Altec 409's

**Coelacanth** · September 13th, 2013, 12:32 AM

After a listen to Gortnipper's wonderful GPA 604's recently, I decided to take some baby steps and bought some Altec 409 drivers to replace damaged Rola 8" full range units I was running in OB config. These old drivers sounded nice, if not linear, and had a real openness about them - really excelling in the vocal range but rolling off far too soon to be taken seriously.

Anyhow the 409's are a whole new ballpark. Far more information coming through at both ends and in the middle. I just sat through Nirvana Unplugged just for fun and was damn near as transported as I was when I ran Khorns.. HF detail and zing is simply awesome on everything I have played, with lifelike portrayal of anything metal used as an instrument..

My only criticism is slightly pinched or set back vocals that seem a fraction drier and more compressed than other drivers I have run on my system. This seems a little odd given how much more sound I am getting overall. I wonder if the capacitor between the woofers and tweeters is old and sucking a bit of life out of the presentation?

Anyhow, they are certainly keepers and will become rears when replaced with something bigger. Best $80 I have ever spent on audio gear... Looking for cabinet suggestions now, if you please.....

Cheers all

**cradeldorf** · September 13th, 2013, 02:31 AM

Here you go!!!

Speaker??

**Old Guy** · September 13th, 2013, 06:14 AM

Very cute but not recommended. That tiny horn will hinder more than help.

Altec did sell these in the Japanese market

ALTEC 409 (2)_R.jpg

**voice of the theater** · September 13th, 2013, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Coelacanth

......Anyhow the 409's are a whole new ballpark. Far more information coming through at both ends and in the middle. I just sat through Nirvana Unplugged just for fun and was damn near as transported as I was when I ran Khorns.. HF detail and zing is simply awesome on everything I have played, with lifelike portrayal of anything metal used as an instrument..

My only criticism is slightly pinched or set back vocals that seem a fraction drier and more compressed than other drivers I have run on my system. This seems a little odd given how much more sound I am getting overall. I wonder if the capacitor between the woofers and tweeters is old and sucking a bit of life out of the presentation?

Congrats on your new Altecs! I would definitely replace the capacitors--they are most likely not operating at the correct value after all these years and may be hindering the overall sound quality to some degree....

**DSauro** · September 13th, 2013, 12:14 PM

Cheaper by the dozen. As I recall, Altec packaged 409's 12 in a box. I used them as car speakers, along with 405's, before the "Voice Of The Highway" gear was launched.

**cls500** · September 13th, 2013, 12:48 PM

I thought 409's were designed for ceiling use in commercial applications--like office buildings. No ??

**dbale** · September 13th, 2013, 01:21 PM

Originally Posted by DSauro

Cheaper by the dozen. As I recall, Altec packaged 409's 12 in a box. I used them as car speakers, along with 405's, before the "Voice Of The Highway" gear was launched.

If you ordered 240 you got a 10% discount off cont. net in 1980.

My first Altecs were 409s that I installed in my first car.

I don't think they are even close to published sensitivity.

**Old Guy** · September 13th, 2013, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by cls500

I thought 409's were designed for ceiling use in commercial applications--like office buildings. No ??

Why is than an issue? So was the 755A. 30 years ago pulled 40 or so out of an old hotel being torn down. Sold them for pennies.

**cradeldorf** · September 14th, 2013, 01:48 AM

Originally Posted by Old Guy

Why is than an issue? So was the 755A. 30 years ago pulled 40 or so out of an old hotel being torn down. Sold them for pennies.

My brother in law who was an audiophile switched his entire collection over to CD's and gave me a stack of pristine records over 3 feet tall when I was 16, All the classic rock and roll bands from the 60's to the 80's were there. from Aerosmith to Zappa The artwork was flawless on all of them. I think most ended up in the dump. Oh if we could only turn back time.

GM · September 14th, 2013, 02:01 AM

Yeah, tell me about it! I really regret selling my Blue Note collection to pay off a debt.

GM

- - - Updated - - -

Originally Posted by cls500

I thought 409's were designed for ceiling use in commercial applications--like office buildings. No ??

They are, so even 'el cheapo' ceiling units can make for pretty good HIFI since high speech intelligibility is their forte, especially in vehicles where excessive damping is the norm.

GM