I'd stay with the 511's IMHO they are smoother than the 811.
Hopefully someone else can chime in on the rest.
Greetings :
After a lot of interesting study of this site’s past posts, I have some questions, and could use some help.
"Picture" my TOUGH room, dimensions 13 by 15 by 9 feet, with hallways opening up to two larger-volume areas.
What could be done to modify my A7 system, so as to optimize it for this small space in a HIFI application?
System Details as follows:
(1) Electronics will be a 2 Watt SE tube amplifier, operated off of a seriously overbuilt, “fast” power supply , no EQs, digital delays, etc. etc will be used.
(2) Woofers are ALTEC 515Bs, original cones, cleaned outer surrounds, like Per Hasling does.
(3) Tweeters are ALTEC 802s, GPA remagnetized with new 16 Ohm GPA light weight aluminum diaphragms, no bug screens.
(4) Crossover / initially - recapped ALTEC N801As. I likely will NOT go lower than 800 HZ. Future crossovers : ( simpler, first order ) and eliminating the 801A, will be attempted.
(5) Horns in hand are ALTEC 511Bs, BUT – ‘can EASILY go to ALTEC 811Bs, IF 811s make more sense when listening close-up in such a small room. .
My question is, what things SPECIFIC for use in the small room, can I DO to my A7s, to get results ?
Some questions I seek advice on,
(a) what ALTEC horn may work best, and why ?? ALTEC 511 or 811 ?
(b) what sort of A7 port tuning will work best? ( With 515Bs in a small room, and a low powered amp, should I (1) eliminate casters, (2) do a low port tuning and (3) put the port(s) exit close as possible to the floor, for room gain ? )
(c) anything else fellas….I have not thought of ?
Thank you so much. Single-person use. This will be great to hear about.
Jeff Medwin
I'd stay with the 511's IMHO they are smoother than the 811.
Hopefully someone else can chime in on the rest.
Your neighbors called. They like your music.
My A5's had 399 drivers so it was all 500 and below on that system. ... On my Valencia's I use a de-finned 811b I like how it sounds in my rectangular shape room.
That's with a 806 Driver and aluminum dia.'s
Willie
"And the beat goes on"<br /> Willie
My first post but have been lurking on and off for many years, nice forum.
No experience with the A7 cab/515B combo but i recently switched to 32B horns after using early heavy sand cast 811s for 15 years. I find the 32B to be more laid back and refined. I am using 414As in 614 cabs and 802Ds.
Happy New Year to everyone!
JE
Has anybody tried running their small VOT's with the cabinet backs removed in a smaller room?
Not all vegetables make good leaders.
Originally Posted by je2a3
Holey Smokes, your first post in 15 years, and on my dinky thread?? !!
I am just guessing from your moniker that you are none other than Joseph Esmilla, first highlighted as "Homebrewer of the Month" in Sound Practices Magazine, superb violinist and conductor, and Leica collector. Welcome to this Forum. I am new here also.
You really are to be congratulated for introducing so many good people to high quality music reproduction. The audio world owes you a big thank you. You enhanced peoples lives. I'd love to correspond with you by email.
This is up to date with a 2014 entry, your 32B horns, here we go : JE Labs: November 2011
If, by chance, I erred and you are NOT Joseph Esmilla, please accept my apologies, I guessed wrong. But you can pretend for a day or two that you are !!
Jeff Medwin
Last edited by LowOhms; January 4th, 2014 at 02:10 PM.
I've found that sizing your speakers to your room is very rewarding. Lets face it, your trying to shove a 3408 cat motor into a chevy chevette.
Yes the 32 series has a much wider sweet spot. they do well in small rooms.
Your neighbors called. They like your music.
I have stock A7-500's w/ 416-8A, 511b, 802-8D, and without EQ are very SHOUTY. They sound great with pure acoustic music, but with anything electronic, sound terrible like a giant transistor radio (tried it for 2 months). With the bottom and top boosted, they sound fine in large and small rooms alike, would sound better tuned lower with a small port, and even better with subwoofers (haven't tried). Good luck.
I also like the 32B horns for near field paired with 806 drivers loaded with 8ohm pascalite diaphragms and a Peizo super tweeter (maybe not in an A7 though).
"James, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!" World's scariest Volvo: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKn-LTNa4rc[/url]
VolvoHeretic,
I don't deny your experience or what you heard at all, and I truly appreciate your comments and attempt at help.
IMHO, if a stock A7 sounds bad, in most cases you should first-of-all look at the power amplifier that is driving it.
Most solid state amps ( but not all) sound dreadful when throttled down to a Watt of power or less. Just the opposite, however, with a very WELL designed low powered tube amp. It becomes a synergistic amp match to an ALTEC A7.
The problem is often times more-than-likely the electronics, and not the A7.
No doubt, lotsa people use EQs on them, but then, LOOK at their power amps. In 99 percent of the cases its solid state. Does Jean Hiraga use an EQ, no, he just modded the crossover some, and he uses a tube amp. Does Dominique Tanguy use a EQ, no, he uses a 300B amp. Does JE Labs use a EQ, no, a low powered tube amp.
So, whereas an EQ is an acceptable solution for you, and many others, it is NOT going to be part of my own system. My first objection to EQs and Digital Processors is that extra amplifying stage it requires, and my second objection is the additional interconnect wires and their losses.
So VH, I am trying to find out if anyone who is experienced has suggestions on how, ( without added EQs, etc, ) to "naturally adapt " a A7 to a 13 by 14 by 9 foot room. "Less is more" is my mantra.
Jeff Medwin
Last edited by LowOhms; January 5th, 2014 at 01:57 PM.
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