With diaphragms that age, fatigue is likely to be the reason for difference, not different types.
Minor manufacturing differences, even slight tolerance differences, can amplify to possibly audible differences 50+ years later.
I'd say they will be part number 20275 diaphragms, the 16 ohm 1 inch.
The point? Do they sound great to you? If yes, then who cares what someone else thinks.
Make sure it's not the amp balance being off slightly or something simple like that.
The same diaphragms show up in 802B's, they've become as rare as the old timers who knew about them.Can anyone add information regarding this? I'd love to hear about it.
Not all vegetables make good leaders.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and that is what he seems to have. Not that his info is wrong, he just doesn't know the full story. If you have original frams, there is only ONE design. The "good" one he is talking about was made 20-25 years AFTER your speakers. I suspect it's either fatigue, as mentioned, or an electrical issue if they sound different.
Your neighbors called. They like your music.
Is it possible that undocumented changes were made?
We had a friend, actually my older brother's friend met through another "hobby", who was a for many years a projectionist in the SYR area. His audio/radio collection was my first listening experience with a large format Altec speakers, had a lot of "firsts" at his place beginning in the late 1980's. First and only place i've ever seen an amplifier that used thoriated heaters in some of it's tubes, kinda shocking to see that much light come from a tube heater.
Anywho, this fella (Art) was always seeking 802B's for their diaphragms, i'm sure he made some off handed comments about "why" but i never had the awareness to have any depth of interest in that stuff when we were making trips up there. While i'd been exposed to Altec consumer stuff as a child and teenager, and lived with model 17/604-8G from the late 70's into the early 80's, my interest never became passionate until the late 90's when introduced to the internet and ebay.
Maybe his motives were based on ancient urban legend or pure myth, but my recollect is that he wanted 802B's specifically. "The rough paint, they gotta have the rough paint, if they're smooth they're no good" is what i distinctly remember him saying. I wish he were still with us, or my visits more recent.
I have also heard/read others desire and preference for undisturbed 802B's, but never accompanied by an explanation of "why".
Sorry, i can really only add to any mystery.
Not all vegetables make good leaders.
Originally Posted by bowtie427ss
Altec DID sometimes source from different manufacturers. Perhaps whoever supplied materials? The 802b fram likely was hand assembled with care. Beyond that, no clue. Odd how it works out, the 288G brings a higher price but IMHO the 288H is a better driver...
Your neighbors called. They like your music.
My phrams don't have any numbers on them:
These had been sent to Bill for "the treatment". It's possible they got new phrams as well as new cones. The good news is everything should match nicely. The better news is I got some pretty good cabs with them, so all in all, a great deal for $1125. Now if I can just figure out this crossover dilemma...
Probably explains why was mine missing after it went to GPA.
Although this is quite possible, they are both 1957 production dates and they have been together since new which means they were exposed to the same atmosphere, storage, usage etc.. I would hope that even if a little weak that they are equally weak.. If they came from two different sources I would be more inclined to go along with this theory.
Also given that these are pristine 604c's with original cones in excellent condition they will probably never come back out of my 606 cabinets and definitely will never make any kind of journey in a shipping crate anywhere to get remagnetized. eek: I'd be too afraid of something happening to them. Only way they will ever have the luxury or demagnetization is if I can drive them somewhere myself..
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If I sent a speaker out with a perfectly fine diaphragm I think I would get the old part back!! especially given the rarity and price of an original fram!
I can assure you they'll never see my business again, The only reason I sent it was in case they needed to be rebuilt so they would both sound the same. Over 500 bucks in shipping, took at least 4 calls to them to get them on their way back home. They were done the first time I called, three weeks later I was still calling. and in the end I see the phram replaced in the one I told them had nothing wrong with it. just my .02Although this is quite possible, they are both 1957 production dates and they have been together since new which means they were exposed to the same atmosphere, storage, usage etc.. I would hope that even if a little weak that they are equally weak.. If they came from two different sources I would be more inclined to go along with this theory.
Also given that these are pristine 604c's with original cones in excellent condition they will probably never come back out of my 606 cabinets and definitely will never make any kind of journey in a shipping crate anywhere to get remagnetized. eek: I'd be too afraid of something happening to them. Only way they will ever have the luxury or demagnetization is if I can drive them somewhere myself..
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If I sent a speaker out with a perfectly fine diaphragm I think I would get the old part back!! especially given the rarity and price of an original fram!
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