Alnico V 416s without motor covers

**robertbartsch** · November 14th, 2012, 02:28 PM

I have a pair that came from Valencia cabs with the covers missing. I beleive these are circa early 1970s.....

I have seen many like this and I assume they came from the factory this way. Anyone know why?

thx...

**Altec Best** · November 14th, 2012, 02:32 PM

They are 416 Z's. Altec used them in sealed speaker systems. They are actually quite common.

**Cal Weldon** · November 14th, 2012, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by robertbartsch

Anyone know why?

Aren't the covers simply aesthetic? Makes sense then that in a unit, where you're not likely to open the box...

**Old Guy** · November 14th, 2012, 05:31 PM

The covers are cosmetic as Cal says. Since they are being sold in cabs, saves a few bucks to leave off things like labels and covers. VERY COMMON practice.

**Alien_Shore** · November 15th, 2012, 08:56 AM

Yes, it's most likely a 416-8Z. For example, here's a "naked" motor driver I happen to have:

41684ebay

Does yours look like this?
The "30767" gives it away as a 416-8Z, that and well, it's naked.

**bowtie427ss** · November 15th, 2012, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Cal Weldon

Aren't the covers simply aesthetic? Makes sense then that in a unit, where you're not likely to open the box...

Most likely a manifestation of the bean counters' increasing role, most definitely a cost cutting/profit enhancing measure that had virtually no effect on performance.

I agree with AB that the 416Z is probably the most common. As the OEM version of the 416A, it came in a LOT of speakers both home and theater(A7's) and was surely the first 15 inch woofer to omit it's "can". Many other "Z" models would follow. Some of the MI version motors actually got a coat of black paint and their numbers inked in silver/white.

**Old Guy** · November 15th, 2012, 10:45 AM

416Z is common but I think the MI 422z and 423z outnumber it. The 422z can recone as 416 if you find a blown pair cheap. Used to be able to find blown up PA sets and redo the horns and woofs. Generally scrapped the boxes, the xovers are usually low budget also.

Have seen lots of 414z also.

**zelgall** · November 15th, 2012, 10:51 AM

My model 19's have 16" frame 416-8Z and they're stock as well.

**Alien_Shore** · November 15th, 2012, 12:50 PM

It just struck me that an older valencia may have the 16 Ohm 416Z in there. And the part number on that would be 105281.

**Altec Best** · November 15th, 2012, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by zelgall

My model 19's have 16" frame 416-8Z and they're stock as well.

Well Thankfully my 19's came with 416-8B's..FWIW the later the 19's the better the chance of seeing the Z's in the 19's along with 902's.Altec really started to cut corners with regards to covers and things like that around the early 1980's.. '80-'83 IMHO. WRT the model 19.