Western Electric 753c Monitor vs. Iconic or Altec 604(x) Monitor

[baja]

hi,
is there any experience regarding a western electric 753c monitor from the mid 40th? (bass: we Jensen ks12004 , horn: we32a , driver we713b , Xover is at about 1000Hz).
I'd be glad for suggestions - also in competition with the altec 604 (as monitor in 612 enclosure) or even (in keeping with the mentioned period) with the iconic monitor ...
thanks,



(here with the bigger horn)

[Steve Schell]

Baja I can offer some comments based on past listening experiences, though I've never compared any of them side by side. I am prejudiced toward the Lansing Iconic as I have collected them (mostly in pieces) for years. The Iconic with its field coil drivers and 800Hz. horn handily outperforms any 604 I have heard, though I like the 604 series also. There is such a dynamic yet relaxed quality to the sound of the field coil drivers, and the 801b high frequency driver is very smooth sounding with its half roll diaphragm compliance. The Lansing 815 woofer manages to make the 612 cabinet sound more extended and powerful than I can recall hearing with any 604, though it has been many years since I owned them.

I heard a pair of W.E. 753Cs several years ago and liked them a lot. In particular the crossover network seemed to do its job very well as there was no audible transition between drivers. Overall a very well designed and pleasing system, and it is easy to see why they are sought after. Having said that, I would prefer the Iconics if given the choice.

Baja I have a favor to ask. That picture of the Iconic with the 15 cell horn is a real find! I believe that horn to be the H-1508, a model which was listed in an early 1940s Altec catalog. I have a pair of these, probably earlier Lansing era, with captive threaded throats for the large format Lansing drivers. These were the only examples I had ever known to exist until I saw the picture in your post. I am curious as to whether any more pictures of this system can be found on the site. I went to the tubebbs.com site and looked at hundreds of interesting pictures, the site seems to go on forever, but could not find this system. Do you suppose you could find the article the image came from and provide a link?

[baja]

steve,
thanks for reply! honestly I didn't expect that anyone has audited all three (of course not site by site). yes, the iconic would be a 'fluke' to get it somewhere anyway (not only concerning the price in relation to the 753c - I guess) - but where to get? I've never seen a pair (or even one single speaker) that was sold. regarding my recent 612b-project with 604h it was even not possible to get a serious pair of 604h, reason why I shifted to GPAs. and finding 604h or iconic might be a huge difference - I guess. if you have any suggestions where to get iconics, please let me know ;-)
best,

ps.
here comes the link, where I cut the image: Audio Voice Acoustics - View Single Post - links to web pages with pictures and descriptions of Audio Systems with hornspeakers - Google Translate (please scrawl down to #59)
and

[Steve Schell]

Thanks very much Baja; I've saved this page. Looks like this H-1508 has the single driver throat attachment for the small driver as indicated in the 1943 Altec catalog:

http://www.lansingheritage.org/image...943/page08.jpg

At first I thought that the bass cabinet of this system might be a reproduction, but looking at the second picture it seems to be original. I guess it is in great original condition or has been carefully cleaned up. The ones I have came to me in rough shape, heavily scraped with paint dripped all over them, etc. As good as these systems are, the ones that are still with us have managed to survive several decades of being regarded as nearly worthless.

The pair of Iconics pictured on the same page were a bittersweet discovery. These were assembled by a very dedicated friend of mine who unfortunately died of a heart attack less than a year ago. He decided to build himself a pair of Iconics after listening to mine, and when he made his mind up things happened quickly. My friend built the 612 repro cabinets and initially fit them with 604s while he looked for Iconic components. He based the stuffing inside on a pair of late 1940s Altec cabinets he had owned. He didn't know at the time that Iconics used the thin stapled cheesecloth over rock wool as seen in the other system. Jim Lansing always did it this way, even in his late 1940s Lansing Sound cabinets. The horns and drivers were originals, though carefully restored with original color paint. The field supplies were built by us from scratch in a joint project; we made a dozen of these. Anyway, his Iconics sounded as nice as any I've heard, and it is good to know that they will be singing for someone for years to come.

[Altec Best]

Hi Steve, That's a 800 hz H1508 horn? It is alot smaller than a regular 1505 too.From the picture with the back open it looks to be about a few inches wider than the 15" woofer.I have a pair of 612C's and have a 416-8B in them now and the bass is alot better than the 604-8G's that came with them.So I think it has more to do with the 604's than the cabinet.As the 416 performs quite well in them.From my listening.And always thought that the 604-8G's woofer was most like a 416 but the differance is quite easily noticed.Any thought's Thanks !!!

PS. Whenever I find old Iconic,Lansing,etc.. equipment on the internet it always seems to be in Japan.I think alot of that vintage stuff ended up there and looks like it is always in Mint Condition.

[Steve Schell]

Altec Best, the 1508 is a fifteen cell, 800Hz. horn. The individual cells are the same size and shape as in the H-808 Iconic horn, they just clustered fifteen of them together. The horns look very quaint and charming in person with their small size and unusual configuration.

I think it is safe to say that most of the surviving Lansing field coil gear is now located in Asia. This is fine with me, as most of it would have bitten the dust otherwise.

Baja, good luck with your project- the cabinets look great! The problem with assembling authentic Iconics is finding the components which are now hyper-scarce. This did not deter my friend, who somehow found everything within a few months. His speakers did sound as good as originals I believe, as the h.f. diaphragms were originals and he had carefully reconed the woofers with NOS cones very close to the old ones.

[baja]

steve,
sad to hear such a story...
indeed my plan could be to rebuild the iconic - but same as it is with the WE stuff - I guess: all items that are rebuilt are not the originals (of course) and as result you never know the potential of what it was. this is really an odd fate of 'late birth' ... however if it will be a 'clone' in the end, I own the enclosure (as clone) already.
.
btw. am I right that you still own a pair of iconic and have some (re-built) parts left?
best,