Anyone familiar with Altec Model Fourteens?

[Emory]

I am interested in the Altec Model 14's. They look to be a junior version of the big Altec A-7's. Has anyone listened to them and would this be a fair comparison or is this apples and oranges?

Thank you.

[Altec19]

The Model 14's are a decent speaker. They were really meant to take advantage of the "look" and popularity of the Model 19 at a lower price. They don't have a lot in common with the A-7 series other than they are a two-way system with a compression horn. I don't think any of the Model 14 components were used in the A-7's but I could be mistaken. The woofer uses a foam surround which will eventually deteriorate and will require a recone. The 14's are well worth the expense to do this.

They have the Altec "sound" as long as you get an original "unmodified" set.

[RonSSS]

I believe the horn drivers were the 902-8A's or maybe B's. The horn is a cheap plastic thing.....I had them and never cared for the sound even though it was a manta ray horn.
Don't know didly about the woof!
Ron

[Altec19]

Take a look at the Dolby Labs notes on HT speaker placement here:

Link to Dolby

Especially this:

"Ideally, your front speakers, high-frequency drivers, or tweeters should be positioned at ear level (when you're seated). Our recommended height for the surrounds is above ear level, as soundtracks are likely to be optimized for that location."

I, too, was going to use Model 14's for rears and A7-500's for fronts. I am currently using the A7 cabinets to support a pair of Urei 811A's at slightly above ear level (these contain Altec 604-8K drivers) and am using Cambridge Soundworks for center, sides and rear channels (7.1 placement). The Cambridge equipment seems to adequately match the acoustic signature of the Urei/Altecs and allows for mounting at an appropriate height. Also, you really need a subwoofer or LFE channel connected or you are not going to hear some of the LFE material that may only be available on that channel. Telling the receiver that you have full range mains and no sub just isn't quite the same. I use an SVS powered sub for this purpose and it works well.

Link to SVS

Yes, an all Altec home theatre would be fun but in practice it may be extremely difficult to implement in accordance with the Dolby standards/recommendations.

[Emory]

I am going to be acquiring pair of Model 14's for my rear surround speakers in my HT set up. I am using a pair of A-7's and a pair of Valencias for my mains driven by a Mc 2100 and they sound great to me! The Mac really is a poor mans tube amp! I'm hoping the Mod 14's will be a nice fit in the system.
Thanks for the feedback.

[cclark65]

I use a pair of model 14's for the front left/right, and I built a center channel out of the same horn (bought on ebay) and a 902-8b driver, and a couple of 10" altec bass drivers from some parted out model 4's, passive crossover at 1500. The sound is good. My 14's have what I believe are 902-8B's on them. There is no back cover, but there is a loading cap on the back of the diaphragm. One thing unique about the horn is it can be turned over to disperse the sound downward more instead of upward. They are a 60 degree I think, with the stock configuration 40 degrees upward, and 20 degrees down toward the floor.
The woofer I think was manufactured by RCA. I think this because that is the replacement partnumber provided by Great Plains Audio. I did have to put new foam surrounds on them a few years ago, but they still sound sweet.
As for rear speakers in my home theater, I am using model 6's, and the surround sounds great (to me and many friends) but I don't have them much above ear level...probably about a foot above my head for the tweeter when sitting on the couch.

[Emory]

While I appreciate Dolby Labs specifications on how a HT system should be set up properly I have never rigoursly followed the correct path in audio nor in life. I really enjoy multi channel audio as well so I benefit from having large speakers in the rear, even if I'm unable to mount them in the ideal surround lisening positions.

One thing I intend to try is wiring in parellal a pair of Santana 2's and a pair of Model 14's to compensate. This way I get the sound at ear level and increase the DB output as this drops everything down to a 4ohm load.

Not the perfect solution perhaps but I'm currently running my A-7's and Valencias in this fashion for my mains and am very satisfied with the "Wall of Sound"!

[Richard C.]

RonSS,

The MR-931-12 horn in the Model 14 may be a cheap plastic thing, but if you look at these polar charts, you will see that the patterns are about as good as it gets. Check out some others!

MR-931-12 polar charts

IF you used the stock crossover (could be one of three different designs), then I believe that was most of the problem. I couldn't stand the Model 14 sound after a half hour or so of loud music. It was too bright in the upper midrange (horn). I modeled the crossover and found that it should have been attenuated at least 6db in that region. The extreme highs were great. I redesigned my crossovers and I am very pleased. It is now very similar to the Model 19 crossover.

The Model 14 does use the 902 series of compression drivers, which must be "the best" - considering what they go for on eBay!

Richard C.