New Member with Model 19's

[marantzfan]

Hello. I am new to this forum but not to internet audio forums. I own a pair of Altec Model 19's that I purchased about a year ago an restored including rebuilding new crossovers.

I am absolutley ecstatic with these speakers and I "get it" now what all the buzz is about.

My system consists of:

First Watt F5 Amplifier (25WPC Class A)
PassDiy B1 (Passive Preamp with Active Buffer)
Linn LP12/Hercules Mose/Akito 2b/Ortofon 2M Black
Hagerman Cornet2
Sony ES Series CD Changer (Used as Transport)
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Cambridge Audio DacMagic
Altec Model 19 with Z19 Crossovers

Nice place you've got here with tons and tons of good information. I'll probably find the small nudge I need here to get a pair of 604's too.

[Altec Best]

Yes there is a ton of info here ! I have learned a ton from a lot of the very generous members here.Welcome to the Altec User Board ! Have a look around. And welcome to the Model 19 club. I thought my 19's sounded good beore Xo uprade but after the rebuild they just sounded Amazing,Clarity to die for ! My moniker really says "Altec Lansing is the Best IMHO" but had to shorten it to Altec Best ! I just Love the Brand "Altec Lansing".Have them in my car,home,work,etc.... Anywhere I can find a little room for a pair. Again WELCOME !

[westend9]

Welcome to the forum, Marantzfan. As you can see, everything here is greener on this side of the fence.

[cradeldorf]

Welcome Buddy, Come on in, Set a spell and enjoy the atmosphere. : )

[marantzfan]

Well, theres a copy familiar faces... Is that you Lance?

[Old Guy]

Sniff. Jealous of your 19's. Just have to crank up my Valencias and drown my sorrows...or could build boxes and crossovers...but to rip up a nice set of Valencias seems sacrilegious...

[Nipper]

Sniff. Jealous of your 19's. Just have to crank up my Valencias and drown my sorrows...or could build boxes and crossovers...but to rip up a nice set of Valencias seems sacrilegious...

Good grief OG.... NO ONE is going to feel sorry for you because you have Valencias!!!

I like the 19's but always did prefer the 846B's

[voice of the theater]

Hello. I am new to this forum but not to internet audio forums. I own a pair of Altec Model 19's that I purchased about a year ago an restored including rebuilding new crossovers.

I am absolutley ecstatic with these speakers and I "get it" now what all the buzz is about.

My system consists of:

First Watt F5 Amplifier (25WPC Class A)
PassDiy B1 (Passive Preamp with Active Buffer)
Linn LP12/Hercules Mose/Akito 2b/Ortofon 2M Black
Hagerman Cornet2
Sony ES Series CD Changer (Used as Transport)
Logitech Squeezebox Touch
Cambridge Audio DacMagic
Altec Model 19 with Z19 Crossovers

Nice place you've got here with tons and tons of good information. I'll probably find the small nudge I need here to get a pair of 604's too.

Welcome aboard! Glad you're enjoying this forum. You mention that you built Z 19 crossovers. Those were designed by a former member here--Zilch--before he passed away. Have you compared them to the original Model 19 crossovers with new caps? If so, I'd be curious as to your opinion regarding what differences you heard between re-capped original Model 19 crossovers (which is what I'm currently using in my 19's) and the Z-19's. Zilch was an interesting and very knowledgeable guy. He was a "dyed in the wool" JBL guy for years and years, and towards the end of his life he became an Altec fan and did a lot of work with Altecs including his Z 19 Model 19 crossover (I think we converted him--or maybe his ears converted him!!). At the very end of his life he was working on "simulating" Model 19's by taking Valencias, changing the cabinet tuning, installing GPA 902-8A drivers into the Valencia 811B horns, and using his Z19 crossovers to replace the stock Valencia crossovers. I considered doing that but in the end I sold my (minty) Valencias for $1000 and that paid for most of the cost of my (second pair) of Model 19's. (sold a pair of Heathkit AS 101's which almost paid for my first pair of Model 19's)...... I remember Zilch discussing this Valencia modification in some detail on an audio forum, but a search here and at LH and Audio Karma didn't bring it up and I'm not going to search every audio forum he was on for the thread/posts. I did, however, find this reference to it in a post at AudioKarma that Zilch made on November 21, 2010......

My current recommendation (as of last week) is GPA 902-8A with Z19 crossover. That makes quasi-Model 19s out of them:

Z19 Crossover - Page 3 - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

In this Valencia Thread
Altec Valencias almost done! - Page 4 - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

This may be of interest to Valencia owners out there......

[marantzfan]

Here is the original thread on AK:

Z19 Crossover - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums

[marantzfan]

Here is a link to the original Z19 thread on AK: Z19 Crossover - AudioKarma.org Home Audio Stereo Discussion Forums