GPA "Classic" alnico's to tame highs on Synergy horn

**Old Guy** · February 1st, 2013, 05:17 PM

Regarding ALL speaker choices...as I have said, it's a system composed of speakers and electronics. I suspect some speakers may sound better on some electronics.

Since none of us could possibly live long enough to try ALL possible combinations, best to talk about combinations you like rather than declaring one option to be the absolute.

**Audiomind** · February 1st, 2013, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Regarding ALL speaker choices...as I have said, it's a system composed of speakers and electronics. I suspect some speakers may sound better on some electronics.

Since none of us could possibly live long enough to try ALL possible combinations, best to talk about combinations you like rather than declaring one option to be the absolute.

Now I did refer to getting other things in the system correct first in post #7 and I will interject my opinion again that I do believe alnico is the top choice for a system of top quality where everything is well sorted and max resolution and tone is desired.

You do bring up a good point though that in certain lower quality systems sometimes you might want that ceramic magnet to cover up problems and if you have done live sound as long as you say you should know really well what I am talking about.

Although since it is my "opinion" that alnico top choice for a magnet structure,
why waste time trying to get the system right with any other type of magnet
if you are going for the best? ( I assume most want the best sound but I may be wrong.....!??!)

Just food for thought.

**Old Guy** · February 1st, 2013, 07:03 PM

You don't seem to allow the possibility your opinions might ever be wrong.

**Audiomind** · February 1st, 2013, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

You don't seem to allow the possibility your opinions might ever be wrong.

Understood point taken.

Now what would be your position if a scientific analysis was done with everything being equal in the system except for the ability to change magnets. Then very detailed high resolution measurements taken, FFT, etc.
of each structure.

Do you think my opinion could turn to fact if the alnico produced a result that reproduced the source more accurately than the ceramic?

I actually don't know if the alnico would out measure the ceramic but some day I will find out. Maybe someone already done this, I would imagine it is locked up in a corporate filing cabinet though.

**VolvoHeretic** · February 1st, 2013, 09:08 PM

Don't know the answer to your rant, but I have an EQ for any annoying sounds and I'm not afraid to use it and a pack of Piezos for my hearing loss.

**cradeldorf** · February 1st, 2013, 09:33 PM

VH, I actually turned off my EQ, Just using the amp controls now. As far as Alinco vs Ceramic I have no opinion. I've only heard my 802's that are part of my 604C's. I will say this, You can't get them to distort...at least I've never got them to, and it was LOUD!!!! crazy loud....ear bleeding loud.

FYI, Last night I put a 3" wide strip of cardboard across the front of the cabinet, right over where the horn is. The sharpness went away and the soundstage tripled!!!

**Old Guy** · February 2nd, 2013, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by Audiomind

Understood point taken.

Now what would be your position if a scientific analysis was done with everything being equal in the system except for the ability to change magnets. Then very detailed high resolution measurements taken, FFT, etc.
of each structure.

Do you think my opinion could turn to fact if the alnico produced a result that reproduced the source more accurately than the ceramic?

I actually don't know if the alnico would out measure the ceramic but some day I will find out. Maybe someone already done this, I would imagine it is locked up in a corporate filing cabinet though.

Your tests would mean crap.

If the other parts of the transducer are optimized for Alnico it has an advantage. If optimized for ferrite, it would have an advantage.

One thing Altec engineers learned quickly is that you can't just change the magnets. Early ferrite versions did not sound as good.

While I prefer Alnico, what I don't do is make extravagant claims based on limited knowledge like you display. I'm way older than you, have seen a lot more. Slow down and smell the roses.

I have no issue with you saying what you like. Saying other things are bad, especially without knowledge, crosses the line IMHO. Learn more before you make some of the statements you make, better yet, just talk about what you do like and forget it from there.

**tomt** · February 8th, 2013, 03:44 AM

Originally Posted by Audiomind

Now I did refer to getting other things in the system correct first in post #7 and I will interject my opinion again that I do believe alnico is the top choice for a system of top quality where everything is well sorted and max resolution and tone is desired.

You do bring up a good point though that in certain lower quality systems sometimes you might want that ceramic magnet to cover up problems and if you have done live sound as long as you say you should know really well what I am talking about.

Although since it is my "opinion" that alnico top choice for a magnet structure,
why waste time trying to get the system right with any other type of magnet
if you are going for the best? ( I assume most want the best sound but I may be wrong.....!??!)

Just food for thought.

since you mention this i'm wondering what the audible differences might be.

none of my (non internet) friends who have pro altec in their homes have ceramic mags, that i know of.

what few altec speakers i have are alnico.

except for the 755's.

**hemicuda** · February 8th, 2013, 11:07 PM

My opinion and my opinion only... Some may agree and some may not. I generally prefer alnico over ceramic for most setups I've used. The alnico just sounds sweeter to me for mid and tweeters with MY equipment combos. I am a guitar player and this is also true for most guitar speakers I've owned and used in the past. I've not been so fortunate as some others here that own altec alnico magnet woofers. I can't have an opinion on something I've not heard or used but I'm sure they are excellent. Better than ceramic versions? Probably from my past experiences but I don't know.
There is a LOT more to the whole sound than just alnico versus ceramic. Too many combinations to just say that one is always superior than the other in every situation / combo. I've had very good sounding speakers that were all alnico and all ceramic. Certain speakers just sound better with certain amps, etc. It's one of those strange audio things. Some speakers are a match made in heaven with certain amps and sound crappy with others. I'm a firm believer that one shouldn't get too caught up on specifications or what material is better than others, etc. I DO take other peoples opinions in consideration, especially ones that are older and have more real-life experience with the equipment in question. Experience is way more important that what a piece of paper says. Sure specifications give an indication of performance but that's about it; an indication. I let my ears and mind tell me what sounds best regardless of what someone or something says it should sound like. I've heard speakers with claimed flat response across the spectrum that sounded terrible and lifeless. I've also heard speakers that looked ragged on the specs but sounded way better than predicted by looking at the print. Take it for what it's worth; it's ONLY my honest opinion and maybe not yours.

**VolvoHeretic** · February 9th, 2013, 03:01 AM

Just thank (insert your God here) that we have had the plesure to own Atecs. Even my guitar speaker based Altecs sound great. Like I posted in an AudioKarma thread, "Just like some Harely's or Corvette's are better than othes, there is no such thing as a bad sounding Altec."