What to do with Altec 515b and 288-8g on 805b horns

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · June 29th, 2010, 02:14 AM

Originally Posted by analog addict

It's my understanding that 60-70Hz is about the best you'll see from this combo. I have a set of 515-16GHP in 816VI's. They are essentially a sound reinforcement system from a school auditorium. Great for vocals and PA system material, not so good for bass.

A sub woofer is recommended for audio applications.

For some reason the 9864-8A which also uses the 816-VI cabinet and a 515 based Duplex is supposed to be able to reach 50hz. I spec sheet for just the cabinet claims 65hz, as you stated. Maybe the 50hz is a stretch? My 9864 is very listenable, but does lack deep bass. I think the cabinet is a great alternative to the 825/828 cabinets. Having said that, I've never had the opportunity to listen to the earlier 816 cabinets. Another thing to consider is the differences between a 515B and our later drivers.

**drummerwill** · June 29th, 2010, 09:11 AM

What I've always loved about a Front loaded Bass Horn is the dynamic impact of available low frequency .......... You can't get that with, no box!

Have fun!
Willie

**Panomaniac** · June 29th, 2010, 09:55 AM

Hey Earl. All the info you need is in the link I posted above.
Onken 360l Enclosure with Altec 416 drivers
Check out the linked articles at the bottom of the page. Plans are within those links.
Onken Plans

There is a google translation button on the French pages. It does a decent job. Since I was around when those boxes where built and the articles written, I can help if there is something you don't understand.

This box is meant for the 416, but the 514 should be OK in it. Maybe a little less bass, but better dynamics. And you can always swap in a pair of 416s later, if you find a pair or trade your 515s for them. This is a great bass box, despite its odd design. It has won fans the world over.

**bowtie427ss** · June 29th, 2010, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

Hey Earl. All the info you need is in the link I posted above.
Onken 360l Enclosure with Altec 416 drivers
Check out the linked articles at the bottom of the page. Plans are within those links.
Onken Plans

There is a google translation button on the French pages. It does a decent job. Since I was around when those boxes where built and the articles written, I can help if there is something you don't understand.

This box is meant for the 416, but the 514 should be OK in it. Maybe a little less bass, but better dynamics. And you can always swap in a pair of 416s later, if you find a pair or trade your 515s for them. This is a great bass box, despite its odd design. It has won fans the world over.

Interesting.

I didn't mention it here because this is the "Altec" place, but over at the "other place" this was in my very first post to the OP:

If i had these drivers, i'd look for something that has better LF performance than 825/828, maybe an Onken or something similar.

**eestrera** · June 29th, 2010, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

Hey Earl. All the info you need is in the link I posted above.
Onken 360l Enclosure with Altec 416 drivers
Check out the linked articles at the bottom of the page. Plans are within those links.
Onken Plans

There is a google translation button on the French pages. It does a decent job. Since I was around when those boxes where built and the articles written, I can help if there is something you don't understand.

This box is meant for the 416, but the 514 should be OK in it. Maybe a little less bass, but better dynamics. And you can always swap in a pair of 416s later, if you find a pair or trade your 515s for them. This is a great bass box, despite its odd design. It has won fans the world over.

Panomaniac,

Thanks. Got it. Sorry never bothered clicking the bottom part in french. Turns out thats where the plans are. Thanks for pointing it out. Will study it. Looks like a simple cabinet to build which just needs decent finishing to make it look beautiful.

**Panomaniac** · June 29th, 2010, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by bowtie427ss

If i had these drivers, i'd look for something that has better LF performance than 825/828, maybe an Onken or something similar.

See, damaged minds think alike!

Originally Posted by eestrera

Looks like a simple cabinet to build which just needs decent finishing to make it look beautiful.

It's not too hard. A lot of work, a lot of parts, but not hard. I'd like to build a pair out of bamboo plywood. That would be killer. Easy to finish and looks great. Even smells good. The end grain is very pretty, too, so no need to hide it. But $$$.

If you do one, put the damping in a curtain about 1/3 of they way back. Works better than on the back wall. Front or back panel removable, does not matter. Just depends on if you like to see the screws or not.

**Altec Best** · June 29th, 2010, 05:55 PM

What about an Onken W box. I like dual woof's with any Large format driver.

TWOGOODEARS - ??????????: ... again about Goto speakers from Japan: visiting my friend Toni and listening to his system

**Panomaniac** · June 29th, 2010, 09:09 PM

Well I just so happen to know the Onken W box very well indeed. It's amazing, truly amazing. But it's huge and very, very heavy. Double walled, sand filled construction. Even I am not that dedicated. But man, is it ever clean.

You'll end up spending a lot of money on an amp to run the Onken-W. Why? Because you can hear every little flaw in your bass amp. It has to be top notch or you will always be bothered by some little "something."

**eestrera** · June 30th, 2010, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

See, damaged minds think alike!

It's not too hard. A lot of work, a lot of parts, but not hard. I'd like to build a pair out of bamboo plywood. That would be killer. Easy to finish and looks great. Even smells good. The end grain is very pretty, too, so no need to hide it. But $$$.

If you do one, put the damping in a curtain about 1/3 of they way back. Works better than on the back wall. Front or back panel removable, does not matter. Just depends on if you like to see the screws or not.

I was also thinking of bamboo plywood/plyboo because aside from aesthetics, I've always felt like bamboo was musical and had good acoustic properties. It claims to be harder than oak while still retaining some amount of flexibility. Too bad there non are available here in our area and the closest on to import is from China. What is available though are laminated bamboo panels, crushed bamboo or strips laminated into a piece of plywood as a veneer. Looks pretty good to.

For inside cabinet damping, has anyone tried dynamat? The one they used in the car doors for car audio?

Thanks,

Earl

**bowtie427ss** · June 30th, 2010, 09:02 AM

I was also thinking of bamboo plywood/plyboo because aside from aesthetics, I've always felt like bamboo was musical and had good acoustic properties. It claims to be harder than oak while still retaining some amount of flexibility. Too bad there non are available here in our area and the closest on to import is from China. What is available though are laminated bamboo panels, crushed bamboo or strips laminated into a piece of plywood as a veneer. Looks pretty good to.

In most cases an acoustically "live" material is the last thing you want to construct loudspeaker cabinets from.

For inside cabinet damping, has anyone tried dynamat? The one they used in the car doors for car audio?

Probably cost prohibitive for the quantities needed in a large wooden box, at the very least i expect the cost well exceeds the point of diminishing returns. I'm a big fan of well secured fiberglass, there's probably more than one reason it's been the standard for decades for most manufacturers.

Now, Dynamat for damping the small format horns OTOH, i think it's the perfect material for this job, just don't apply it to anything you might ever want to remove it from.

Just my .02...................