GPA 399's

[SOOTSHE]

Thanks Earl,
Makes you wonder why we muck around with other drivers at all.
Should have just got the best ones from the start!!

[Kenny Brant]

I bought a pair of GPA 416-8C's and GPA 399A's from Bill and Steve a couple of weeks ago. I am building the cabinets now. I am going to use Faital Pro LTH142 horns that I adapted to the 399A's.

Makes me feel better to hear you like your 399's.

Kenny

[Alien_Shore]

As beautiful as those are to look at, I bet the listening is just over the top! Congrats and nice job!!

[SOOTSHE]

Thanks. Yes, they sound just superb!

[cradeldorf]

Excellent looking work Sootshe.

[Kenny Brant]

Thanks. Yes, they sound just superb!

Thanks, SOOTSHE, a few more days and I will have the enclosures done. I am going to play them and get everything ironed out before I veneer them. I am building 5.65 cu. ft. enclosures tuned to 35 hz. I used 13 ply Baltic Birch and build a seperate enclosure for the 416-8c by putting a divider between the woofer and 399. I also bought a pair of B & C ME10 horns for the highs and am going to use Altec 902T's that I already have that I have taken the loading caps off and felt lined. If I don't like the 902's for tweeters I will go another route. I may not even have to use any tweeters at all, but have the option to.

I am going to triamp using either tube or T-amps. I know I am pretty sure I will use SE tube amp for the 399's. I already have the amps and active crossovers.

I wanted a system to listen to at lower levels and have good detail. A lot of systems when you turn down the volume you just get a flat sound but when turned up sounds good.

Thanks for your reply, Kenny

[SOOTSHE]

Thanks, SOOTSHE, a few more days and I will have the enclosures done. I am going to play them and get everything ironed out before I veneer them. I am building 5.65 cu. ft. enclosures tuned to 35 hz. I used 13 ply Baltic Birch and build a seperate enclosure for the 416-8c by putting a divider between the woofer and 399. I also bought a pair of B & C ME10 horns for the highs and am going to use Altec 902T's that I already have that I have taken the loading caps off and felt lined. If I don't like the 902's for tweeters I will go another route. I may not even have to use any tweeters at all, but have the option to.

I am going to triamp using either tube or T-amps. I know I am pretty sure I will use SE tube amp for the 399's. I already have the amps and active crossovers.

I wanted a system to listen to at lower levels and have good detail. A lot of systems when you turn down the volume you just get a flat sound but when turned up sounds good.

Thanks for your reply, Kenny

I'm running mine passive with a Conrad Johnson valve pre & power combo.

I find the nature of the sound doesn't change at all whether listening at whisper levels or up higher.

It will be interesting to get your impressions on running them 2 way. Whan I build my new crossovers I'm going to experiment with the 2 way set up just for the heck of it. Currently I cross the GPA's over at 6K to some JBL 2404's.

Cheers,
John

[Kenny Brant]

I'm running mine passive with a Conrad Johnson valve pre & power combo.

I find the nature of the sound doesn't change at all whether listening at whisper levels or up higher.

It will be interesting to get your impressions on running them 2 way. Whan I build my new crossovers I'm going to experiment with the 2 way set up just for the heck of it. Currently I cross the GPA's over at 6K to some JBL 2404's.

Cheers,
John

John, I really like your horns. I would like to have a pair but just couldn't afford them, but thought about getting them. Maybe in the future. I was going to get the flat pack kit if I did get them. I had to notch the LTH142's bolt on plates for the 4.75 inch circle bolt pattern of the 399's as the LTH142's back plate is 120mm dia. which is 4.75 inches. So I had to grind 4 half circle notches to get the driver to fit. The LTH142 is a 1.4 inch throat. The 3 bolt pattern on the 399's wouldn't work as it was too close to the throat to get nuts on.

I run a Doge 8 tube preamp and a Doge 6 tube CD player and a Rane AC23B 3 way electronic crossover. I have a Magnavox 6V6 PP, a Magnavox EL84 PP, a APPJ EL84 mini tube Single Ended and a Topping TP60 TA2022 T. These amps I can try. I have other amps to try also but think these will work best.

A couple of years ago I used JBL LE175 drivers on Altec 511b horns and really liked this combo using a Magnavox EL84 Single Ended amp. I like the JBL drivers better than the Altec 902-8T's crossed over at 500 Hz. I want to get back to that type of sound if I can. I'm sure it will be better.

I have the 902's and bought the B & C ME10's so why not try them I thought for tweeters. I can also use the Rane as a 2 way, so I will play around and see what I like the best. It will probably take a week or 2 before I get the speakers done.

Kenny

[SOOTSHE]

I bought a pair of GPA 416-8C's and GPA 399A's from Bill and Steve a couple of weeks ago. I am building the cabinets now. I am going to use Faital Pro LTH142 horns that I adapted to the 399A's.

Makes me feel better to hear you like your 399's.

Kenny

You won't be disappointed!!!