What setup do you recommend?

[espenj2005]

Hi, my first post on this forum.
I have allways liked the Altec vintage horn speakers but were i live it is nobody near that own this kind of gear. So many products to choose between and i know that not all of them are suited for home 2 channel/home theater audio.
Can you please recommend different horns and fullrange setup?s that would give me the best of Altec. My living room is about 50m2.
Thank you!
Espen

[kaaos]

Hi ESPENJ,
here is one very nice horn speaker with Altec drivers:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls....ull&1137193433

This pair is not mine but I have a pair of Exemplars too.
Highly recommended.

regards
Goran

[espenj2005]

Thanks Goran
Very nice speakers! Do you got buildingplans and the name of the drivers used?
Espen

[Steve Burger]

I have listened to John Tucker's Exemplars at his home. I am quite sure he would not let go of the plans. The drivers used were Altec 515G's and 909's. They are available through us at Iconic Manufacturing as the 165 and 109 (or 102), respectively

[espenj2005]

Hi Steven
Can you give a review of the sound?
Do you recommend any places to buy theese and other drivers?
Thanks
Espen

[Jim Butler]

HI Steve,
I also would like to get any up-to-date impressions of the Exemplars. I was always in******d by the original Sound Practice's article. Does, for example, the Exemplar play lower than the roll off of an A7? How to they sound next to a pair of Model 19's?
Any info would be great to hear about.

Jim Butler

[espenj2005]

I would very mutch like to know how the VOTT system sounds like? I see there are many VOTT horns (811b)with drivers like 802 8d - 806a etc for sale. Is this recommendable for home audio?

[Steve Burger]

It has been a few years since I was at John's place. the only speakers he had to compare with there at the time were a pair of Lowther's and well... There was absolutely no comparison, they blew the Lowther's away in every area. The tractix horns sounded beautiful. I was especially impressed with a master recording of Miles Davis, Kind of Blue. The the trumpet and sax solo's had not a hint of shrillness that you would at times detect in the stock altec horns of a model 19 or VOTT. In terms of bottom end it was pretty decent though of course would not go as low as the model 19. In terms of the question asked in a later post about using 511's or 811's in a home environment. They sound good, especially if they have been deadened, are relatively cheap and available on the net, but are not really in the same class as the exemplars. The Exemplars at over $11,000 (if my memory is correct from a few years ago) a pair are not in everyone's price range however.

[GM]

Greets!

Best vintage Altec for typical two channel home use?! From a purely technical POV, 511/802-8G horn combo crossed at 500 Hz to dual 515B woofers in ~20 ft^3 vented cabs tuned to flattest response in-room when driven with an impedance matching amp or a very high SQ SS amp with some series resistance and HF R/C network to mimic one. If they can be configured for corner loading, all the better!

GM