Altec vs Avantgarde

[GM]

No contradiction, the 811 (and later, the 511) represented cutting edge technology when it was introduced and withstood the test of time until hi-tech took the 'art' out of horn design. I have often wondered how long it took and how many prototypes were required to get a multiple flare/'T' rate lens that had a >five octave passband with good efficiency without the benefit of sophisticated FEA and Ansys modeling tools and the real time phase unwrapping software to measure them.

Again though, it never ceases to amaze me that neither Altec nor the majority of folks who listen to the thinner, stressed, sloppily aligned/welded two part units don't feel the need to at least damp the bell modes. The original version is much thicker and better made, so don't suffer from them at any intrusive level.

WRT the 802-8G, it just flat sounds good and mates well with the 511. The later 900 series is better suited to the 811.

GM

[sunnysal]

what about the 311-90 and the 1003b have they been surpassed as wide-band, wide dispersion midrange horns? thanks, tony

[GM]

Sure! Mantaray concepts are superior overall, but from just looking at his measured FR/polar plots, Earl Geddes lastest CD lens concept appear to redefine high SQ horn design. Then there's Tom Danley's Unity system that is so clearly superior IMO that everything before it are strictly nostalgic period pieces to be used with the appropriate playback systems they were designed for. Used in this fashion, all the system's strengths/weaknesses are averaged out to some extent and here is where the Altecs are for the most part superior to their contemporaries IMO.

I mean, would you build a 'super car' from ~state of the art component/subassemblys, cripple it with drum brakes from a decades old 'supercar' design, then tack on high tech devices to try and overcome their stopping deficiencies just because you like the brake pedal 'feel' they give you?

GM

[scott fitlin]

ill agree with you GM, this is where the Altecs pull ahead of their contemporaries!

And unfortunately, even todays high end, state of the art systems leave me unmoved! And I can hear many things that are cleaner, and without coloration, BUT, they just dont make music! So, if they dont do the first thing right, which is to make music, they cant do anything at all, as far as Im concerned!

However, I am very aware of how many horn speaker systems are being made now, especially AG, considering that just 10-14 years ago horns were absolutely OUT! Now, horns are absolutely BACK!

Even Pro audio has gone back to horn loaded bass, horn loaded mids, etc! So if we know that horns do something right, why dont audio companies just go back into making whats really right?

And while we are at it, how about a real violin or trumpet in maybe one or two recordings of todays era? Mostly Im complaining about todays POP music, it really has gone to POT!