Vintage Asylum

Classic gear from yesteryear; vintage audio standing the test of time.

Return to Vintage Asylum

Message Sort: Post Order or Asylum Reverse Threaded

Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's

69.125.143.12
Posted on November 12, 2020 at 19:39:59
GRH
Audiophile

Posts: 444
Location: CT
Joined: March 22, 2004






My DIY version of the Altec Stonehenge but only 7 cubic feet after bracing and driver. Still has pretty good extension below 50hz.

They sound great, build quality I'm proud of, but staining birch is a beetch so despite much sanding and pre-sealing I only give the finish a B- and that's probably being kind to myself.

Thanks for looking.
Gary

 

Hide full thread outline!
    ...
that's a beautiful system (nt), posted on November 13, 2020 at 07:37:35
mhardy6647
Audiophile

Posts: 16018
Location: New England
Joined: October 12, 1999
Contributor
  Since: October 23, 2016
 nt

all the best,
mrh

 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 13, 2020 at 08:04:09
Bamboo Pentagon
Audiophile

Posts: 21
Location: Central Iowa
Joined: April 19, 2015
 Very nice. What kind of crossovers are you using?

 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 13, 2020 at 08:08:50
Byrd69
Audiophile

Posts: 2881
Location: East Syracuse, New York
Joined: August 23, 2004
 Very nice.

I'm still wondering what to do with my pair of 604e. Currently, they're in non-ported ugly mediterranean style cabinets. They sound....okay....they look terrible.

Don't need them, don't have the room for them even in the small cabinets.

Too much stuff.


Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)

I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)

Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)

Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)

 

N1500A's, posted on November 13, 2020 at 08:32:24
GRH
Audiophile

Posts: 444
Location: CT
Joined: March 22, 2004
 I am aware of the Mastering Labs xover as well as Jeff Markwart's analysis. I find I usually have the N1500A horn shelving at 3 or 4 dB down so I have toyed with the idea of bypassing that with a small PP cap to get that 3 or 4 dB back above 10Khz but have not tried it. I suspect that with my 66 year old ears which also roll off quickly above 10K I wouldn't notice much difference.

I did take one of the 1500's apart and measured the caps which were still quite good so I see little benefit in rebuilding them. I may try to duplicate the ML xover at some point in the future.
G

 

Marvelous job and great looking system! Give yourself an "A" for effort and..., posted on November 13, 2020 at 10:08:08
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 ENJOY those impressive looking speakers!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Gary, congrats, beautiful build. Nt, posted on November 13, 2020 at 12:32:59
viridian
 Nt

 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 13, 2020 at 12:43:36
catbert242000@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 268
Location: Puerto Rico
Joined: April 17, 2006
 I bet they sound fantastic!

 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 13, 2020 at 13:51:26
Uncle Mike
 We are often our own hardest critic so sit back and enjoy. Ya done good!

 

If you recall ..., posted on November 13, 2020 at 16:43:30
GRH
Audiophile

Posts: 444
Location: CT
Joined: March 22, 2004
 We once had a dialog about 604e's vs Yamaha NS-1000's. I did recently directly compare the two. For my ears which roll off rapidly above 10K there is not a clear winner. The efficiency of the Altec's and the ego factor of cab's I built myself versus the accuracy and tight bass of the heavily damped and sealed enclosure of the NS1000's. I suspect if I had 30 year old ears I would prefer the Yamaha's. In any case I have both and don't plan on getting rid of either. Life is good.
G

 

RE: N1500A's .... .. That N1500A is what;;;, posted on November 13, 2020 at 20:28:51
drummerwill
Audiophile

Posts: 965
Location: St Louis Mo.
Joined: January 7, 2003
 .....I use also , its one of the few Serial Altec crossover circuits
most the others use a parallel curcuit design..

Congrats on your cabinet build.

Willie

 

Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 14, 2020 at 10:55:05
Steelhead
Audiophile

Posts: 863
Location: AK
Joined: December 11, 2003
 Frigging Beautiful

Sweet setup and bet a dollar it rocks and rolls.

As Borat would say VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 15, 2020 at 03:01:19
Story
Audiophile

Posts: 10457
Location: NJ
Joined: December 11, 2000
 The 604E's are quite the gobsmackers, I use to have 604C's.

One thing you might consider - refinishing would be quite an undertaking but there's one thing I've done before on other projects (if it was me I would do just the highly visible front panels)

Wood specialty shops might sell veneer that is of the 'iron on' variety (the usual 'contact cement' is a PITA). It should be no problem except for the trimming off of the excess. The veneers are thin and can be cut with a suitable saw or router or an extremely sharp and stable knife before ironing. A circular piece of cardboard can shield the 604's while all the test fitting is performed. They use to sell widths as large as 24" or 2 widths can be used.

Test fitting before the actual veneer ironing will reveal the accuracy of the trimming. It's a bit involved but may prove to be a worthy project. It can be stained and finished after the ironing to your liking.

As a matter of fact I've done it to the cabinets I used for my 604's. It's worth an investigation at least.



 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 15, 2020 at 13:14:17
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1989
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 Well done from a fellow Altec diyer.

 

RE: Finally built some cabs for my Altec 604e's, posted on November 21, 2020 at 09:01:39
bare
Audiophile

Posts: 1879
Joined: April 14, 2009
 Good on you.
Agreed though ..Unstained Birch ply is far better looking.
Those are kinda Ugly.
Could Fit a close to full face covering Grills of a "nice' looking fabric ??
Raw speakers look doesn't add to the attraction.

 

You have nothing to be ashamed of; just sit back and enjoy the music! )MT(, posted on November 22, 2020 at 16:07:23
J. S. Bach
Audiophile

Posts: 9578
Location: Chester, SC
Joined: November 28, 2001
Contributor
  Since: June 29, 2004

Later Gator,
Dave
Find more about Weather in Chester, SC

 

Cabinet for Alter 604 something, posted on November 23, 2020 at 10:16:27
dbphd
Audiophile

Posts: 1674
Location: Montecito, CA
Joined: September 6, 2006
 60+ years ago I had a cabinet built for a 604 something speaker using Altec plans. Viewed from the top it was a pentagon shape, designed to fit in a corner in the days before stereo. Had it built, because I was much better at planning than execution. IIRC, it was replaced by a pair of AR3a to use with my new Marantz Model 18 receiver for stereo. I still have the ARs and Marantz, but no place to use them.

db

 

Page processed in 0.033 seconds.

[ Top Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]