Your Opinions, Please!

[AltecLansingFan]

I think there are some really big problems with this idea;
People today are very busy with games, phones, mp3 and that kind of rubbish, and the few people who love audio/hifi a very little they like small aluminum/plastic speakers more.
The real audio lovers today, which don't have a separate listening room, they have to handle the modern house wives, because this kind of wives wanted to be modern consumers, and in "there" living rooms is no place for big Altec stuff.


[ siting in my own basement/bar, listening to Pink Floyd "Brain Damage" and drinks a glass of beer ]

[Todd W. White]

Well, a knocked-down kit that could be assembled from the inside might just be the ticket - one that wouldn't show any screws or nails. The kicker would be that it'd probably need to be stained and finished by the end user, as they could apply any filler needed, do final light sanding, then stain and finish. What do ya'll think?

As for the wife thing - the key is to marry someone only AFTER you're sure she understands and appreciates that big ALTEC sound: if not, dump her and go find someone who does!

[mah]

Enclosures for the popular altec horns is a thought. Maybe even some wooden horns that look classy. Lots of DIYers shy away from any joint that is not square.

[Russnohio]

Might be a good idea for all the 604 variants. Lots of 604's floating around out there in the market place & in collections minus cabinets.

The model 19 cabinet (if copied exactly) is too complicated to be economical, but the M19's unique cabinet is a part of it's appeal......a simple box would do fine sound-wise....but it'd no longer be a model 19.

I like the idea but I think it ought to cater to 604 variants.

just my 2-cents.
Russ

[Russnohio]

Enclosures for the popular altec horns is a thought. Maybe even some wooden horns that look classy. Lots of DIYers shy away from any joint that is not square.

Don't know if it'd be good sound-wise....but Westlake style horns in the model 19 would look awesome!

Russ

[GM]

I've thought about precut kits........

Still think nothing sounds as good a a big speaker.........

FWIW, on every DIY forum I've browsed where this discussion arises, ready to finish flat packs are what the majority claim to want and while they all never back it up with purchases, there's usually enough sales to justify the effort, especially if the driver, etc. is part of the package, though typically these have to be passed on at ~ the same price as the end user can get them for, so no extra profit margin unless they can be bought cheaper in bulk.

Agreed, but unfortunately many folks don't want the bulk plus a HIFI/HT monitor with a ~ 80 Hz usable BW is preferable if a separate sub system is used.

GM

[Todd W. White]

I agree about the 604 and it's variants - in fact, that's what I had in mind, except for the version of the SH V for the Model 19 components.

[scharron]

Hi Todd,
congrats on the one on the way! just my opinion but if someone was to market a cab that would fit around a stock A7 with furniture grade wood and a nicely done grille I would be interested in two almost immediately, depending on price of course! seems like there is always a lot of talk about WAF and I am including myself in that! the gray utility A7s in the HT room are not the most beloved of my speaker sets. I have actually talked to a cab building firm locally, but the best they had to offer was some kind of engineered looking plywood that wasn't very nice looking. I am a capable carpenter but getting funiture grade corners on large sheet goods is beyond my tool compliment. I also like the idea of a knock down M19. again, it seems like the edges and corners are where most people need the help.
just my .02
scott in nc

[scharron]

Hi Todd,
correction! congrats on the newest addition! wasn't paying attention to what I was reading. even as I speak my grandson [6 yesterday] is playing guitar hero on the altec A7 home theater system in the other room! amazing how good those speakers can sound!haha!
again, congrats.
scott in nc

[Todd W. White]

A7's (or any horn flare, for that matter) aren't easy to build - took my old cabinet man (now has fibromyalgia) several tries to get it right.

That said, are you talking about a retrofit, glue-on veneer set for the battleship grey A7's, or new, furniture grade cabinets (Magnificent's)?

Oh, and thanks for the congratulations - I'm not officially a grandpaw...