low frequency weight and extension that I was missing with the 414. The crossover has to be reworked to accommodate the 16 ohm woofer but I still use the equalization network from the 9849 crossover. That eq network is very important to get the full potential out of the 32/802 combination. The crossover changes make this a DIY project instead of a standard Altec but the results are worth the effort in my opinion.

 

I think I have enough to go on, now. Thanks, though, posted on October 3, 2016 at 08:34:09
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 Audiophiles don't read that well, my problem as well.

 

RE: "Friends don't let friends 'do' Klipsch" ;-) "Klipschorns have ruined my life" ;^), posted on October 3, 2016 at 11:39:14
freddyi
Audiophile

Posts: 3852
Joined: December 6, 2001
 that damn thuddy "bass" that never mixes with K400 - treble harmonics arrive before anything else. The cabinets are a wonder of folding and imagination plus there's plenty of pretty veneer.

I do think my crappy room walls are part of the problem.

maybe I'll live to do a HORN PURGE - no more FH1 sitting, no more Sentry IV sitting, no more Edgar System 100 sitting maybe no more Khorns - then it will be "KARLSONLAND"
Karlson Evangelist

 

RE: Smaller, Vintage Altec Lansing Speakers, posted on October 3, 2016 at 12:10:47
amandarae
Audiophile

Posts: 2591
Location: So.Cal
Joined: November 30, 2004
 Hi,
I have the Altec 414 in 614 cabs plus Azura horn and 802(16ohms). Maybe this will work for you.

I used laboratory 4" jacks to mount the horn on the top of the cabinet.



XO is the same as what Joseph(JE Labs) published in his 414 blog article,

My room is 24' x 22' with ceiling height (cathedral) at about 12-13 feet. Here's the back of the room

You can see the amps I have in my profile. I just cannot find time to try out the 288's replacing the 802's and see what it sounds like.

Disclaimer: I am Joseph's friend and big fan of Mr. Joe Roberts ;)

 

2nd the Jensens, posted on October 3, 2016 at 12:50:42
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1989
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003








Altec 802B's, Altec 32B, Jensens P15ll's, 2A3/PP

Since the Jensens were primarily sold as a single driver for Leslie Organ speaker, it takes a little work to find a matching pair. Once you find a pair w like manufacturing dates, send to Millersound in Pa. for a matching original re cone. Say... $500 or less for driver and recone. Relatively inexpensive for the quality of sound.

I think a multitude of 15'ers could work in this configuration depending on ones preference.. But I really dig the sound of the Jensen's. Full, dynamic, and clear as a bell. Very coherent w the 802/32 combo.

As Selectric stated, the network takes some work and is key to getting the sound just right and married to the room.








 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 3, 2016 at 19:36:31
Randal P
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: NYC Area
Joined: August 19, 2004
 "Woofers are 414A's in just over 5 cu ft."

How did you tune this enclosure? I'm working on something similar but still deciding on cabinet volume and tuning.

Thanks,
Randy

 

RE: tuning cabs for 414A, posted on October 3, 2016 at 20:57:43
gilmorneau
Audiophile

Posts: 288
Location: Colorado
Joined: August 10, 2004
 Actually, I didn't tune them at all, per se. They're a version of the Altec 612 cabinet built to mimic the Lansing Iconic enclosure. They're a little smaller than the later versions of the 612, and, while I liked the sound of Altec 416A's in them, I liked the 414A sound better. Not as much bass, of course, but much better mids and integration with the horn.

Doing some quick calculations, it seems the boxes are tuned to about 32Hz, but I may still mess with that. Easy enough to do--just cut another baffle with different size port--but for now I'm happy to listen.

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 3, 2016 at 21:08:48
gilmorneau
Audiophile

Posts: 288
Location: Colorado
Joined: August 10, 2004
 No problem, Joe--I got your back when it comes to 811's and 511's.

Didn't mention the H-808's as a suggestion for the OP, only to illustrate the 414A + 802/horn combo as a viable, small Altec system with most of the "magic" of the best larger Altec systems.

When it comes to current production horns, I'm of no use at all, having never tried or heard any of them, AFAIK.

Another suggestion that occurred to me today is the 601 Duplex and/or the Seville. Both have the 414 plus 3000 series tweeter. They show up from time to time on that auction site. Run the 414 full range, and bring the 3000 in around 4-5kHz (12dB/octave). Ditch the original crossovers and the horrid ugly cabinets. Put them in something like a 614 cabinet. Very reasonable size, very nice sound. If you stumble into some of the nicer vintage Altec horns later, you can always add them into the mix if you like.

 

RE: tuning cabs for 414A, posted on October 4, 2016 at 04:45:51
Randal P
Audiophile

Posts: 33
Location: NYC Area
Joined: August 19, 2004
 Thanks! Do you have a link to the cabinet design? I can only find the standard 612 and the 614. It would appear that 4-5 cu ft seems to be the sweet spot for 414's. I suppose that I could simply wing it and tune it to 40 hz with a simple port.

 

RE: Thanks. How different are the Emilar horns (really) than 811Bs?, posted on October 4, 2016 at 06:25:45
gilmorneau
Audiophile

Posts: 288
Location: Colorado
Joined: August 10, 2004
 mine are built from the plans in the link. you can modify the internal volume by adding material to the interior of the cabinet, and you'll need to cut a different 'sub panel' for the 414 vs the 15 inch speaker the cabinet was designed for.

 

Starker, posted on October 4, 2016 at 07:35:39
Joe Roberts
Manufacturer

Posts: 412
Location: Virginia
Joined: January 25, 2004
 I am not a Starker expert...ask me about Johnny Guitar Watson or Sun Ra!

But I love classical music too. I really like the Schumann Concerto by Starker and LSO. Have it on LP, but I assume the CD is good too.

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000057KS/fanfairethewebziA/

We play that Starker Bach Unaccompanied on Mercury at shows on big WE horn systems and count the number of people who openly cry because it is so powerful.

Everybody should know this music.

There are some serious classical nerds over on Vinyl Asylum. I'd ask there.

------------------------------

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must remain silent -- Wittgenstein

Free your mind and your ass will follow -- Parliament/Funkadelic

 

RE: Another recommendation, posted on March 10, 2017 at 09:42:49
bald2
Audiophile

Posts: 338
Location: Oregon
Joined: January 21, 2006
 Greetings gentlemen-
I'm building a system around the 32b horn and Jensen P15LL woofers. Compression drivers will be Emilar EA 175s with EDM coded surrounds or 802Ds.

Salectric- your cabinet design is elegant and I'd like to try it out. Could you provide dimensions and details? Also, any guidance on crossovers would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance:)

Harry Z
Portland, OR

 

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