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

---

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] Thread: [ Display  All  Email ] [ Vintage Asylum ]

---

[ Alert Moderator ]

---

About the altec horns

Posted by Russ57 (A) on September 29, 2007 at 07:21:56

In Reply to: 5$ speaker night... posted by Scott Woebcke on September 28, 2007 at 20:15:06:

I see we lust after the same things:) This is what I have learned so far in my speaker building ventures.

The altec horns offer the ability to go much lower in the crossover, down to 500 hertz, with a 1" entry. The problem is the compression driver though. You are stuck with altec, jbl, or tad. None of the normal current offerings in a 1" exit will play down past 1k and 1k5 is a common crossover point for them. The altec horns are better suited for a 2-way using a 15" woofer that can play up high. Those woofers ain't cheap either. So if you need the horn to go to 500 hertz and don't mind spending the big bucks go for it.

But you can buy a rather nice horn cheap in the 18sound xt1086. I use them and think you can't beat them for the money. DDS also offers a nice one but I am not sure what state the company is in. Pair either with a compression driver like B&C de250 (about $100 on sale at parts express right now). Beyma and BMS get mentioned a lot too but I went with the 18sound nd1090. Figure around $300 total for both sides and a crossover around 1K5.

Next look for a wideish range mid suitable for open baffle. Visaton b200 gets mentioned a lot. I use the audax pro170mo. Other options are many of the older alnico 12" pulled from consoles and those can run down to 100 hertz no problem.

All that is left is something to handle bass and run up to 100 to 200 hertz depending on your open baffle mid. That could be anything from a sub-woofer to an old bass reflex laying around. Use an electronic crossover (between bass and mid) and a solid state power amp or even a plate amp. EQ as needed for room conditions. I like pro-audio drivers. Much better power handling, more efficent, lower distortion at normal listening levels, and typically lower cost than "audiophile" stuff. A 15" eminence in a bass reflex box will do the trick.

The constant directivity horn and compression driver offer outstanding clarity, power handling, and very low distortion with close to a constant power bandwith. The open baffle mid gives a big spacious soundstage. The pro-audio 15" woofers will rock and shake the house. What I have will play an honest 110dB cleanly without breaking a sweat and handle 120 db peaks. Truth be told I have not been able to turn it up loud enough to hear it distort and I have tried hard but my ears give out first. It makes all the normal box audiophile speakers seem like little toys:)



Russ

This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:

Parts Connexion

---

[ Top of Page ] [ Contact Us ] [ Support/Wish List ] [ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]

---

[ General ] [ Speakers ] [ Tubes ] [ Vinyl ] [ Digital ] [ Hi-Rez ] [ Video Asylum ] [ Cables ] [ Tweaks/DIY ] [ Music ] [ Films ]

---