Altec 927-8A

**Xinzano** · August 19th, 2010, 08:53 AM

Hello everyone, this is my first post here but i have enjoyed reading so many interesting threads on this board since a while.

I have tried to find information about the 927-8A woofer but it seems this is not the most popular of Altec's family.

I found a pair in a garage sale and i wonder if i could use them for a 2 way Bass-reflex ?
Any suggestion are welcome.

**Cal Weldon** · August 19th, 2010, 09:44 AM

Sure you can use them. They're a 15" LF driver with decent specs. The problem I am guessing is that they seem to come from the Sparkomatic era and that doesn't bode well with a lot of folks. Personally I've not seen them so I can't comment. How much are they asking?

**Xinzano** · August 19th, 2010, 10:01 AM

Thanks for replying.

I have no idea of what is the Sparkomatic era ??

These 927-8a were included in a lot with others audio stuff.

They look very well made. Compared to the 3154 ( second picture ) they are heavier and the magnet is larger.

Even after an extensive Google's search i didn't find a pair of speaker using these 927-8A ?

Some pictures

**voice of the theater** · August 19th, 2010, 10:20 AM

I believe that the 927-8A was pre-Sparkomatic. To answer your question, Sparkomatic was the company that bought/licensed the Altec name back in the 80's--speakers from that era (including the "Altec" computer speakers etc. that are still being manufactured today) aren't "real" Altecs, they are Sparkomatic speakers with the Altec name.....
Here's a little info on your 927-8A's
Altec Thiele-Small Parameters

**magnarc** · August 19th, 2010, 10:39 AM

They look similar to a 515E with that slight rounded back on the magnet.

**Old Guy** · August 19th, 2010, 10:45 AM

They are Pre- Barkomatic. I think I remember seeing them early 80's

I think it's a MI derivative, but take that with a pound of salt.

Brought out during Altec's bankruptcy and discontinued after, so not common.

**Earl K** · August 19th, 2010, 12:17 PM

I entered some of the published parameters into WinISD Pro and allowed that program to auto-magically calculate those parameters that it felt it "needed" to "correct" ( ie; Qts ) .

Anyways, according to the results of that exercise , the 927-8A is a mid-90s db woofer that's sporting a heavier cone ( mms = 97 g ) / when compared to the typical Altec fifteen .

It appears to be someones answer to JBLs' 2225 SR woofer , though it's actually more like JBLs' 2234 HiFi woofer ( just not as dynamic ) .

It tunes up nicely in smallish boxes . See the prediction below .

While my primitive calcs show the 927 is not as dynamic as the Altec 416-8B ( the 927-8A seems to act more like the TAD range of 1601 woofers ) / it does appear to work nicely within smallish enclosures .

I'd certainly buy them ( at least out of pure curiosity ) .

They should give nice performance within the home environment ( according to the above, guesstimated predictions ) .

<> cheers

816d1282226423 altec 927 8a 927

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · August 19th, 2010, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by voice of the theater

I believe that the 927-8A was pre-Sparkomatic. To answer your question, Sparkomatic was the company that bought/licensed the Altec name back in the 80's--speakers from that era (including the "Altec" computer speakers etc. that are still being manufactured today) aren't "real" Altecs, they are Sparkomatic speakers with the Altec name.....

That early, only the home line was affected, However.

**Xinzano** · August 19th, 2010, 01:50 PM

Many thanks for all your valuable inputs !!

Finally it sounds like these 927's are a lucky find.

Originally Posted by Earl K

I entered some of the published parameters into WinISD Pro and allowed that program to automagically calculate those parameters that it felt it "needed" to "correct" ( ie; Qts ) .

Anyways, according to the results of that exercise , the 927-8A is a mid-90s db woofer that's sporting a heavier cone ( mms = 97 g ) / when compared to the typical Altec fifteen .

It appears to be someones answer to JBLs' 2225 SR woofer , though it's actually more like JBLs' 2234 HiFi woofer ( just not as dynamic ) .

<> cheers

Thanks a lot Earl K for taking the time to calculate with WinISD pro.

I have learned a lot reading your posts on LH and still learn here on this Altec User's board !!!

It is a coincidence but i have a 2 way DIY project with a pair of JBL 2234H. If the 927-8A can be used in the same enclosure i will be able to compare them.

**Earl K** · August 21st, 2010, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Xinzano

Many thanks for all your valuable inputs !!

Finally it sounds like these 927's are a lucky find.

Thanks a lot Earl K for taking the time to calculate with WinISD pro.

I have learned a lot reading your posts on LH and still learn here on this Altec User's board !!!

It is a coincidence but i have a 2 way DIY project with a pair of JBL 2234H. If the 927-8A can be used in the same enclosure i will be able to compare them.

You're welcome .

If you buy them I hope you will take some more pictures ( as well as take some physical measurements of these rare speakers ) so as to add to the overall knowledge base of old Altec products ( since this model is so rare ) .

I'd like to know ( for instance ) just how high ( deep/thick ) that top plate is .
( ie, I'm trying to figure out if this woofer has an underhung or overhung voice-coil topology ) . ( FYI, that official Xmax stat. seems somewhat optimistic , unless it's for an overhung voice-coil or perhaps the stat is really an X-mechanical before damage statistic ) .

If you end up using these in the same boxes as your JBL 2234(s), I'd love to hear your sonic impressions / after an A/B comparison ( keep in mind the 927-8A appears to be a 10 ohm woofer , which will somewhat skew the ability to make an easy comparison ) .

<> cheers EarlK