Altec 421 woofer

[Audio_by_Goodwill]

I wonder how would a 421 function in a single woofer 816 cab rather than a dual woofer 815?

It's a smaller horn, so it's not a single driver (smaller) 815, if that's what you're after.

[Ronald Lee]

It's a smaller horn, so it's not a single driver (smaller) 815, if that's what you're after.

Yeah, thanks, that is what I wanted to hear.

[Old Guy]

It's a smaller horn, so it's not a single driver (smaller) 815, if that's what you're after.

Right. And the small horn reinforces the area where a 421 is louder than a 416. The effect is to make the system more forward and aggressive. Good for kicking vocal over audience noise. Which was the reason for the 421/A7.

I recommend the bigger horn, or a bass reflex...making the port a little smaller, the paper dome I mentioned earlier, and band limiting will deal with the issues GM mentioned. Add a sub, and sounds pretty darn good. If I wanted to use the bent 32B with a 15, that might even be my final choice.

Hmmm...if this dang heat would go away mebbe I'll make some sawdust. I WOULD like to hear that.

[GM]

Right. And the small horn reinforces the area where a 421 is louder than a 416.

I recommend the bigger horn, or a bass reflex......Add a sub, and sounds pretty darn good. If I wanted to use the bent 32B with a 15, that might even be my final choice.

Hmmm...if this dang heat would go away mebbe I'll make some sawdust. I WOULD like to hear that.

True, one would normally either address this in the XO design in a HIFI/HT app or just EQ it.

Agreed, I was/am quite fond of the 421-8H with a light coating of rubber cement on the DC in a compact TQWT tuned to ~55 Hz for an 80 Hz XO.

Yeah, I've been trying to get my garage and workshop cleaned up/back in service for months now, but between a worse than usual pollen season and Summer heat/smog I've been ~ under house arrest, so only about half finished.

GM

[voice of the theater]

I was reading this thread and just thought I'd mention that I've got a couple of blown 421 woofers here--if anyone's interested I'd sell them for next to nothing and GPA could make them good as new.....

[Conelrad]

I have a homebrew roadshow music/PA system with 421's in 815 cabinets. I drive them pretty hard with souped-up bi-amped Hafler D-500's. They are definitely tougher than 515's, but can really handle the work. Never lost a voice coil, but I have shattered one cone. Maybe it failed from age/brittle. Has made good money for me for over 12 years now with very little maintenance.

The top end is MR64 horns and 291H drivers.

Comments run from 'turn it down!' (ignored), to 'That stuff sounds awesome'....

DG

ps...A tip: never point the bins at each other...one good thump from a kick drum and the opposite HF horn driver diaphragm will shatter...the horn works both ways (think funnel).

[bfish]

...A tip: never point the bins at each other...one good thump from a kick drum and the opposite HF horn driver diaphragm will shatter...the horn works both ways (think funnel).

Absolutely. You'll only do it once though.

:welcome: