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A question about these.
I see that the 902 is well liked and recommended for home use. I have a pair of 802-8D. Is this a similar motor? Of course they have the Symbiotic frams, which I don't like. But could they become a 902 with better frams?
I also have a pair of 806 and find them much smoother and better balanced than the 802. I would love to get the 806 sound out of the 802 but with better high end.
Bottom line. Can the 803-8D be upgraded to something similar to the new 902?
Thanks!
FYI, 802 with Symbiotic are 808 MI drivers and sound nothing like an 802 with its alum. diaphragms, especially if they're the later 23744 ultralights.
802 = AlNiCo, 902 = Ferrite.
The 802 has more bottom end 'grunt' while the 902 has a bit better top end due to shifting its BW up a bit, so while the 902 is rated to 500 Hz, it's on the ragged edge SQ wise and can't have too steep a cut-off, so I view it more as an improved 806.
Bottom line IMO, best trade-off of both is the interim 802-8G with whatever is the closest replacement for the 23744 since these by now would likely be work hardened if not NIB, probably making them no better than the 802-8D's original 34647 alum.. If you want better, then AFAIK you'll have to step up to the TAD/Beryllium combo.
For now though, new diaphragms in those 802s along with re-zapping should give you all the 806s can offer and then some.
GM
No, and I'm speaking based on the comparison sheet by the late Bill Eckle:Quote:
Originally Posted by Panomaniac
Altec
-the 802-8D phasing plug is different than the 902?
-I think with the aluminum diaphragm that GPA sells, you got a great sounding driver nonetheless.
-but compared to a 288H in a 511E, forget about it! ;)
Jeepers....just a few minutes ahead of me...as usual. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by GM
Thanks guys - good info.
I guess my question really boiled down to "what's the best that can be done with the 802?"
Am going to get a set of 288 frams for my 291s, thus making them 288s. Just wondering if the 802 (which I don't like the sound of) could be made better in the same way. Seems like they can. Thanks!
Hi Pano, GM beat me to the punch also I have 802's,806's,902's and for me the 802-8G's with the lite fram the 23744 is the best sounding small format driver Altec made IMO.I've been stock piling the 23744 and have a few fairly new ones.:D you would do yourself a service if you can borrow,buy, a pair and give a listen.:2thumbsup:
What horns are you using with the 802's 511B's or 811B's ??
I have a few spare sets of 802-8G/23744's if you need to borrow for a listen. And "NO" you can't borrow them for 10 years :D
How 'bout 7 years, then? ;)
I used the 802 with Symbiotic on the 511 and the 811. Ditto the 806. The 806 was by far better sounding. Drops of fast at the top, but the midrange is so much smoother.
Do you use the loading caps with your lite frams?
Only recently found out that some of the 902s have a smaller throat 7/8" vs 1" on the 80x series.
Is this the case for all of the 902s or just a certain run.
Is there any impact on sound quality?
The 802 with a GPA diaphragm in a 811 horn is a wonderful HF driver.
Slightly OT, but anyone want to comment on how the 908 fits in here, perhaps in comparison to the 806?....
Quote:
Originally Posted by Panomaniac
With the 806-8A's I have have loading caps with the 23744 they sound great too...
I was thinking a few months, But who knows as long as you don't smoke the frams ??? :) http://www.hostboard.com/forums/mysm...mysmilie_6.gif
But the 802-8G's/23744's I have, have the felt in the caps and I just think they sound the best to me.
Pano for me you got to lose the symbiotiks for home use IMO.You won't be disappointed I've bought more than a few drivers just for that fram 23744 when I could verify it had good looking leads that's were they tend to break when fatigued.If they are at right angles you have a fram on it's way out !!! :coffeedrinker:
Which driver? The 802-D should show a higher F3 roll-off similar to what JM measured on a 604E: Altec Compression Driver Rear Loading CapsQuote:
Originally Posted by Altec Best
*More measurements: http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?...+bp&r=&session
Another thing to consider is that weak magnets would measure similar/same.
GM
Hi Gm, I'm not sure which driver he had measured when he mentioned it was in general terms of the differance between the loading cap and the felt.Unfortunately Dave went away today and won't be back till middle of March but will ask him when he gets back.
As far as I know it is posted over there at AK I have to go out for a couple hours but I will do a search when I get back to see if I can find it we were talking about my just purchased 604-8G/612C's at the time but I'm under thee impression it was a small format driver 802,806, when I get back I will try to find it though.
Do a search, IIRC TW? said it was a re-badged EV driver. All I know about it is some measurements posted awhile back mounted on a 511. It rolls off ~2nd order from ~3 kHz, so -12 dB ~6 kHz, making it strictly a wide BW mids/lower HF driver without massive EQ and if it is EV, probably not a high SQ one either.Quote:
Originally Posted by analog addict
GM
I believe that is actually a 906, a modified DH1.Quote:
Do a search, IIRC TW? said it was a re-badged EV driver.
Pretty sure the 908 is just a ferrite 808, probably becomes a 902 with the installation of a 34647.
Wow, we really are talking in code now!. ;)
I'm eager to hear the 802 with better frams. I have not heard the 902, unless the CDs on the 604-8K count.
Oops! You're right: 908-8B COMPRESSION DRIVERQuote:
Originally Posted by bowtie427ss
GM
What I know; Early Altec 902s were 7/8", all 909s are 1".Quote:
Originally Posted by magnarc
What I don't know; if Altec ever made 1" 902s, or what GPA's are (seems like someone said 1").
Given the 90x already marginal low end, I'd not suggest the 7/8" models for XO below ~1KHz. If using 7/8" drivers on 1" horns, I'd fab some thick gaskets/spacers with tapered holes to smooth the transition.
***Epiphany***Quote:
Originally Posted by bfish
Zippy Sez...
"If it's 7/8", it's a 902, 1" is a 909"
:doh:
But that would be too simple...;)