Quote Originally Posted by voice of the theater View Post
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