Do I want these?

**alancohen** · January 28th, 2013, 05:24 PM

Been a little quiet lately so I thought I'd stir the pot.

I have a spare 3W cathode follower amp that needs a home. I was thinking of moving it to the bedroom and hooking it up to the TV. That would mean I need some speakers. I don't have a ton of room in there and was thinking about these:

2 Vintage Altec 601C Speakers in Barzilay Walnut Cabinets N 3000 E Crossovers | eBay

A) Is that too much for them? This is the third time they've been listed and the price keeps coming down.
B) I've read that servicing them might be an issue. Supposedly they employ a microphone diaphram that is not available. But then I read somewhere that it was. I don't know. They look to be in great condition and I will not be driving them hard.

Worth it?

**Audio_by_Goodwill** · January 28th, 2013, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by alancohen

B) I've read that servicing them might be an issue. Supposedly they employ a microphone diaphram that is not available. But then I read somewhere that it was. I don't know. They look to be in great condition and I will not be driving them hard.

Worth it?

Availability of the diaphragm, I don' think is an issue. It's that there is only one man in the country with the correct jig to install it. Micro Mike or something like that out in California........ There's info someplace on the Altec Unofficial web site.

**Altec Best** · January 28th, 2013, 08:14 PM

That's a little high in price IMO.. For a little more with some homework you could possibly snag a pair of 604's much better drivers.

**alancohen** · January 28th, 2013, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by Altec Best

That's a little high in price IMO.. For a little more with some homework you could possibly snag a pair of 604's much better drivers.

I'm not in a rush, so I could wait for some 604s, but the attraction to the 601 is the smaller possible cab size. But I agree, the price is a little steep. I'll wait and see if they drop to $500

**mah** · January 28th, 2013, 09:26 PM

If the budget can be stretched, these are 16 inches deep.

Vintage Altec 844 Studio Monitors | eBay

Altec specs. here:

Altec Lansing Professional Audio - Vintage Speakers

Edit: Distance may be a killer.

**alancohen** · January 28th, 2013, 09:50 PM

Those are pretty cool, mah.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Seeburg Jukebox Ext Speaker Altec 811 Horn Art Deco TV Stand Discotheque DDS1 | eBay

There's a motivated seller of another pair in minty shape on Long Island. 15" Utahs? Never heard of them. But I'd bet they'd sound pretty sweet with my little 3w amp. Not very small though. And I believe those cabs are that sweet vintage Formica!

**mah** · January 28th, 2013, 10:23 PM

Great for 'horizontal dancing' in your intended location.

**Altec Best** · January 29th, 2013, 12:25 AM

Formica ? Yikes ! They don't sound the best from what I have heard, never had the opportunity to hear them though. The only thing Altec on them is the 811 horn.

**mah** · January 29th, 2013, 02:31 AM

How about horns built into the bed-base,starting at the head end, exiting at the feet end and folding back to point at the head end. Above 500Hz, the usual Altec stuff.

Did you feel the earth move?

It can be done but is a lot of work, as you know.

Seriously, maybe some Model XXs, e.g. 14s or 15s would do the job.

**Old Guy** · January 29th, 2013, 07:03 AM

The 601 is medium quality. Lacks lows. I wouldn't pay more than 400 a pair. And only if I wanted them. Same for the Seeburgs. The Seeburgs can be greatly improved by trashing the Formica and a set of REAL boxes.