New member...

**Old Guy** · June 26th, 2009, 07:03 PM

Met a fellow from Poland on another forum...he was looking for info about Altec 420a's....

Invited him to join here, making this post as guide for him to reply to...English isn't his first language, and it's hard enough for us native speakers...

Hopefully he will see this and reply...would like to welcome him here...

**Panomaniac** · June 26th, 2009, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Met a fellow from Poland on another forum...

Hmmm?? And do you "gavarit po Polski?"

**Old Guy** · June 26th, 2009, 09:17 PM

I barely muddle thru English...

GM · June 26th, 2009, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Invited him to join here, making this post as guide for him to reply to...

He did and thanks to you we've begun the max box size 'dance'. I need to copy our PMs into a thread to get them into the 'search' database and just in case others with 420 knowledge want to chime in.

GM

**chuligan** · June 27th, 2009, 05:20 AM

Hi, its me, yes thats right, im from Poland and my plan is to build speakers based on 420a Altec, and thats reason im here (on american forum).
What i like is to LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, im not speaker's builder/, im not constructor. Anyway I trust to people who indicate 420a as very good idea if i want to have speakers which give MUSIC.
I know 420a its old stuff, probably difficult to find even in America in good condition, but i will try to find it anyway.
Today i use 50years old tube amplifier BRAUN CSV13 and sometimes SUGDEN a21a when need more "watts". Speakers - english vintage SPENDOR 2/2, CD - modified Denon 655 (for example it has tubes in analog's converting section).
SPENDORS 2/2 are based on scanspeak drivers and are very good speakers but to small for room where my next speakers will stay(50m2). I dont like modern stuff, dont like this kind of sound, so i asked my friend for an idea of next speakers - its the same guy which had modyfied my DENON 655 and rebuild BRAUN CSV13 - he told me - try to find lansing 420a, with these drivers we can buil stuff you need. OK, thats what i now do - look for 420a and connected information. Not very often, but sometimes its possible to buy in Europe old SANTANA speakers (in which 420a are used). But firstly - they are really difficult to find in good shape/condition, secondly - its "sin" to demolish SANTANA just to have 420a. According to my friend original SANTANAs had poor tweeter, and as i saw them - they look not very nice indeed..
Reassuming - im guy who looks for 420a. I got a friend who would build speakers based on it. This friend is very good constructor of speakers as well as modificator of amplifiers and CDs.
What i do - listen to the MUSIC, build curved wooden stairs, drink wine with friends

So - hopefully i will find here some help in finding 420a and some suggestions too of course.
Thanks for all answers.
Mikolaj

**Old Guy** · June 27th, 2009, 09:00 AM

The tweeter was the weak spot in the Santana...Altec bought it from CTS I believe, it isn't an actual Altec product...always wondered if the 427 would be better...-

**analog addict** · June 27th, 2009, 10:26 AM

The 420A is a nice sounding driver. They were my introduction to the world of Altec in a set of 872B's, which BTW I still own. For our new friend from Poland, here's the data sheet....They can still be found on E-Pray from time to time....

**chuligan** · June 27th, 2009, 11:17 AM

Hi, i found 420Y on ebay. It has additional tweeter as i see. you know it? Whats your opinion on it?

**AltecLansingFan** · July 1st, 2009, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by chuligan

Hi, its me, yes thats right, im from Poland and my plan is to build speakers based on 420a Altec, and thats reason im here (on american forum).
What i like is to LISTEN TO THE MUSIC, im not speaker's builder/, im not constructor. Anyway I trust to people who indicate 420a as very good idea if i want to have speakers which give MUSIC.
I know 420a its old stuff, probably difficult to find even in America in good condition, but i will try to find it anyway.
Today i use 50years old tube amplifier BRAUN CSV13 and sometimes SUGDEN a21a when need more "watts". Speakers - english vintage SPENDOR 2/2, CD - modified Denon 655 (for example it has tubes in analog's converting section).
SPENDORS 2/2 are based on scanspeak drivers and are very good speakers but to small for room where my next speakers will stay(50m2). I dont like modern stuff, dont like this kind of sound, so i asked my friend for an idea of next speakers - its the same guy which had modyfied my DENON 655 and rebuild BRAUN CSV13 - he told me - try to find lansing 420a, with these drivers we can buil stuff you need. OK, thats what i now do - look for 420a and connected information. Not very often, but sometimes its possible to buy in Europe old SANTANA speakers (in which 420a are used). But firstly - they are really difficult to find in good shape/condition, secondly - its "sin" to demolish SANTANA just to have 420a. According to my friend original SANTANAs had poor tweeter, and as i saw them - they look not very nice indeed..
Reassuming - im guy who looks for 420a. I got a friend who would build speakers based on it. This friend is very good constructor of speakers as well as modificator of amplifiers and CDs.
What i do - listen to the MUSIC, build curved wooden stairs, drink wine with friends

So - hopefully i will find here some help in finding 420a and some suggestions too of course.
Thanks for all answers.
Mikolaj

You can get really good results with this speaker, but the best way is to strip off the original tweeter, and use a big ESS Heil AMT1 tweeter or a RAAL 70-10 in combination with this woofer. There is a very good RAAL dealer in Poland his name is Witold Albecki, Sklep internetowy : - www.loudspeakershop.eu I also bought a pair of RAAL 70-10 by this guy.
Good luck, and enjoy the music, because that's the only reason we use the Altec Lansing speakers.

**chuligan** · July 1st, 2009, 04:59 PM

Thanks for that link, i heard about this guy...I know its neccessary to use better tweeter then in original santana - i thought about dynaudio 260, anyway its very difficult to find.
I will buy very nice pair of 420 from Bowtie, then have to decide if build open buffles or boxes, what tweeter and if add bass driver or not (what type?). Thanks for every suggestion.
Take in mind that it will work in room 7m x 7m or similar (about 50 m2).