A-7 Driver combo....

[analog addict]

Greetings!
I'm a newbie to this board, but no stranger to the wonderful sound of Altec products. I have recently committed to purchasing a set of 806A drivers, 511 horns, 421-8H woofers, and a set of A-7 cabs. Is this a common A-7 setup? Are there any preconfigured crossovers I should look for, or would it be easier/cheaper to DIY?
Any other advice for venturing out into the world of the A-7???

Thanks....

A.A.

[Old Guy]

The 421 is a music instrument /PA speaker. not going to have as much bass as a real woofer. It's got more mid bass, to help make vocals louder for a live band.

The 806 is a good driver, not as heavy duty as the 802 but that shouldn't be an issue.

I'd prefer the 416 in that cabinet, but you could always add a sub to what you have....

There are as many opinions probably as members here, hopefully a few more will chime in.

[Old Guy]

Another point- with the 806 I would recommend an 800 hz crossover, I wouldn't go down to 500 without an 802.

Crossovers- Altec crossovers at the time were pretty much textbook, IMHO a good roll yer own is likely as good...do a little more searching thru past posts here, keep asking questions. Altec xovers are pretty readily available.

Bear in mind I said a GOOD roll yer own. learn enough to write a book about crossovers before you start...or develop a friend who knows that much.

The silliest question is the one you didn't ask that would have saved you a lot of grief...

[Old Guy]

Being afraid that last line will be taken the wrong way, what I meant was don't be afraid to ask, often it's sillier not to.

[scott fitlin]

I used the 421-8LF in my A7,s, 816,s, 815,s, and 817A,s for years. Very efficient, and i always thought it was the only woofer for me.

The metal dustcap will excite higher frequencies, and can get ringy. The 421,s do make a nice sounding bass, but you will also be listening to cone resonance and a bit of breakup, as certain distortions are favored by musical instrument players.

I got a pair of 416-8C,s to try out, and the bottom end in my basshorns is just what I was lookin for. Midbass, and low mid is super smooth, and super clear, and nice transparency too. Great transient snap, and the paper dustcap with the little hole and screen in the center work for me. I liked the pair so much, I ordered 12 more from Great Plains Audio! Then, another person I know aas looking into getting another Altec model of 15in woofer, and I told him to get these. Allen is happy with his 416,s in his A7,s, his comment was they make recordings sound so real!

I would go with the 416, and I was a LONG TIME 421 user! Since 76! Im a 416 man now!

If this is for home hi fi use, I definitely recommend the 416, and I dont know if your buying used, or brand new, but I cant recommend Great Plains Audio 416-8C enough! Call Bill direct, and price em out. You'll be good to go!

[analog addict]

Thanks guys! No worries about me taking things the wrong way. I'm asking 'cause I want to learn, and have no problem asking even stupid questions. I would rather seem stupid now than feel really stupid later....

As far as drivers go, the seller has a set of 416A's that I may be able to talk him out of for more $$$, and I also have a set of 416-8B's in my M19's and a set of 421A's in my 872B Madrids available for switching in and out for comparison....

I forgot to ask previously, how difficult would it be to bi-amp this set up? I'd love to run some tubes up top, and use SS down below...I'm assuming if I want to do this, it would be better to start with the X-over design set up for bi-amping from the git go....

[Tom Brennan]

Old Guy---I don't understand why an 806 wouldn't work as well at 500hz as an 802. They seem identical save for the magnet size. Is there some difference in how the diaphragm is loaded?

In any event in hi-fi use I've done fine running 806s at 500hz 1st order, no clacking and at pretty high volumes too.

[Old Guy]

Smaller magnet isn't going to control the diaphragm as well. Longer excursions need better control.

Altec themselves were not recommending that driver at 500 in the 70's.

[Tom Brennan]

I'd thought the smaller magnet would have it's effect on the highs not the lows, less "brute force" to overcome the inertia of the diaphragm at high frequencies.

I'm'a thinkin' they used it at 800hz because the hi-fi speakers it was generally used in were of a size to use 811 rather then 511 horns.

[scott fitlin]

Originally posted by Tom Brennan:


In any event in hi-fi use I've done fine running 806s at 500hz 1st order, no clacking and at pretty high volumes too.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">When I had a digital processor in my system, I accidentally set my horn slopes to 1st order, and they sound great. Couldnt get over it. Then Im scrolling through my program and saw what I did, and changed it back, I run my system hard, and I am scared of 6db slopes with compression drivers, BUT, it really did sound great.