From A7 to custom DIY horns

**Wardsweb** · December 1st, 2009, 01:06 AM

I started with a pair of A7's. Then tried the drivers in a different cabinet for a while and ended up building my own modern version. They run JBL 2235H woofers, Altec 802-8G on 511B horns and JBL 077 slot tweeters. The crossovers are based on the Altec N501 and JBL 3106 crossovers. Cabinets are baltic birch and MDF veneered with sapele pommele.

**Panomaniac** · December 1st, 2009, 01:12 AM

Wow! Those look wonderful! Nice turntable, too.

What's inside the cabs?

**bowtie427ss** · December 1st, 2009, 10:01 AM

In a word, beautiful!

........... and please accept a long overdue thanks for maintaining a wonderful gallery of Altec pics.

**gearfreak** · December 1st, 2009, 12:05 PM

Ditto!

**Panomaniac** · December 1st, 2009, 01:06 PM

Ward's speakers are so pretty I just had to see them "naked." And I found them.
Here they are from about 3 years ago with no clothes.

Still Be-U-Tee-Full.
Before the pretty dress

**Skip Pack** · December 1st, 2009, 01:47 PM

I was lucky enough to hear them in their unclothed state around the
time of the 'Before the pretty dress' photo at a Lonestar Bottlehead
meeting that Wardsweb hosted. They sounded great then, which surprised
me a little since it was a small room, and sofa against the opposite wall was
pretty close. He's since move so I imagine they are fabulous with a little
elbow room. I try to finish my projects fairly well, but even the preveneer
versions were nicer than most of my finished stuff.

Skip

**Altec Best** · December 2nd, 2009, 06:30 PM

Ward, You have an Absolutely Stunning set-up there they are Gorgeous you do Fantastic work !!!

That sapele is gorgeous wood. I too wanted to Thank You for that Altec Photo Gallery you put together very nice work so Thank You for that.I was just curious do you have children in the house if so you may want to put some grilles on those Beauties !!!!

Regards ~

**Wardsweb** · December 2nd, 2009, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by Altec Best

Ward, You have an Absolutely Stunning set-up there they are Gorgeous you do Fantastic work !!!

That sapelle is gorgeous wood. I too wanted to Thank You for that Altec Photo Gallery you put together very nice work so Thank You for that.I was just curious do you have children in the house if so you may want to put some grilles on those Beauties !!!!

Regards ~

I did make curved grills for them.

**mah** · December 2nd, 2009, 09:14 PM

Hi Ward,

Great cabinet design and construction. Would you mind sharing the grill construction method? I would like to have similar curved ones on my project but cannot work out how to maintain the curve of the cloth across any cut-outs.

Marshall.

**Wardsweb** · December 2nd, 2009, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by mah

Hi Ward,

Great cabinet design and construction. Would you mind sharing the grill construction method? I would like to have similar curved ones on my project but cannot work out how to maintain the curve of the cloth across any cut-outs.

Marshall.

The grills are simple a rectangular sheet of perforated metal covered with grill cloth held in place by automotive trim.

The width of the metal is one inch wider than the face of the speakers. The speaker baffle board is recessed creating edges that the grill is wedged between. Because it is wider it has to bow to fit.