Soaking in that Altec rain. (Altec 604-8G Content, enclosures mostly)

[OldNuke]

I would lovvvvvvveeeeeee some Hartsfield speakers.

 

[Salectric]

As long as we are talking about visual aesthetics, I have always loved the appearance of Valencia cabinets. The proportions, the beveled edges on the top, are just perfect to my eye.

 

[J. Frum]

From a styling viewpoint, I think the Altec Capistrano is just about the sexiest speaker ever.

As I’ve opined before, I’m no fan of lowboy cabinets containing tweeters and would consider an L300-style sloped baffle the only possible compromise.

My 604-8G are idle, waiting on my piggy bank to fill up before they get the GPA spa treatment, but they’ll be in 4 cu. ft. sealed cabs atop my bass-reflex 6 cu. ft. lowboys loaded only with 15” Fostex FW405 woofers.

 

[Salectric]

I had to google Altec Capistrano to see what they look like since I had never heard of the Capistrano before. I agree it does look very nice. Somebody at Altec back then had a good eye for aesthetics. However, I also agree with JF that the low boy cabinets are not very practical for a full-range speaker, especially for a stereo pair.

 

[Thermionics]

They are biiig cabinets, I still have the original owners manual, pretty cool stuff. They actually sold them as kits too if one dared putting them together.

Ooh. Wish I could find the kit plans...

 

[Audionut]

Ooh. Wish I could find the kit plans...

I may have them and will post in a separate thread.

@ICTWoody you can do any low boy design or altec 612, just tilt the baffle, it will be hidden behind the grill fabric (assuming you build them that way).
heres a couple “recommend“ cab designs:

 

[adaug]

what a world when altec had "dealers everywhere."

 

[Salectric]

Not only dealers everywhere, but Altec is actually encouraging folks to build their own cabinets. Where is that attitude today?

 

[BillWojo]

More than the Valencia cabinets I like my HeathKit AS101 cabinets, especially with the grill cloth that came on it. Same load as the Valencia B model.
I saw a pair that had been stripped of the original finish and stained. Looked fantastic. There is oak under the original finish.



BillWojo

 

[doglv]

 

[ICTWoody]

View attachment 19308

Oh yes... 620's... One set of cabs will definitely be in that vein. But since I have 2 pairs of the 604-8G's now, I kinda want to have fun with the 2nd pair.

My Onkens are so visually imposing in my living room. Especially cause of the white conical horn. I'm thinking the L300/604 will be SLIGHTLY less obnoxious.

- Woody

 

[ICTWoody]

Looking more at JBL enclosures, I have decided the best balance would be to do a version of an L200 box. It’s styling is more Altec than the L300. I like the beveled trim and the recessed grill.

I think I’m onto an idea here.

- Woody

 

[doglv]

On Ebay now

 

[ICTWoody]

Finally went down to OKC on Saturday AM to pickup a mess of drivers from Bill at Great Plains Audio, as well as dropping off the recently acquired pair of 604-8G’s.

oh man they are all so pretty now. Every time I get a pair of drivers GPA’d I‘m in awe of their work.

need to figure out mounting the crossovers in my 614 cabs for the 601C’s but I should have them playing by next weekend. Stoked!

- Woody

 

[Fran604g]

604s are just so purdy!

 

[Thermionics]

Finally went down to OKC on Saturday AM to pickup a mess of drivers from Bill at Great Plains Audio, as well as dropping off the recently acquired pair of 604-8G’s.

oh man they are all so pretty now. Every time I get a pair of drivers GPA’d I‘m in awe of their work.

need to figure out mounting the crossovers in my 614 cabs for the 601C’s but I should have them playing by next weekend. Stoked!

- Woody

View attachment 19679View attachment 19680View attachment 19681

So what all did they do at GPA? Was there re-coning involved, or just recharging the AlNiCo and replacing the compression driver diaphragms?

 

[ICTWoody]

So what all did they do at GPA? Was there re-coning involved, or just recharging the AlNiCo and replacing the compression driver diaphragms?

On the 604's they were reconed, remagged, and new diaphragms in the CD's... yes. He also put the new large clip-style binding posts on them like he uses on all his new speakers. They are a lot more robust and I had a broken post. From the front they look brand new.

On the 601's they were reconed, remagged, and one bad tweeter was swapped for one I was gifted by HFH member @whatelse who had a pair of 601's converted to 414's cause one tweeter was bad. They have non-replaceable diaphragms. Used an old Altec mic 'phram.

I also had a pair of Model 14 woofers refoamed.

When I picked these up I dropped off the other pair of 604-G's... they should be ready in a few weeks.

- Woody

 

[gable]

On the 604's they were reconed, remagged, and new diaphragms in the CD's... yes. He also put the new large clip-style binding posts on them like he uses on all his new speakers. They are a lot more robust and I had a broken post. From the front they look brand new.

On the 601's they were reconed, remagged, and one bad tweeter was swapped for one I was gifted by HFH member @whatelse who had a pair of 601's converted to 414's cause one tweeter was bad. They have non-replaceable diaphragms. Used an old Altec mic 'phram.

I also had a pair of Model 14 woofers refoamed.

When I picked these up I dropped off the other pair of 604-G's... they should be ready in a few weeks.

- Woody

Sounds like you had the full works done!

 

[Thermionics]

On the 604's they were reconed, remagged, and new diaphragms in the CD's... yes. He also put the new large clip-style binding posts on them like he uses on all his new speakers. They are a lot more robust and I had a broken post. From the front they look brand new.

On the 601's they were reconed, remagged, and one bad tweeter was swapped for one I was gifted by HFH member @whatelse who had a pair of 601's converted to 414's cause one tweeter was bad. They have non-replaceable diaphragms. Used an old Altec mic 'phram.

I also had a pair of Model 14 woofers refoamed.

When I picked these up I dropped off the other pair of 604-G's... they should be ready in a few weeks.

- Woody

Can you take a shot of the new binding posts? I was thinking of sending an orphan 808-8B to GPA for a new diaphragm, remagging, and a replacement rear cover (since this one was lost at some point between the time it was originally sold and when I got my hands on it).

Thank you.