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I am getting a new house that has corners, finally, I know I have a pair of highly modded Khorns, waiting for me. I am still interested in Altec, et. What can you experts tell me about these?ALTEC 820C SPEAKERS
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALTEC-820C-SPEAKERS-EXCELLENT-VERY-VERY-RARE_W0QQitemZ320092615940QQcategoryZ14993QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I do not ever remember seeing these for sale on ebay before.
All comments are appreciated.
Follow Ups:
Looks like the speakers from Martinelli are going to be of at least equal (if not better) performance than the Altecs and they look awesome!Don't get me wrong I think the vintage Altecs, JBLs, etc are great (I use them myself) but unless you're a collector or looking for a nostalgic kick why would you buy something like the 820C?
Regards,
Alfredo, I just get so anxious, i have been waiting over a year for my horns t get done, they are finally getting packed, as I type, here is the final photo's, before being packed, I should FINALLY receive them in a couple weeks.
Hi Steve,The Altec 820 began with the 820A about 1951, which was fitted with a cast aluminum H-808 eight cell horn; this was before the 811 was introduced. The 820 was Altec's top of the line home speaker for quite a few years.
It uses a combination enclosure somewhat similar in concept to the Voice of the Theatre models. A short front horn loads the woofers in upper bass and mids, and bass reflex loading delivers the lows.
A pair of 820Cs were my introduction to the thrilling world of professional / industrial sound equipment about 20 years ago, in the home of an ex-Altec employee. He and his son demoed their system of Marantz tube preamps, Altec 1530A tube power amps and the 820Cs, playing a laserdisc of Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour at the Record Plant on a Zenith front projector with 10' screen. That demo just blew my mind, and pretty much ended my fascination with "high end" boutique audio then and there.
Steve,Do you STILL feel the same way about these speakers? Are they world class? What are you using as speakers now. Thanks in advance.
I haven't heard any 820s since my brief exposure to them 20 years ago. They impressed the heck out of me then, but I'm not sure how they would strike me now.In recent years I have been involved in developing midrange/high frequency and bass compression drivers, horns to exploit their benefits fully, and large horn subwoofers to cover the bottom couple of octaves in a way that keeps up with the rest of the system. Since I began working with composite diaphragms I have developed a bit of an allergy to the sound of most metal diaphragms. I think that the stuff I am into now would outperform the 820 in the ways that matter to me, but with considerably greater complexity and expense.
Some audiophiles, especially in Asia, spend vast sums to collect what are considered the best vintage systems. The 820s are among a small number of models that are often shipped overseas intact despite the costs involved. To me this indicates that there are some experienced listeners out there who greatly value these systems.
Old Altec design, twin fifteens in 80hz front-horns with the rear woofer waves bass-reflex loaded, standard Altec 802 driver on 811 horn above 800hz.As is it will be outperformed in bass depth and high frequency extension by the Model Nineteen which was the best non-Duplexe all-in-one-box Altec. However I'm thinking that with a Nineteen style compensated crossover and new diaphragms from GPA the highs should match those of a Nineteen.
Dynamics, with twin horn-loaded 15s would be about as good as dynamics get. Cabinetry is gorgeous and I think is the main reason these command high prices.
Smilin', I think that if you did a Model Nineteen type crossover and mated these with that big 4-12 SVS sub of yours you'd be VERY happy.
You've messed around long enough buddy, listen to me instead of those putzes at the Klipsch board and get some proper Altecs. You have to at least try Altecs, then if you discard them you've given them a shot.
Come down to Lexington for a couple of days and hear my Nineteens, I've a nice guest room. Bring corned beef. ;-)
Tm,Thanks for the invite, I will take you up on it later in the year, it's time for me to bite another BIG one, in geting another, bigger frikin house. When I bring my fat ass to check out your new digs, I will first stop by Manny's, and have my buddy Kenny Raskin, the owner, fill all your deli needs, of course I will get also bring steaks(prime, aged)stockyards, and some ZA, from yur fav. place.
My custom Horns finally got completed, check these out
http://picasaweb.google.com/tmoble/Stevewalls1213
The bass bins each have 2 TAD 1601A's, JBL 2470 Mids with Martinelli horn, and JBL 2404 tweets, Tom say's they are the best speakers he has ever heard. They are being packed by pack and ship Friday. I hope the $$$, and wait were worth it. I also bought a pair of 05 khorns, with same drivers, they should be cool too. My new hme will finally give me some corners, so, what I need is your advice on these puppies. Given the drivers I am using in my other speakers, what is your thought's, as to which wuld be better.
I agree with you regarding mst on the Klipsch forum, their is mre to horns, than klipsch. As a matter of fact, I am listening to Epiphany 12/12's right now which are line sources. I gotta tell yuu, my system is just about their(yeah right)
I was real curious if these Altecs might be a step up
Miss ua buddy
REALLY!?!?!?! Want to come by and hear my Lowthers????????
Smilin,
Just in case you are still interested, here are some pics of the open 820C cabinets from the back. Unfortunately I don't know anything about them but I do own and love Altec speakers. By the way I have nothing to do with both ebay sellers.
Thanks for the link, I really thught they would be more complicated, for the woofers. HHMMMM
Steve---I have detailed Altec plans for the 820 cabinets.
I don't know how they sound but have wanted a pair for years. They were a part of the Altec line up. Go to the Lansing heritage page for details about them.
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