Finally, I have ALTEC VOTT A7 !!

[replicante1971]

I need preamp, power amp and phono preamp.

I can get GENERAL ELECTRIC STEREO CLASIC 7700. This ia integrated amp with phono


or two RCA 70 watts like this, but I need a preamp with phono


I do not understand about the crossover.
do I need two stereo amps for A7 ?

[Cal Weldon]

I do not understand about the crossover.
do I need two stereo amps for A7 ?

Yes, your crossover divides the signals into high and low before amplification so you will need two stereo amps.

[replicante1971]

Thanks,
Them, I need
- Line premp
- two stereo amps.
- phono preamp
This is the best option for my Altec ?..... is an integrated amp ruled out for my altec ?

Considering that I live in a loft of 60 m2.
How many watts (power amp) i need for High (808-8A) ?
" " " " " low (woofers 515-8G) ?

why everyone recommend 2A3 valves for high ?

nor do I understand which is the function of the crossover ?

I am sorry to ask so many questions, but I want to be sure before I buy something.

[Altec Best]

nor do I understand which is the function of the crossover ?

The Crossover is nothing more than protection for your drivers basically.High pass filter (HF) is to remove the Low Frequency's from the audio signal and the funtion of the Low Pass filter (LF) is to remove the High Frequency's from the audio signal.Your drivers are designed to handle certain frequencies (Frequency Response).If your woofers are rated say 20 Hz to 1600 Hz you want your crossover to cutoff all frequency's higher than 1600, most crossovers will cutoff way before their rating though.In this example say 1200 Hz, this is where your HF driver will cut in to handle the rest of the bandwidth. Very Simple explanation but hope this helps you understand a little better.Without some sort of crossover or protection you could blow your HF diaphragms and woofer voice coils quite frequently with higher power levels.

[RonSSS]

It would be so much cheaper and less confusing if you were to just buy some original 500hz/800hz Altec crossovers.
Even better Altec solution would be the N1201-8A or model 19 crossovers.Then you only need one mono amp per side. Plus a stereo preamp. Or one integrated amp total.
Especially since you don't seem to know much about loudspeakers.
Sell the electronic crossovers, you might even come out ahead in the $ department.

Ron

[replicante1971]

use two stereo amplifiers , for high and low ...is it not recommended ? or it's just for saving money ?
which it the best option for a crossover ?
I have discovered this website:
Hasling Audio Systems Denmark

passive crossover ?

[voice of the theater]

use two stereo amplifiers , for high and low ...is it not recommended ? or it's just for saving money ?
which it the best option for a crossover ?
I have discovered this website:
Hasling Audio Systems Denmark

passive crossover ?

Your question regarding "which is the best option" is not going to have a unanimous answer. It's largely based on personal preference. Some people will tell you that bi-amping (two stereo amps--one for the left channel and one for the right) is always better, and some will tell you that a crossover like the Model 19 crossover (N1201-8A) that Ron is recommending with it's built in h.f. compensation and built in midrange and treble EQ controls, will sound "better" (to them) than many (most?) bi-amped systems. Personally, I am using the N1201-8A crossover in four speaker systems in my house (two pair of Altec Model 19's) and they sound phenomenal! However, I am using that crossover with Altec 802-8G drivers and Altec 416-8B woofers in a completely different cabinet than what you own--I personally have no idea what the N1201-8A will sound like with your specific system/cabinets/drivers. Ron seems to think it would be a good match and I know for a fact that he knows more about this stuff than I do. I would definitely agree with Ron's main point--what he is trying to tell you is that unless you are really knowledgeable regarding electronic crossovers and bi-amping, it will be very challenging for you to get your system to sound as "good" (let alone "better") and to have anything resembling a somewhat flat frequency response with the electronic crossovers/bi-amp setup than with a great/appropriate passive crossover.......

In other words, your system should sound great with two appropriate Altec passive crossovers (one for the left channel and one for the right) and one stereo amp. It will be very difficult for you to equal that "classic Altec VOTT sound" with the electronic crossovers and two stereo amps unless you are very knowledgeable in using that type of set-up IMHO.....

[replicante1971]

Ok. Thanks
Where can i buy N1201-8A crossover, or something like that ?
I can not find anywhere.
would be difficult to make diy ?

[GM]

Your question regarding "which is the best option" is not going to have a unanimous answer. It's largely based on personal preference. Some people will tell you that bi-amping (two stereo amps--one for the left channel and one for the right) is always better, and some will tell you that a crossover like the Model 19 crossover (N1201-8A) that Ron is recommending with it's built in h.f. compensation and built in midrange and treble EQ controls, will sound "better" (to them) than many (most?) bi-amped systems. Personally, I am using the N1201-8A crossover in four speaker systems in my house (two pair of Altec Model 19's) and they sound phenomenal! However, I am using that crossover with Altec 802-8G drivers and Altec 416-8B woofers in a completely different cabinet than what you own--I personally have no idea what the N1201-8A will sound like with your specific system/cabinets/drivers. Ron seems to think it would be a good match and I know for a fact that he knows more about this stuff than I do. I would definitely agree with Ron's main point--what he is trying to tell you is that unless you are really knowledgeable regarding electronic crossovers and bi-amping, it will be very challenging for you to get your system to sound as "good" (let alone "better") and to have anything resembling a somewhat flat frequency response with the electronic crossovers/bi-amp setup than with a great/appropriate passive crossover.......

In other words, your system should sound great with two appropriate Altec passive crossovers (one for the left channel and one for the right) and one stereo amp. It will be very difficult for you to equal that "classic Altec VOTT sound" with the electronic crossovers and two stereo amps unless you are very knowledgeable in using that type of set-up IMHO.....

Indeed, as good as vintage Altec [mid] bass drivers sound, I don't like them XO'd up as high as the M19, especially the A7/511 combo. Altec did it to increase power handling, turning the 511 into little more than a large wave-guide [WG], but isn't necessary for a typical HIFI/HT app.

All the OP needs is a N501-8A [or DIY clone] if the OP wants a 'classic' Altec sound and for a truly vintage sound, add impedance compensation and use a tapped auto-former in lieu of the 501's pot plus drive them with a high output impedance amp, preferably with adjustable bass, treble controls. The HF diaphragms would of course have to be swapped out to convert the 808 to an 802 and if SS driven, then empirically find the right value by-pass resistor to allow the highs to be let through unattenuated by the XO same as the 1201 does.

FYI, bi-amping is using one amp for the woofer and one for the 'tweeter' to electrically isolate them, though of course one or both pairs [if stereo] can be monoblocks.

GM

[RonSSS]

As much as I like the M19/1201-8A crossovers, I have to agree with GM here.
The 15" woof just isn't happy at 1500 hz. And you can really hear it on female vocals that have a bit lower range. The woof beams and just doesn't sound right.
I think with a 414 woofer, it would be a lot better.
Too bad Altec didn't use the same principal with a crossover freq somewhere between 500 and 1000hz.
Ron