Newbie Questions

[amh]

Hello Altec fans. Another newbie here on the board. I was really pleased to find a forum for Altec users with so many knowledgeable participants. I have a few questions that I'm sure some of you will be able to help me with.

Here's my story. After 20 years or so of coveting my buddies A7s I have decided to try to pull together a set for myself. I have decided to use 515-8Gs in an 828H type enclosure. I intend to attempt building the enclosures myself. The HF drivers will be 902 series on 511Bs. I would like to bi-amp, utilizing solid state amps for the low end and tube amps for the highs. Herein lies my questions to you.

Are there any design or acustic differences between the 902-8A, 8B, 8C or 8Ts. I see As, Bs and Ts for sale on eBay and such. Bill at GPA is building Cs.

Am I correct that the 515-8G has slightly greater range than it's high power counterpart (515-8GH).

And last, what do you folks prefer for an active crossover unit. Some here seem to prefer the Rane AC22. In the archives there is only one or two posts regarding the Altec 1631A or it's Electro Voice equivalent the XEQ-2. Altec and EV have 18dB slopes while the Rane has a 24dB slope. Isn't the slower slope a better choice for A7 type loudspeakers? Or is the Rane just a better sounding unit?

Any insights for a newbie would be greatly appreciated.

[djnagle]

Hi AMH, I am from the north suburb of Detroit. You can find A7 cabs for a lot cheaper than it will cost you to build them. I have a line on a pair here in the area for very little. I run the Rane AC23 and think the world of it. I have never read anything bad about it. I have always heard that the 800 series is a better sounding driver than the 900 series (personal opinion). I run the 515G and will like them a lot better when I close off the bottom of the cabs to make room for the sub woofer.

[amh]

Hi Igor,

I'm just west of Detroit, Dearborn Hts.

I might be interested in those cabs. send me an offline email with details.

I've heard the 902s sound pretty much the same as 802s, perhaps just a touch brighter at upper limits. Definitely cheaper though, not as much collector value. I have never personally compared the two side by side however. My buddy runs 802s and they do sound nice.

The 515-8G is a little challenged in the low end. I haven't decided how I am going to supplement low end yet. One thing at a time. I definitely don't want one of those thumpy little sub boxs though. I have seen some interesting threads here about adding subs to the A7 cabs. More research on my part needed I think.

Thanks for your input!

[taudo]

AMH,

> I definitely don't want one of those thumpy little sub boxs though
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Agreed! FWIW, I don't like the sound of most of the low efficiency/high Xmax subs I've been able to hear (admittedly not the best available). I agonized over what sub to use and decided on the JBL 2235. I've been quite happy with it - musical, not thumpy at all.

taudo

[GM]

>Am I correct that the 515-8G has slightly greater range than it's high power counterpart (515-8GH).

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Don't know, but the -8G has better (published) specs for A7 or reflex apps, so it would be my choice.

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>Altec and EV have 18dB slopes while the Rane has a 24dB slope. Isn't the slower slope a better choice for A7 type loudspeakers?

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Not really, the steeper the slope, the less overlap, ergo the greater the clarity.

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>Or is the Rane just a better sounding unit?

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Newer designs do have better S/N ratios. I've used both Rane and dbx, which I prefer, but sonically it's not enough better to justify the price in a HIFI app IMO. WRT the HF horn, Marchand tube XOs get good reviews, as do Behringer for SS.

WRT 800 Vs 900 series drivers, I haven't auditioned all the later variants, but in general, the later ones have a touch more topend at the expense of requiring a higher XO point for a given efficiency WRT the 800 series.

I prefer a lower XO point, but many here say the Model 19 is the best sounding speaker Altec made, which has a 1200Hz XO point, so as always YMMV.

GM