Cut Altec

[Altec Best]

I can truly appreciate the sentiments fellas, but lets remember one thing here. There are far more remaining drivers than unaltered original cabinets. The LAST thing i'm going to do any cutting on are the cabinets, and i'm not any more likely to cut driver frames for these either. They're early, serial numbered, and their paint and decals are good enough that they should be preserved without hacking them. There are plenty of driver options that will fit without any modifications. Hopefully, i'll be able to come up with a reasonable Altec solution like building new drivers on old frames.

Bowtie do you have any 416 A's, 803's laying around for this app ?

I'm like you, I love lots of Bass.

[GM]

In the 210 horn will not the 515B give the best of both worlds in terms of midrange and LF extension?

There were at least 2 versions of 515E..........

The other option would be "if" GPA can build them(515E) up..............

See how tempting it is to go with a non-Altec woofer in this application?

Yes, but you said you'd trade some HF for LF and since the E optimally requires a larger cab it de facto has more bass potential in-room.

I wasn't aware there were two versions of the E. My observations are based on the original only.

Considering GPA has a number of 416, 515 options, I see no obvious reason why they can't build you some E or maybe even 411 bottom end with original 515 top end. Now the latter would truly be the best Altec woofer of all assuming the hit in efficiency is acceptable.

Yes, I've been researching AE, 18Sound and a few others lately for original 515-like performance.

GM

[Audio_by_Goodwill]

I think they look terrible.



Whenever you cut into a frame on anything you are compromising it's integrity. Uncut frames could easily be bent from shipping,in proper torquing of the bolts to the baffle,etc.... Let alone cut ones.

Looking at the pictures again, I see they cut on a mounting hole rather than between them. I would say they cut in a bad place and thus weakened the frame more than I was originally was thinking. If they wouldn't have cut across that hole I don't think the there would be a strength issue, after all the 15" frames weren't that wide and we don't go around saying how weak they are.

Also...... I wouldn't want to cut frames on perfectly good speakers. I might do it to some already trashed drivers and have GPA recone them, Though.

[kinomat]

Is the die cast or the cast cut,I hope not. I know of a source in Toronto that has Altec515 and 416 15" frames. Do you need 4 of any model, I can make some calls???

[Cal Weldon]

Not the greatest solution but once you have made the mistake I guess you sell them and try and highlight the mistakes with enthusiastic optimism?

Go Canucks!

[bowtie427ss]

I wasn't aware there were two versions of the E. My observations are based on the original only.

This is the version with cold rolled steel flat backplate: http://tubino.smugmug.com/Audio/Alte...30_mmdj9-L.jpg

And this is the version with the rounded cast steel backplate: http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200901/24...9_19114074.jpg

Considering GPA has a number of 416, 515 options, I see no obvious reason why they can't build you some E or maybe even 411 bottom end with original 515 top end. Now the latter would truly be the best Altec woofer of all assuming the hit in efficiency is acceptable.

This really seems the "best of all worlds" answer. I just received a forwarded email from Bill H on another subject, maybe things have slowed a bit where he has opportunity to correspond. I'll fire an email off to him inquiring about options he has available, and post his response.

[GM]

Interesting, I've only seen/used the black one, but then I reached a point where I was fed up with Altec in general and no longer involved in prosound or relatively large/expensive HIFI DIY speakers.

Cool, hope he can give us a 'cookbook' to work from.

GM