Horny!

[amandarae]

Very nice indeed. This is a direction I have been thinking about going for some time as I own a 416. In regards the Azura horn, do you feel you need to dampen it? Please keep us posted on your crossover design.

Hello John,

No, I do not think I need to dampen the horns(fiberglass). If you have the horns in front of you, it is thick and very well made and the mounting flange is made of hard resin, not metallic. Martin Seddon(Azura horns) sent me a simple alignment tool to line up the mouth of the horn to the driver, even when using an adaptor plate for 1" to 1.4" and using the tool made it's a breeze to install to obtain smooth driver to horn mouth transition.

When I first mounted the horn, I was using the Altec 1201 XO so I will have a control of the mid/top end amplitude adjustment to blend with the woofer, it sounds nice. I then tried the 500 Hz Altec second order XO, nice too but a little too much on the midbass(prominent). I then tried a simple XO at 850 Hz(23.4 uF for the HF PIO with Fostex L pad and 1.5 mH for the woofer straight, Foil type) as I read more about it based on Dr. Bruce Edgar's post plus my mentors suggestion (Joseph E. of JE Labs)and indeed, after further evaluation, was much better sounding in my application. Aligned the drivers for the HF and LH magnet or VC plane and becomes much better still. That is why I am going to try a bigger (350 Hz, on order) horn as I am curious if it will give some more improvement to what I am hearing.

I had been using the Altec 811/511 horns since I joined this forum and they are good. To me however, the Le Cleach horn (at least from my experience in my system) sound much much better than the 511/811 horns that I had been experimenting for a while as you will find from my past posts here irregardless of the XO normally use for the set up (500, 800, 1200, and 1600 Hz)and I will bet my money on that using my set up because I have experienced it with my own ears. To me, there is no turning back, I hope. Soon, I will be experimenting with BMS/Altec 288/PAD/Radian once I can afford them and see if it is a worthwhile improvement compared to the 800 series Altec drivers I have. Also, try to find a contrast between the 400Hz and 300 Hz Le Cleach and choose one that is right for me in the long run.

Best regards,

Abe

[amandarae]

I can't help but notice the 3 or 4 turn tables in your set up.

Ahh yes, currently 4 on commission(Garrad 301, Thorens MKI and MKII, and the Classic Teres 255). Different flavor for each depending on the genre of music playing. Soon you will see me posting about "downsizing TT playback", but not yet

regards,

Abe

[BugC]

Ah, those OB's look familiar! ... I remember my Pioneer Pax-30G mounted on them .... ;-)

[Altec Best]

Ever since I heard the 612C cabs in my room(with a 604 before), I always felt that it was the right bass bin in it. Lift it up about 4" above the carpet and the result was amazing.

Hi Abe ! You know I always felt that way too.Wether I put my 604G's or a 416B in my 612C's they always sounded pretty darn good ! Very Enjoyable cabinet and it's not overly large like my 19's.For Folks with smaller listening rooms it is the perfect cabinet IMHO.

[amandarae]

Hi Abe ! You know I always felt that way too.Wether I put my 604G's or a 416B in my 612C's they always sounded pretty darn good ! Very Enjoyable cabinet and it's not overly large like my 19's.For Folks with smaller listening rooms it is the perfect cabinet IMHO.

I totally agree sir!

[vyju]

When I first mounted the horn, I was using the Altec 1201 XO so I will have a control of the mid/top end amplitude adjustment to blend with the woofer, it sounds nice. I then tried the 500 Hz Altec second order XO, nice too but a little too much on the midbass(prominent). I then tried a simple XO at 850 Hz(23.4 uF for the HF PIO with Fostex L pad and 1.5 mH for the woofer straight, Foil type) as I read more about it based on Dr. Bruce Edgar's post plus my mentors suggestion (Joseph E. of JE Labs)and indeed, after further evaluation, was much better sounding in my application. Aligned the drivers for the HF and LH magnet or VC plane and becomes much better still. That is why I am going to try a bigger (350 Hz, on order) horn as I am curious if it will give some more improvement to what I am hearing.

Hi,

Seems like we are both going down the same road.

It is after reading Joe's JE labs website that led me to try a simple first order crossover(around 900 Hz using Russian KBG pio capacitors and air core inductor) with my Altec 515B's and Altec 288-16G drivers(attenuated using Mills resistors by about 12 dB).

The horns are Stereolab Tactrix horns,and the bass cabinets are Bill Woods half horn design.

I use a JBL 075 Tweeter to fill in the highs.All drivers voice coils are aligned.The speakers sound superb driven by my SET 45 amp

Soon, I will be experimenting with BMS/Altec 288/PAD/Radian once I can afford them and see if it is a worthwhile improvement compared to the 800 series Altec drivers I have.

I have compared the Altec 800 series with the 288 series and the 288's are far better.They have an ease of reproduction that the 800 drivers can't match plus they sound better in the mids.A Tweeter needs to be used to add that last bit of air when the 288's are used.

Regards
Rajiv

[amandarae]

Hi,

Seems like we are both going down the same road.

It is after reading Joe's JE labs website that led me to try a simple first order crossover(around 900 Hz using Russian KBG pio capacitors and air core inductor) with my Altec 515B's and Altec 288-16G drivers(attenuated using Mills resistors by about 12 dB).

The horns are Stereolab Tactrix horns,and the bass cabinets are Bill Woods half horn design.

I use a JBL 075 Tweeter to fill in the highs.All drivers voice coils are aligned.The speakers sound superb driven by my SET 45 amp



I have compared the Altec 800 series with the 288 series and the 288's are far better.They have an ease of reproduction that the 800 drivers can't match plus they sound better in the mids.A Tweeter needs to be used to add that last bit of air when the 288's are used.

Regards
Rajiv

Rajiv,

Thank you! I will have to save some dough to acquire a pair of the 288's (What do you have, B or C?). Soon, I should be able to post my experience here I hope.

Abe

[vyju]

What do you have, B or C?).

Hi Abe,

I use the Altec 288-16G drivers.

Have you heard the Harana V2 speaker cabinets that Joe makes for the Altec woofers?

I would like your opinion on these.

Regards
Rajiv

[Altec Best]

Hi Abe,

I use the Altec 288-16G drivers.

Hey Abe ! The 288G's have been selling for quite a bit ! Between $1500-$1850 ,well the last 3 pairs were in this range.Not counting shipping costs.

[amandarae]

Hi Abe,

I use the Altec 288-16G drivers.

Have you heard the Harana V2 speaker cabinets that Joe makes for the Altec woofers?

I would like your opinion on these.

Regards
Rajiv

Rajiv,

No, I have not heard the Harana V2 (nor the V1). Last year when I was there, it was not built yet I believe and had no chance to meet with the boys because of my hectic sched. Maybe next year.