DIY Altec 2 Way Build ala JELabs - 802/32/414

[je2a3]

Out of curiosity, thought to play around with my 9849A.
Kept the original XOs and just replaced the 23746 drivers with my 806A 16 ohms (since 23746 and 806-8A are structurally similar, I knew 806A are 16 ohms). With 806As in place it just sounded shouty and unpleasant to my ears at my usual listening level. After 30 mins of listening resumed to 23746 drivers. Is this an expected sound that anyone has experienced?

To me 23746 drivers with original XOs (looks all original to me, haven't deep looked into yet), 414-8B combo just sounds fantastic and I could visualize the band in my room - using 45 SET amp.

Keep it that way and just enjoy the music!

Down the path I'm looking to replace 23746 with 802D keeping the original XOs (custom XO design might take a while for me). Would 803D be any better experience than 23746 drivers or shouty/unpleasant?

Thanks

I won't recommend that. I tried using an 802 motor + 34647 and 23744 'fram on top of my Altec 756B. Both sounded shouty. That's why I searched for a smaller 806/807 motor and fitted it with the 23744 'fram = my 23746.

As @Salectric has mentioned before, his reverse engineered 9849 XO schematic was optimized for 8 ohm Altec drivers (414-8B + 23746) in the 9849 box.

IME, the 802D with original 20275 'frams + 32C + 414A work great in my Altec 753C which is a bigger box and all the drivers are nominally 16 ohm.

I've never heard a 9849 but after my experience using the HF XO section on my mini Altec 757 project, if I had a chance to get a pair, I'd keep them stock. At best (or worst), I might build an outboard XO with the same circuit but using PIO caps.

 

[jaipre]

Thanks @je2a3 for the additional insight. I’m enjoying it as is, however planning for outboard XO down the line.

 

[je2a3]

Woody Shaw plays Rosewood via my Altec 753Cs in a video supplement to my 2024 man cave upload.

 

[Wntrmute2]

I cannot get enough of those speakers. I just love the aesthetics!

 

[Thermionics]

I cannot get enough of those speakers. I just love the aesthetics!

Agreed - I like how my Altec 753C's turned out, but @je2a3 has arguably the set with the best aesthetics.

 

[Salectric]

Yeah, those cabinets turned out really nice @je2a3!

 

[je2a3]

Thanks @Wntrmute2, @Thermionics + @Salectric!

Kudos to @RCA NUT 👏👍 🙏 for crafting the WE753C-style enclosures!

 

[Fran604g]

They truly are drop-dead gorgeous. Unfortunately I can only  imagine how great your system must sound. Nice, nice, nice.

 

[MartinV56]

Altec is Altec the rest is sh.., 420y in OB, delicacy of the Gods

 

[MartinV56]

Many years of experimenting with horns, time to simplify with open baffle systems with fullrange speakers. I'm thinking about the AMT ESS 1 tweeter to complement the high frequencies of the 420y, I appreciate suggestions, thanks

 

[Drugolf]

Many years of experimenting with horns, time to simplify with open baffle systems with fullrange speakers. I'm thinking about the AMT ESS 1 tweeter to complement the high frequencies of the 420y, I appreciate suggestions, thanks

Where do you feel (frequency) you'd like the tweeter to come in at?

 

[MartinV56]

I have not found the SPL vs Frequency curve of the 420 and I think Altec does not supply it, It will be measured in the listening room and based on the result decide the best cut. I am also going to try the open baffles released by JE Labs that I made a long time ago, currently in MDF restoration. I think that between 8000 and 10000 hz the cut will be. Thanks

 

[Tom Brennan]

Many years of experimenting with horns, time to simplify with open baffle systems with fullrange speakers. I'm thinking about the AMT ESS 1 tweeter to complement the high frequencies of the 420y, I appreciate suggestions, thanks

I recently used new AMTs atop Altec 890C Boleros in place of the stock Hepner horns, They sounded very clear and airy and matched well the sensitivity of the 406-8C woofers. I sold the tweeters and Boleros separately when I got my 604Es: they sold quick too.

 

[MartinV56]

Open Baffle 26"X 36" MDF good bass, I already ordered the ess amt 1, At this moment with WE 91B 6C6-300B clone, Thanks

 

[maple_syrup]

First post here, but it seemed like a good place to start. I traded a beat up pair of AR-3A’s for a beat up pair of 9849-8D’s. So far I love them with my Mac MC-225 and Conrad Johnson PV-10. I love the mids and the dynamics at lower listening volumes. I will say I could use a little bit more sparkle up top, but a few of the crossover caps were physically leaking electrolyte so I’ll withhold my judgement on that until the new ones come in tomorrow.

I swapped back in a pair of AR-10pi’s and immediately noticed the lack of dynamics. They’re still an excellent speaker, but the altecs do something special.

 

[maple_syrup]

Might be heresy, but is anyone running subs with their 414/32 setup? Doesn’t seem to be much for bass, but I’m reading that’s pretty common with altecs. My cabinets are splitting at the seams and could be leaky as well.

 

[joe83]

Might be heresy, but is anyone running subs with their 414/32 setup? Doesn’t seem to be much for bass, but I’m reading that’s pretty common with altecs. My cabinets are splitting at the seams and could be leaky as well.

I never did but I did replace the 12” 414 with similar 15” ones for that reason

 

[Drugolf]

Yes a common frustration. I am trying.
I've heard Pete Riggle's A7's with his home made subwoofer horn and it's great. But who's got that type of set-up to do that!

 

[RPMac]

I do, kinda, sorta. I have sub plate amps on 605B woofer in H-frames.
414/32 are in a box the width of the 32 and just tall enough to mount the 414 under it and deep enough to hide the horn…and no back. Seems to me that would be the definition of Altec heresy…and I do have Heresy speakers.
My thinking is “try it and see if you like it.”

 

[Thermionics]

Might be heresy, but is anyone running subs with their 414/32 setup? Doesn’t seem to be much for bass, but I’m reading that’s pretty common with altecs. My cabinets are splitting at the seams and could be leaky as well.

Yeah. I'm using an NHT 1259 sealed sub with a 200W plate amplifier. Definitely fills in the bottom registers. It's not bad without the sub, but I prefer it with.

Ironically, given your opening phrase, I also used that sub with my...wait for it...Klipsch Heresy IIIs. :P

I'm also using a sealed SVS sub in the basement with my 604E's. Provided you have a sub that can keep up with the Altecs, it's great.