Model 19 Reviews

**DaveCan** · January 8th, 2010, 06:33 AM

I would agree that it's not really a fair conclusion to assess a speaker cab that's not set up correctly and make a solid impression of it etc... I've only heard the Klipschorn one time, and remember that I was excited to see them at a party I attended as a youth.. Well needless to say the person that owned them had the money to afford the system, but no sense of setting things up properly (how many times do you see that even from forum system pics of people who should know better)

Anyhow they were placed up against the middle area of a long wall of the type that shares a dinning room and living room ,and in between a equipment rack about 6 feet apart.. They were powered by a semi decent turntable and a NAD amp.. They got loud, but more of a over driven loud PA type party sound.. I remember thinking here is yet another person who likes to crank things up well into a distorted range and think everything's just dandy and fine.. I had wished I could hear them properly set up and mentioned to the owner that they are not meant to be placed this way, he didn't really care though as his speakers were more like a show piece to him, and not about being an audiophile with any clue about sound quality etc.. So in conclusion, no I didn't like the sound with his system and style of set up, but I fully know that isn't a fair assessment of the K-Horn at all... Haven't heard any Altec stuff to comment either...

**MikeInNH** · January 8th, 2010, 10:09 AM

Well, I am having a hard time believing that you actually saw Klipschorns at a Disco.

Believe what you want...Not all disco's where HUGE...In the late 70's early 80's every bar that had a dance floor turned it into a disco. The big clubs around used mainly JBL...some used Altec...and a few used EV. Most in my area used Klipsch....There were at least 3 that used Klipschorn....Most used LaScala's.

I am also guessing that if you heard Klipschorns at a Disco, they were powered by some massive solid state amps, and I would have agreed with you that they would have sounded terrible. Throw in some lousy disco room acoustics, and some terrible disco music and yes, you would have a recipe for disaster.

All disco's had the same problems. They all used large solid state amps (mainly McIntosh or Crown). They all suffered from room accoustics. Are you saying that JBL or Altec's in the same room would have the same muddy base problems??? Maybe...but I know of one disco that switched out the Klipsch LaScala's to JBL's...and the sound difference was astounding. Klipsch are great speakers...I'm not saying they aren't...But there are certain things I've always thought (and many others) that Klipsch did poorly was good solid base and good mid's. If you liked them...GREAT...Doesn't mean that everyone will. I can show you a couple of sound engineers who think their Yamaha's are the BEST speakers ever made.

**theebadone** · January 8th, 2010, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by Cut-Throat

I know that I am in the minority on this, but the 19 never appealed to me. It had what I call the 'Club Sound' - More Bass than clarity. And a lot of folks prefer the 'Big' 'Club Sound'. Maybe it is the music that I prefer. The small Jazz trios, female vocals, guitar solos... etc -

I actually preferred the Klipschorn over the 19. The 19 is a 2 way and the Khorn is a 3 way. With that said the Khorn midrange is the weak link, so I replaced the Khorn Midrange with an Altec horn and Driver. So, I feel I have the best of both worlds here.

I recently got to A-B the model 19s next to EV sentry ll and if i had to make a decision which to take home it would of been the sentrys. The sentrys went way lower than the 19s and that EV horn sure was nice too, and to compare them side by side the sentrys are about 3 inches shorter than the 19s but they are about 2 inches deeper. Either way, both speakers were HUGE. Personally i think the votts kick both their asses badddd.

**Altec Best** · January 8th, 2010, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by MikeInNH

Most used LaScala's.

. I can show you a couple of sound engineers who think their Yamaha's are the BEST speakers ever made.

There was one disco near me that used LaScala's.... 4 of the LaScala's

Everyone is going to have their own opinion to likes and dislikes. Not Everyone is going to like the same thing.I have actually heard someone (A Friend) say back in the day that a pair of pioneers sounded great and it was so loud the woofers were to the point of popping Distortion 100% But to him they sounded good they were Pioneers they had to be good right ??

I personally like to do Blind tests without knowing What make,model, etc.. This way you give a fair evaluation and most people I have done this with were surprised at the result.I give all speakers that I listen to a fair evaluation.After all I'm looking for the best sounding speaker to my ears so it is a serious but fair evaluations.The model 19 is one of the best to my ears and will never part with them Ever !!! For the amount of money and quality that you get nothing comes close.Khorns are way overpriced they are what ?? $4000 apeice.For value and sound quality the 19 can not be beat.I paid $909 for my pair + shipping $200 and they are in mint condition the only thing they needed were the foams around the H811 and also the XO's needed to be rebuilt/Solens.I don't think there is another speaker on the planet that I could get with this quality for that amount of money.To Equal that I would have to spend Min. $3000 but this is My Honest Opinion on the Altec Model 19 Regards ~ AB

**Tom Brennan** · January 9th, 2010, 01:10 AM

I was a pretty experienced horny with many such systems including Klipsch LaScalas, Cornwalls and Hereseys, Altec A7, A&-500s and A5s, Model 19s, Altec 605s and Heath AS-21s and various DIY concoctions using EV, JBL, Altec, McCauley, PAudio, Edgar and who knows what else horns and drivers.

Anyway I think the Model 19s were the best overall, turn-key, all in one box speakers ever. There might be some speakers that do this or that a little better but the 19s had a winning combination of clarity, dynamics, extension on both ends of the range and imaging.

Had I not sold my house and moved into a high rise I'd still be using them.

**analog addict** · January 9th, 2010, 02:24 AM

Originally Posted by Cut-Throat

I thought Khorns sounded 'constricted' in the Mid range, that's why I went to the Large Format Altec Horns and Drivers.

Let me ask you a question, what type of crossovers are you running in the Khorns? - I have found the Type "A" to be the best with the Low Powered SET amps. I have 45's, 2A3s and 300b's. I use a modified type "A" with my Khorn/Altec System.

Been awhile since I pulled them out of the corners, but IIRC, they are "AA"s.

I heard a pair of 604-8G's today for the first time - very nice! I'm hoping to make them mine before the weekend is out....

**Panomaniac** · January 9th, 2010, 12:20 PM

Wow Tom. That's quire a menagerie and quite a recommendation for the 19.

Thanks!

**theebadone** · January 9th, 2010, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

Wow Tom. That's quire a menagerie and quite a recommendation for the 19.

Thanks!

The elevator in the high rise must not of been big enough to get those (monster speakers) up to toms place lol

**RonSSS** · January 10th, 2010, 05:39 PM

I have had a lot of Altec systems in my listening room.
A7's set up several different ways. Duplexes with 411-8A subs, Santana's with the same subs, and now my tweaked M19's with 8184 subs. (braced cabs, top sealed to the bottom and mounted with 8 bolts instead of 4, and the ribs removed from the horns, horns damped and the bug screens removed)
With attention to detail and careful setup, all of these setups have been awesome. Yes, even the Santana.

I constructed my room to be quite dead and free of reflections. I believe the room is critical.

That said, the Duplex setup was real magic. It wouldn't rock your socks off like the larger setups, but it had image and depth in spades. BTW...these are 904-8A with the hf section modded to be like a 604. No bug screens! And the manta horn in these is sweet.

Next up is my present M19 setup. I listened last night for several hours and all I can say is wow after not having much opportunity to do so in the last year. The 8184's are crossed at 80hz with LR 24dB/oct crossovers, the M19's run full range. The subs add that extra dig on real low notes and the combo flat ass rocks.
I sit in the near field with the 19's toe'ed in. I simply am imersed in the sound field. I don't hear speakers, I hear the band right in front of me. Image is superb! Info way to the left and right of the speakers. Even at very high levels, there is no fatigue.

In the case of the 19's and duplexes, I love the adjustable x-overs. Mine are stock. The adj let's you tweak things just a bit to hit that magic sweet spot.

I also believe the audio source is critical. I have a Rotel RCD1072 player which is quite good. This feeds a passive preamp (volume control) into my home brew 30w PP300B tube amps. Subs are powered by an old Kenwood KA9100 integrated that I bought new in 77.

The only Khorns I ever heard has Altec components in them. That was so long ago, I only remember the bass. The Khorn takes a specific room.
I also heard LaScalas in a less than ideal setup, hard room and they were very harsh.
Maybe the Klipsch stuff can sound excellent, I don't know, I have never owned any. From what I gather, the components were not of the same quality as our Altecs.

20, 30, 40, and even 50 years after they were produced, these drivers and systems are still great.

BTW...I was listening to Steve Miller "Born to be Blue". A VERY well recorded red book CD.

Ron