speaker system for small room

**slowbrain** · October 19th, 2010, 01:26 PM

Greetings - new guy here. I'm trying to decide what speakers would be best to build for a 10 x 18 room. The speakers would be on the narrow side and I would sit in the middle. Right now I'm using 615As in big custom boxes. These are ceiling speakers that are a lot like 604s less 4db efficiency and with a teardrop shaped horn that messes up the imaging to my ears. Bill at GPA said he could install new 604 horns on them but the cones might get damaged in the process and need to be replaced. I could then build a 620 type speaker or I could leave them alone and use them as a woofers in a model 19 type cabinet with a set of 811b/806As that I have. I have several 414-16Cs that I could use with those horns also. I also have one 604E so I could buy or trade for another one of those. I will be using a Fisher X-101-d integrated amp that I still have to fix. I know - it's a lot to digest. I'm sure there are many different opinions but I'd be grateful to hear what anyone thinks. Thanks

**analog addict** · October 19th, 2010, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by slowbrain

Greetings - new guy here. I'm trying to decide what speakers would be best to build for a 10 x 18 room. The speakers would be on the narrow side and I would sit in the middle. Right now I'm using 615As in big custom boxes. These are ceiling speakers that are a lot like 604s less 4db efficiency and with a teardrop shaped horn that messes up the imaging to my ears. Bill at GPA said he could install new 604 horns on them but the cones might get damaged in the process and need to be replaced. I could then build a 620 type speaker or I could leave them alone and use them as a woofers in a model 19 type cabinet with a set of 811b/806As that I have. I have several 414-16Cs that I could use with those horns also. I also have one 604E so I could buy or trade for another one of those. I will be using a Fisher X-101-d integrated amp that I still have to fix. I know - it's a lot to digest. I'm sure there are many different opinions but I'd be grateful to hear what anyone thinks. Thanks

FWIW, I would either sell whatever you have extra and get a set of 416's, new or old and build some Model 19 clones with your 806A's (re-phragmmed to an 802 if possible), or do whatever you need to get a pair of 604's old or new in a 620 or similar sized box.

Of course you'd have to come up with a crossover, but there is a lot of information on either type on this forum....:2thumbsup:

**LICORNE** · October 19th, 2010, 05:48 PM

I would get the 615 fixed and put them in a 612 cabinet,

**Altec Best** · October 19th, 2010, 07:28 PM

604's in 620's work well. OR those 414's use 2 per cab with a 806/811 that you have ala 9844's.Now these suggestions are for just the drivers that you have already but if you are willing to purchase new from Bill then you could build just about anything.

**Old Guy** · October 19th, 2010, 08:40 PM

The Altec 615 is not a bad speaker. The horn is 90 degree conical as opposed to the tighter 614 horn.

One caveat...the HF is intentionally rolled off in the crossover unit. Here is a case where upgrading the crossover would be the first place I would start.

Conical horns tighten in pattern in the HF. IE a 90 degree at 2 k is going to be tighter at 10K.

What I would try first, yer mileage may vary, is converting the drivers to 802 specs.... take off the cap, and felt line the rear cover.

I would then pick out a suitable mid, and go (sacrilege!) 3 way, using the conical horn above say, 6K. That would tighten it's pattern.

I would hate to see the 615's changed out...but if you do, save the parts. Somebody may wanna change them back someday.

Of course, from strictly a financial viewpoint, the 615 may be worth more changed out.

But I would balance selling them and buying 604's against what it will cost to change.

Regardless, trying them stock with a better crossover, or rebuilding the crossovers you have, leaving out the extra parts, may solve a great deal of your issues. I would really try that before you off them.

**slowbrain** · October 19th, 2010, 11:12 PM

I failed to mention that the crossovers on my custom 615s have already been tweeked. I bought the speakers from a rather famous Altec 604 crossover guru that I used to work with. He was really just getting into Altecs at that time and I don't know exactly what was done since the whole thing is stuffed into the original can and covered with silicone. I know what you mean about modifying classic gear which is one reason why I thought about using them as woofers but as Bill from GPA said "seems like a waste". As far as value goes GPA has them on EBAY for $1k a pair which I don't think could be improved on. For 9844s what is the advantage to two 414s? In such a small room it seems one would be enough and that the imaging would be better but not as much bass or efficiency. Thanks guys.