Altec 846A Valencia

[F550M]

Hello Chaps,

I am new in this forum and thanks much for accepting me.

I have an opportunity to acquire a pair of 846A Valencia. A one owner pair in mint condition. I believe that it is a 16 Ohms speaker but the rear panel says "for 8 or 16 Ohms".

On the other hand I read an article that working on the crossover it can be made to outperform the model 19, using 12db Butterworth filters at 1.35 kHz render the best overall tonal quality, while almost seamlessly blending the horn and woofer into one.

I am not familiar with any of those two models but for $2K I am tempted to buy them.

Please advise.

Cheers,

Horacio

[Old Guy]

The 16 Ohm models were often designated as you say. On the amplifiers of the day, a 16 ohm load would work on an 8 ohm output. Of, course, with today's solid state amps it doesn't matter. I have even heard the 16 Ohm load actually reduces the damping factor a bit, which could help as most solid state amps are over-damped.
But yes your guess it's 16 Ohms is a good one.

[TerribleT]

Hello Chaps,

I read an article that working on the crossover it can be made to outperform the model 19, using 12db Butterworth filters at 1.35 kHz render the best overall tonal quality, while almost seamlessly blending the horn and woofer into one.

I am not familiar with any of those two models but for $2K I am tempted to buy them.

Please advise.

Cheers,

Horacio

Hi Horacio,
Could you provide a link to the Valencia cross over mod? I have a pair of 16 ohm Valencias that can possibly benefit from a xover upgrade.
Regards,
David

[F550M]

Hi David,

Sure, here it is:

Altec-Lansing Valencia: Improving a Classic - Audiophile Nirvana

My problem with this mod is that this chap, the author, uses a dbx DriveRack PA2 loudspeaker management system and my current two-channel system is fully analog.

Cheers,

Horacio

PS: what amplifier are you using with the Valencias?

[gearfreak]

for $2K I am tempted to buy them.

Seems steep to me for the sum of the parts... but I've never been in the market for a pair and cosmetics aren't a selling point for me per se.
If the provenance turns you on, then that might - they've got the original receipt? ;-) Maybe someone else can chime in.


edit: my XO discussion deleted... I thought the seller had the DBX. It's the guy in the article.

[F550M]

The owner bought them new in 1967, he has the receipt, they look brand new in and out, original cones and surrounds, perfect drivers' paint.

[TerribleT]

Hi David,

Sure, here it is:

Altec-Lansing Valencia: Improving a Classic - Audiophile Nirvana

My problem with this mod is that this chap, the author, uses a dbx DriveRack PA2 loudspeaker management system and my current two-channel system is fully analog.

Cheers,

Horacio

PS: what amplifier are you using with the Valencias?

I'm using a Thorens 124 into a phono preamp into a 2A3 set amp.

[F550M]

Browsing the web I found this ad on Audiogon, it expired but the photos are still there, amazing. Please see link below. It would be nice to build a pair like this. Unfortunately, I do not have the technical knowledge to design one. May be someone can give me a hand.

Cheers,

JBL C51 Apollo Speakers & Matching JBL C58 Delphi Cabinet also for Olympus + Extras | Full-Range | Audiogon

[F550M]

The B&K crossover posted in my previous message was built by Bob Crites in Russellvile, AK. He specializes in Klipsch and EV only but if I send him the schematic diagram he will build me a pair.

Cheers,

Horacio

[GM]

Greets!


I asked Barry, the owner of the tweaked 846s, his thoughts on this 'upgrade' since he's returned them to stock, but has yet to respond: Page Not Found | Facebook



Greg MonfortBarry HendersonGreets! How did the two tunings compare? The Compostela was my first experience with current DSP and mightily impressed with what it can do, but the 'HI FI' setup like the others preferred, might as well had inexpensive Eminence components because they sure didn't have any Altec 'toe tappin' sonics.



Back when I started joining forums in the late '90s, I was flat out shocked that the majority of owners seem to prefer their Altecs with the 'plain vanilla'/'smooth as a baby's bottom' performance that began with the M19 to try and broaden their market share, which me and every other card carrying 'hornie' I knew could only shake our collective head's in disbelief.


Horacio Jorge VignaleI am open to suggestions, I did build several enclosures during the years and still have the tools. The problem is. where do I find the M19 drivers and crossover [416 8B, 811, HF driver 33952 and crossover] in pairs?


Well, this is basically what several have built using M19 or 846 components with differing net volume [Vb] cab ratios, degree of finish work, etc., i.e., horn/woofer c-t-c spacing, 30" wide to preserve the M19's XO as is with whatever seated ear height works best overall though normally the cab is tuned to best fit the needs of the app [this wound up being across three forums]:


https://www.audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/altec-mltl-with-model-19-drivers.359268/


http://www.hostboard.com/forums/f700...light=m19+mltl


https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/mult...design-gm.html


Converted 846A Valencias to fit his strict size limitations:


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=281656472473489&set=pcb.19906376876 88365&type=3&theater&ifg=1


There's more, but didn't document earlier ones and the last one AFAIK is a long, drawn out affair that turned out too ambitious with too many twists n' turns and wound up functioning, but far from finished; guess I need to check in to see what's what as it could have been quite the 'show stopper', not to mention theoretically the best Altec consumer cab that never was. [MLTL version of this: https://www.google.com/search?q=HH-1...w=1366&bih=625]


GM