Tired subject, but - 288 vs 802

**Charles Chance** · February 9th, 2003, 12:07 AM

Several weeks (months) ago, I proposed buying a pair of 288C?s and large format horns from a local audio contractor. They were in his ?junk? room and represented no significant value. I proposed to the Users Group that since I was using A7?s in my basement den, I replace my 511B/802D?s with these. The consensus seemed to be to keep my 511B/802D?s rather than replace them with the 288C?s.

This audio/music/guitar contractor used to sell Altec, but has since gone into semi-retirement and left the day-to-day operations to the younger folk. They?ve never known Altec-Lansing. Regardless of the consensus of the guru?s , today I revisited that local contractors establishment and it was decided they needed to get rid of these 288C?s. I purchased them (driver condition unknown) mounted on 1005 horns with mounting hardware for $100 each - except for some paint spatters on drivers, cosmetically in good condition. I couldn?t resist.

My question is ? I haven?t tried these yet but I would not be surprised at all if they needed diaphragms. Are 288C?s Alnico which also might need to be re-magnetized? I might attempt replacing the diaphragms myself, but re-maging would require sending to GPA.

Apologize for my ramblings, but you may have such a contractor/music purveyor in your area. This has not been my first score from one.

**[email protected]** · February 9th, 2003, 01:48 AM

From the expert:

Large Voice of the Theater Systems
by Jim Dickinson,Theater Consultant

"If you have any of the later larger alnico magnet drivers (288-8G, 16G, 32G, 8H, 16H), I recommend a trip to the ALTEC factory for cleaning, realignment and remagnetizing."

**rolandr** · February 9th, 2003, 02:02 AM

Charles:

You made a good deal, you can at least triple your money on Ebay figure about $300-350 a piece. For the low power needed in home use the small format does better in the low range perhaps with more resolution and gives more extended HF. The large format obviously will have more limited HF but can handle the required power in larger rooms. Try and see which one you prefer, definitely go with the Aluminum diaphragms from(altogether) Bill. You really have no choice.
Think hard about remag...shipping is not cheap!!

**Steve Burger** · February 10th, 2003, 08:02 AM

I am sure AL-TEC meant to say this but I believe the 802 would originally have had the aluminum diaphragm. The symbiotik diaphragm would have been designated to the 808 or 291 drivers though they certainly could have later been put in a set of 802 or 288's respectively.

**AL-TEC** · February 10th, 2003, 04:16 PM

The differences I have expirienced in the large format 288, as opposed to the 802 series Altec drivers is this: (We are not talking Theater application).........The Altec 802 series HF driver with the "Symbiotic" diaphram will go to extreme SPL levels for live rock band performances. Close audiences.

A pair of large format 288-C drivers mounted on 311-90 Radial BIG Altec horns/VOT Bass, will fill a football stadium (aluminum diaphram) when high quality recorded music is the source! forums

For home theater or Hi Fi listening , it is my expirience that the 288C's are great HF, but the 511B/802 is the best quality, and best HF response/clairity........ forums

AL-TEC....... forums

**AL-TEC** · February 11th, 2003, 06:37 PM

I really meant Steve to say what I did say that is 802 series with Symbiotic diaphrams. If you remember when A7's were utilyzed in the 50's, 60's, 70's for everything in the way of PA, gospel,rock, loud bands ect...... even with the aluminum diaphrams forums

. Because the Altecs would go so loud in many applications indoors, or out. The 802 music drivers were sometimes found in these applications even though not really designed for just loud PA. So what I saw when the higher power rated Symbiotics came about... sound guys, bands were converting thier music 802's in A7's to "high-power" by converting diaphrams. Then back into the live band applications they would go. Many 802 music diaphrams were "blown" of course in the past because A7's were used in live band applications. Good thing the Symbiotic diaphrams came about so these guys could still use the beloved A7's forums

Your right about Symbiotics being the diaphram designated for the high powered 808, 291........ect
forums

AL-TEC

**Jim D** · February 12th, 2003, 12:42 AM

I personally think the large format drivers sound way better than the small ones. They have a complete ease of reproduction the smaller do not. As for the high end, I think they are just as good in the highs, it is just that they are so much better in the mids it tends to overshadow the extreme HF. It is quite easy to reduce the mids or bosst the highs by equalizing either actively or passively. These drivers are not like other like format units, especially those with 4" diaphragms, they really do go up there. Yes they made need remaging, but first try them, you may be plesantly surprised. Jim

**RClark** · February 18th, 2003, 09:59 PM

charles--------the 288's with the aluminum dia are a killer on the A-7 if you do just a couple things------first use the 511-E horn (or a properly converted 511-B) or better yet a 311-90---------then------ and this is very important------- you need to equalize the HF response-------it is easily done with passive components since the 288 has enough excess efficiency that you can "scrub-off" several db in the midrange in order to gain extra output in the highest octave---------the easiest way to do this and get in the ballpark is to use a simple bridged "T" network------for the 16 ohm driver i have found that a bridge consisting of a series pair of 8 ohm resistors with a 12 ohm shunt and jumped by a 1UF cap will really flatten out a 288 and give it a sound that is impossible to achieve with a smaller format driver--------for a 8 ohm driver divide the resistor values in half and use a 2uf cap-----10 watt resistors are usually adequate------try it the proof is in the listening-------you will never be satisfied with a small format driver again!!!!!............RC