My new Altec Stonehenge V from Iconic!

[souldriver]

Hallo
A few weeks ago i got my brandnew Altec Stonehenge V from Iconic. They have now at least 200 hours breakin (still not finished) and sound just amazing. I never heard a speaker so dynamic and smooth all over the hole frequencyrange with my Melody 300B amp (8Watt with KR Tubes). The bass is tight and goes just between 40 or almost 30hz , middles are so smooth (female voices are just superb!) and the highs are detailled and transparent. As good records sounds better than bad (from the 80's)ones sounds most of the time bad. The Iconic 704 plays really like a Studiomonitor. Exactly what i was looking for. The speakers are really big and heavy (130lbs each). They are topquality and handmade.
I like to thank Steven Burger(a real packaging-master) from Iconic for his professional customercare.

Urs from Switzerland
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[Sounder]

Hello Urs,

Your Iconic Vs are BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL. Do you have a pic with the grill cloth in place?

I noticed that the vent port for the box is placed above the speaker and appears different in size than the customary 2.5 x 11". What size is the port?

Do you have the SuperCrossovers? Are they located on the back of the box?

I think the Vs are the best systems being produced today. Solid and great sounding over the entire sound spectrum. Just SUPERB!

John

[souldriver]

Hi Sounder
Thanks a lot. They are really beautiful. Actualy i do not have any pictures with the grill cloth because i need first the put the pegs (for some reason they weren't available at that time). I asked Steven to send me they speakers with the grill cloth but without the pegs. I will get them in a short time. Once they are here i will put some pictures in the board.

The vent size is a bit smaller than the customery ones. The size is 3 x 7" an they are placed above the speaker. I guess (i never heard the customery ones) that you loose a bit in lower bassfrequencys but you will have less problems in roomacustics. For me it's a good compromise and as i told before the bass is really thight, round with enough attack and presence. Perfect for me.

And yes i got them with the superxovers. On the pictures just below you can see where they are located (bottom).

For me it's defentely the best speakersystem for singelended amps. Most of the time i am listening to small acoustic jazz ensembles in (very) good recording quality (direct to master recordings)and the soundstage is naturally wide and deep witch gives you really a "live" impression...specially when you hear them a bit louder than usually (i wanna thank my neighbours for supporting that!).

I recommand everybody who likes the sound of SE amps to check it out. You will like them.

Urs

[MikeInNH]

I was checking out their website..

Does anyone know the prices of these systems?? Couldn't find anything on their website.

[[email protected]]

They are gorgeous. Wanna swap for a nice pair of 19s?

[souldriver]

I just came back from france today.

@MIkeInNH
I guess an email to Steven Burger would be the best thing:
[email protected]

@n3135x
Thanks a lot but....no!

[MikeInNH]

I sent mail over a week ago, but didn't get a response.

[souldriver]

Keep cool and be patient! A lot people don't work christmas and newyear.

[Todd W. White]

The tall version of Altec's Stonehenge III that I was involved with has the same basic dimensions as these, I'm sure (9 cubic feet), but they're not the same exactly:

* These have chamfered radii on the outer edges. Not a bad idea!
* The 604's are, in my estimation, way too low: The reason I raised up the speaker in the box drawings I made for it was to bring the 604 on-axis with the listener in a living room environment.

The resultant taller design was narrower than the much wider Altec 620 box, and eliminates the main problem Altec had with the 620 - aside from it being so bulky - it brought the 604 up to a place where it really works well in a home environment, due to resolving the on-axis problem of the earlier designs (the 620 and Stonehenge III boxes).

The design I made is currently available from Great Plains Audio. Bill is also working on a revised version of it with a curved face, magnetic grille frame holders (makes for a clean cabinet front - NO ball/socket holders!), and will be available in custom woods and finishes.

Call Bill at (405) 789-0221 for more information.

[souldriver]

Hi Todd
Because i did not hear your new concept i can't say which one is really better but i am not agree what you said about the on-axis in case with the Stonehenge V. My Speakers are 51' high, 21.7' large and 18' deep. And yes, they are bulky! The middle of the horn is exactly on 32.5'(83cm)which is perfect when you are sitting on a coach or (Lounge-)chair. But even when you stand up, the sound in the high frequencies does not change that much like other speakers do (specially Logans and Apogees, great sounding speakers but the worst that i have heard in terms of on-axis problems).
The 604 need definitely a lot of cubic feets to produce some really deep bass with a good response. I guess more than other loudspeakers. That means, a bit smaller but taller or deeper or vice versa...at least you do need 9 cubic feet if you like to live without woofer systems or building the cabinet with a bassreflex (somebody tried that?).

Finally i am very happy with what i got and in my eyes (ears) there is not much other speakers (regarding any price) which sound so smooth and musical.