New member here- Bolero questions

**glenwcar** · July 27th, 2010, 11:41 AM

HI
Saying hi to the board.
Vintage electronics collector, new owner of pair of 890b, and pair of 890c. Will ultimately refurbish both pairs. I also own a pair of Capri 887A.
Hoping the group can give me some thoughts on the likes/dislikes of the two models of the bolero. and perhaps successful mods that have been done.
First specific question-
I read somewhere that the LF drivers from these two models are basically the same, just different #'s. Any truth there?
Thanks in advance for any input.
G

**Raymond Bitterlick** · December 30th, 2010, 05:58 PM

Hello--

I'm curious about this very question. My 890C speakers are great, though I've always heard about this great tweeter in the 890B. I have an opportunity to buy a pair of 890B speakers sight-unseen; anyone have input as to whether it's an upgrade worth spending the $$ on or not?

Regards,
Ray Bitterlick

GM · December 30th, 2010, 07:52 PM

Except for remembering the Bolero being an above average monitor, all I 'know' about them is listed here: http://www.lansingheritage.org/image...ers/page07.jpg

GM

**Raymond Bitterlick** · December 30th, 2010, 08:57 PM

Hi--

I really like the 890C--or at least the pair I have--as it has that big, colorful Altec sound in a small bookshelf size. A while back I seem to recall reading someone's analysis that of the two, the 890C has the sweeter-sounding woofer partly because it's crossed at a lower frequency, though the 3000G horn in the 890B is superior. I've been searching the web today & I can't find the review anymore.

Anyone ever A/B'ed the 890B and the 890C?

**Old Guy** · December 31st, 2010, 12:08 AM

Anybody near Denver?

Altec Lansing Bolero 890-B pair

**Raymond Bitterlick** · December 31st, 2010, 02:38 PM

That's a great price for a pair of 890B speakers; the horns alone go for more than that on eBay. I'm 1,000 miles from Denver though.

**glenwcar** · January 2nd, 2011, 10:46 AM

Hello all, and Happy New Year!
The CL posting mentioned by Old Guy is mine.
Since I posted originally about the Bolero B and C that I have, I have been able to do some comparisons. I should say that the pair of Cs had one bad driver when I got them, and it took a while to find a replacement. I have to agree with Raymond's reflections. I know it is all subjective, I like the low end on the C version, just a little tighter and more defined. The horn on the B version wins the contest for me, rounding out the mids from the LF driver nicely. I listen to vinyl much more than CD, and find that the digital source tends to be much brighter (as is usually the case for me) on both pairs. Analog sources, and FM, I can listen to both or either pairs all day.
I was able not only to do a A/B, (or in this case, a B/C), comparison, with my set up, I also experimented with stacking these two pairs, horn to horn, horizontal. Quite an experience. I did not go so far as to change the passive drivers position, making a mirror image, so can't comment on that.
I have chosen to keep the C version, as I had to decide between the two for space considerations. The low end was ultimately more important to me than the differences in the high end. The cabinets on the Cs need quite a bit more work than the Bs. The Bs sanded out nicely. (FYI, the veneer on the cabinets is pretty thick).
In my research, I found a list of part # for the different models. (moderator wouldn't let me post a link, being a newbie and all). (It is at the Lansing Heritage site)
Of interest to me that the HF driver on the B was to be repaired and the HF driver on the C was to be replaced. Also, note that there is no mention of a Bolero 890A, which I think exists, as I think I have seen it mentioned somewhere. (seems logical too, A/B/C).
Today, I am going to switch out the grills and do a comparison. The plastic C grills are so substantial compared to the cloth on the B grills. I assume that the designers compensated for that somehow. Any comments on that? Or on the rest of my ramblings?
G