Altec 3182 SubWoofer

[rghinton]

I just noticed this on ebay. It is item number 3746198459. I have mine but thought someone may be interested in one for their system. They do not come up too often. Good luck.

[dhook17322]

That one is a cherry - reconed and unused. Most have rotten foam surrounds and need repair.
Interesting thing is Bill at GPA has designed a new cone with pleated surrounds which should last for years. I have two of them with new type surrounds and they are really nice.
I've never seen the cabs for 3182's for sale anywhere - they must be fairly rare. How were they used in theater systems?

[GM]

Hmm, with a pleated surround you'll lose some linear travel so it won't have as low a distortion at higher power as a foam surround one. Also, the thick foam required has considerable 'stiction', so I wonder what Vas is. Did he send measured specs with it?

Anyway, they were used as subwoofer stands for each A5 L-C-R in the only install I recall ever seeing them in. It made for a pretty impressive three way fullrange speaker for smaller cinemas screening early multi-channel soundtracks.

GM

[dhook17322]

Bill didn't send a spac sheet with them. He claimed the new cones are nearly identical to the old in TS specs. The surround accordian is real wide and very flexible, but the cone movement seems to take more effort than the one I have with original foam surround. Bill also mentioned the new surround would make the cone more linear and get rid of most of the distortion that he hated in the old cone design. They really are an impressive driver, large and very heavy!
When I get the cabs built for them, I will do an A-B and see if there is a discernable difference. Bill also mentioned that they require a lot of power - not sure what that implies beyond being less efficient than what you expect from an Altec.
The one on ebay went cheap - $160 - someone got a good deal.

[GM]

>Bill didn't send a spac sheet with them. He claimed the new cones are nearly identical to the old in TS specs. The surround accordian is real wide and very flexible, but the cone movement seems to take more effort than the one I have with original foam surround.

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This implies a somewhat different set of specs.......

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>Bill also mentioned the new surround would make the cone more linear and get rid of most of the distortion that he hated in the old cone design.

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Never measured its distortion, but the design of an accordian surround is such that a large excursion can't be as linear as a half roll design unless the diaphragm is made somewhat smaller, reducing peak SPL capability.

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>Bill also mentioned that they require a lot of power - not sure what that implies beyond being less efficient than what you expect from an Altec.

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That, or it's due to its increased stiffness, a common problem with low Vas/overdamped sub drivers, another indicator of having different specs.

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>The one on ebay went cheap - $160 - someone got a good deal.

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Only if you want a vintage Altec, just so-so WRT performance. Materials/manufacturing technology has rendered these obsolete since two smaller, inexpensive drivers with a cheap amp will match/exceed it in a cab <1/3 as large.

GM

[cholt]

Another set of obsolete 3182s just sold on ebay for more than $500; buyer must have been unaware/uniformed of thier limited utility!

[dstamand]

Would anyone care to share their opinions about the 3182/3184 in terms of modern developments in subwoofers? The trend seems to be toward smaller diameter woofers - eg 10" with long Xmax. The 3182/84 with Xmax of .5/.25" - is it obsolete with the advent of improved materials and design? Putting aside that the 620 is a huge enclosure - does it have redeeming qualities when compared to the newest latest sealed or ported? (I'm not talking about little band pass boomy subs but good new ones). If size is no object...how do they compare?