Bargain 299s

[zelgall]

I've been trying to get th e 203's with no sucess. Da**m.

[Old Guy]

Originally posted by Steve Mac:
GPA sells a 399 driver...8 or 16 ohms.
Any one of you fellers ever heared one?

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I think it's the same driver Altec Pro was selling, or trying to.

Heard them, not bad.

But frankly- I love GPA- but to me it's a no brainer here.

The 288- K and so forth can often be bought for less, and IMHO are substantially superior.

I recommend reading the paper Altec released when the Alnico upgrade drivers with the big pot casting were introduced- I think Todd unofficially has it.

The 399 is a pancake version, lower mass.

At 300 the older drivers should be a clear winner. At 500 too.

At 800, I'd still go the older drivers.

But in modern PA, these drivers maybe be used at 1200.

At that point I would believe the difference is much less.

But for home use, the big old drivers all the way IMHO.

[bfish]

Originally posted by bfish:
...As far as buying large formats, I'd definitely buy new from GPA rather than pay eBay prices for 288s...

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Guess I should qualify that as a cost-based assessment, (nearly all my opinions are). I've no experience with 399s, but would consider the differences from traditional large formats (reduced mass, faster WG flare) to be worthy of consideration as to the intended application.

ABG-What 'frams do you need? (I have a good pair of 290-16s I don't need).

[Audio_by_Goodwill]

Originally posted by bfish:
ABG-What 'frams do you need? (I have a good pair of 290-16s I don't need).

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm not sure, because I've never seriously pursued getting new ones.... the drivers are 291-16K's. If I recall correctly, the large format drivers can have varying gaps and aren't as straight forward as the small format drivers.

The current diaphragms have 299 and the maestro printed on them, for what it's worth.

[Old Guy]

290 frams won't fit-

I think Steve Schell posted it isn't the gap, the phenolic fram has a bigger surround and consequently larger mounting ring. I've owned both but never compare since I always understood never try...OTOH I don't think I EVER blew a 290...there was a whole bin full of blown ones at a government sale a year back though..

AFAIK from 288 C up and all 291/299 will interchange...the 288B has to be machined by GPA before putting in newer frams, older frams are no longer available..

[bfish]

OG's right of course, my 'frams won't help you A_b_G. Too bad though, 290s are my pick for 203s, they make a nice match.