Is the Altec sound for me?! A key, unmentioned consideration

Do you listen to music regularly, or just once in a while?
That the key decision factor when deciding on Altec drivers.
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[@davidlittle2852]

Great video presentation. I play my Altec Lansing 19 speakers everyday - and they sound fantastic to me, and to everyone who has experienced them. I bought the complete speaker driver set, horns, crossovers from someone who had attempted to convert them to a home theatre speaker system. Then I downloaded the original speaker box plans and made them using Baltic Birch plywood. I use a 300B PSE amplifier to drive them. I have never had the opportunity to compare them to the large format Altecs.

[@alphabetg33k85]

Happy Easter Janos

[@realworldaudio]

Thank you, Happy Easter!!! 🎶🎶

[@bobsmoot8454]

Great Plains Audio manufacturers new Altec drivers using the original jigs and suppliers, and their products are of super quality. What I find special about Altec speakers is the emotional connection and conveyance of the soul of the music to the listener. I’ve been seriously 11:34 listening to “tunes” for almost 60 years, and wish I had trusted my ears and guy sooner and bought the various Altec drivers vs starting in the late 80s for my 755As and now larger VOTT systems. You can’t go wrong with Altec speakers

[@iplaymytele]

I have no doubt that you are a audiophile….! But………. I’m 69 years old and have been a professional Working Musician most all of my life….! I have been using Altec speakers for years and years … , my father and I owned a recording studio in my hometown and we used “ cut down “ , voice of the theater cabinets for the studio monitors ….! I have used Altec speakers in my guitar amplifiers, and in home stereo systems…, besides, my stage sound systems…! I have had two or three sets of voice of the theater cabinets ( A7’s ) and I have a sit right now….🎶👍🏻 In my studio downstairs right now , I am using two CF4 Klipsch speakers with two Altec 511B Horns with Altec 808-8A drivers……. And I honestly have never heard any change from not using any of my Altec speakers for a period of time…..! I am trying to imagine what you were talking about if they sit too long, the cones get stiff …??? Maybe the weather is different where are you live?? But, I have not noticed any difference, if I do not turn on my set of VOTT’s for a couple months, or if I play them eight hours a day every day……! The Jeff Galey Channel

[@realworldaudio]

Thank you Jeff, I hope you liked the follow up video! ; )

[@hugobloemers4425]

Hi Janos, great point you make regarding Altec drivers. Sadly this issue is hardly relevant where I live. Altec speakers are hardly ever available and when they are, they want thousands for one driver. Even if that was not the issue, my apartment does not offer the space for the voice of Lancelot.

[@sloboat55]

My upstair neighbor is beyond loud but not with music. Big problem for music lovers. Excellent vid. Cool runnings

[@realworldaudio]

Ouch!! 😂

[@nelsondog100]

I have played around with a few Altec components over the years and with little actual knowledge of x/o design or proper enclosure designs have heard some of the very best music reproduced from any of my previous very expensive stereo systems combined. I have found these drivers very forgiving relating to set-up and actual use that nothing I have ever tried before. They are simply amazing. I have now relocated to the Philippines and have the converted 416-8a (formerly 420a) and Emilar horns and 175 alnico drivers in storage along with a pair of Telefunken oval speakers (intended to be used for mids). I’m too afraid of the humidity damaging them to enjoy them. I’ll sell the entire set (including a small assortment of quality x/o parts to anyone interested.

[@EduardBroekman]

Great points in this video. I don't think my Altec 414s sound anywhere near horrid 'cold' for anyone but really critical listeners, or unless you know what they're capable of. Otherwise, yes, the Altecs kept clearly improving for 3 weeks from being 'unplayed' and it helps to play them quite loud. For builder, also note that some parameters like Fs really shift.. so measuring them after you receive them is not all that useful. Bit like some 'new' speaker do, but these have the same when unplayed.

[@fairenoughthenwhat]

I'd love a set of Altecs. My brother's nickname was Muchy when he was younger, because his friends knew he has 'much crutch'. Your Muchy is a girl, so there must be a different reason behind the name.

[@realworldaudio]

Mine is Machi, short for Machiko. It is a Japanese name, meaning "girl of the village". Pretty fitting, as she is a rescue cat ;

[@rayhesa]

Janos, have you heard about Great Plains Audio? Drivers produced by former Altec employees, with exactly same tooling and same specs than Altec.

[@realworldaudio]

Hello Raymundo, yes, I have mentioned GPA in several of my videos. It's a good choice ; .

[@derekviveiros]

I've only had one tube amplifier but the thought of playing it 5-10 hours a day would mean new tubes pretty frequently. Am I missing something? I do like playing music in the background a lot, which is part of the reason why I went solid state.

[@davidlittle2852]

Hi, my current SE amp uses 300B tubes and has been used on average for approximately 4 hours daily, for 4 years. Before that I was using a pair of monoblock PP amplifiers with EL34 tubes. Previously, I had been using these amps in a similar way for years. I reverted to the EL34s as my main daily amps about a month ago and they still work perfectly. I will be going back to the 300B amp soon as it is my current favourite for the main lounge. We are fortunate to have a second, smaller lounge where I use a SE 45 tube amp (Alan Eaton amp) - wonderful, but not enough power to drive the Altecs so the Alan Eaton is driving a pair of Klipsch La Scalas perfectly (high volume not required in this room).

[@nelsondog100]

Depending on the tubes you have they may outlast you. Some tubes have a Life expectancy of 10,000 hours. If you love music and you love the sound through tubes, don’t let the thought of replacing tubes be an issue.

[@thedistortedguy]

I m surprised u like indian classical. ❤️ from india. Zakir hussein rocks

[@realworldaudio]

I had the fortune to see him play. If I could go back in time to re-live again one of the concerts I ever attended, that would be it! Namaste! ;

[@charleskatz2606]

Janos have you checked out the new Heretic speakers from Canada?

[@realworldaudio]

Are those the ones Herb Reichert reviewed recently? They look very promising, a modern implementation of VOTT and mini-versions of the VOTT.. ;