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I started with a pair of A7's. Then tried the drivers in a different cabinet for a while and ended up building my own modern version. They run JBL 2235H woofers, Altec 802-8G on 511B horns and JBL 077 slot tweeters. The crossovers are based on the Altec N501 and JBL 3106 crossovers. Cabinets are baltic birch and MDF veneered with sapele pommele.
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Wow! Those look wonderful! Nice turntable, too.
What's inside the cabs?
In a word, beautiful!
........... and please accept a long overdue thanks for maintaining a wonderful gallery of Altec pics.
Ditto!
Ward's speakers are so pretty I just had to see them "naked." And I found them.
Here they are from about 3 years ago with no clothes. :eek: Still Be-U-Tee-Full.
Before the pretty dress
I was lucky enough to hear them in their unclothed state around the
time of the 'Before the pretty dress' photo at a Lonestar Bottlehead
meeting that Wardsweb hosted. They sounded great then, which surprised
me a little since it was a small room, and sofa against the opposite wall was
pretty close. He's since move so I imagine they are fabulous with a little
elbow room. I try to finish my projects fairly well, but even the preveneer
versions were nicer than most of my finished stuff.
Skip
Ward, You have an Absolutely Stunning set-up there they are Gorgeous you do Fantastic work !!! :Nodding: That sapele is gorgeous wood. I too wanted to Thank You for that Altec Photo Gallery you put together very nice work so Thank You for that.I was just curious do you have children in the house if so you may want to put some grilles on those Beauties !!!! :Nodding: Regards ~ :)
I did make curved grills for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Altec Best
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Hi Ward,
Great cabinet design and construction. Would you mind sharing the grill construction method? I would like to have similar curved ones on my project but cannot work out how to maintain the curve of the cloth across any cut-outs.
Marshall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mah
The grills are simple a rectangular sheet of perforated metal covered with grill cloth held in place by automotive trim.
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The width of the metal is one inch wider than the face of the speakers. The speaker baffle board is recessed creating edges that the grill is wedged between. Because it is wider it has to bow to fit.
Elegant in its simplicity.
Many thanks, Marshall. :)
Ward, That is a cool little trick and the grilles look fabulous may I ask How much time do you have in the construction of these speakers actual time say if you worked 8 hr. days on them how long from begining to end with the grilles.How do they sound just looking at those is killing me for sound, are you happy with the sound,do they sound as good as they look.:D Nice Job !!! :D Regards ~ AB :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Wardsweb
There are somewhere between 250 and 300 hours in these. It could be done a lot quicker now, but building custom one off the first time around takes time to think, build, rethink, build, undo, redo, install drivers, test, listen, tinker, listen some more and then veneer and finish. There is always something you didn't think of or realize would take longer. Like machining the 511 horn flange down to exactly fit the opening. Things like cutout for binding posts in the back, only to fill that hole once I wanted to go a different route and install the metal channel across the back to hold the attenuators and the binding posts. It's always something. Even during the finishing. I thought the lacquer had dried enough to lay the speakers on their sides. When I went to pick them up, the carpet I laid down to protect the finish was embedded in the lacquer. It had to be stripped, sanded and redone. It all takes time. A real learning process.Quote:
Originally Posted by Altec Best
As for sound...OMG!! Every penny, every second, every "what now" was worth it. These are exactly what I want. The look, the sound, the detail, the midrange, the bass, the sizzle...it is all there and more. I am a happy audioholic.
I'm with you on that my friend.I said to myself if they sound half as good as they look they should sound phenomanal.Did you have a chance to measure output,frequency response anything like that,just to see what you have there.Take a bow you deserve it.Absolutely gorgeous one of a kind speakers that actually sound good :Clap: I am building Altec 620A cabs in the near future probably after the holidays now,but looking at your speakers is giving me idea's on cabinets,veneers,etc.... Thank You for posting Top-Notch !!! Regards ~ AB :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Wardsweb