37 years -

Speakers (Altec) 17" woolfers

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I purchased these speakers in 1973. They work beautifully - very loud but clean sound. I now live in an apartment and will not be able to use them again as speakers. They have provided me with the beautiful clean sounds of my favorite artists for 37 years. Pink Floyd will never sound the same to me again but I hope that whoever buys them will enjoy them for another 37 years.

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http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/1...q45r3a7a38.jpghttp://img38.imageshack.us/img38/879...v65u6a7a61.jpg

Santana's. Nice to see them still pumping out the Floyd.

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Originally Posted by Cal Weldon

Santana's. Nice to see them still pumping out the Floyd.

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Mmmmm I beg to differ.

Madrids, prolly 872B's.

I have an identical set with the front arched grills.

Thanks for the correction.
I obviously don't know them well enough to tell the difference. Is it only the grilles? The components look the same? How about the box?

I'm by no means a Santana expert, but IIRC, many of them had a stone or slate top.

Here's a typical set of 879A's....

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2010/07/19.jpg


Here's another...

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2010/07/20.jpg

I do think you're correct in thinking that the components are the same. Here's an interestring factoid about the 420 I didn't know, copied from the LH board....

You have three kind of 420.
The 420-8a with white frame
the 420-8b with black frame from the 416 and the magnet in ticonal
the 420-8c with the frame of the 416-8B and the magnet in alnico.

Also, as you prolly know, 420's can be reconed as 416's by GPA.

Lastly, IMO, the Madrid's capture much of the Altec magic, although the OEM tweeter is essentially useless. I think a real interesting project for the long term would be optimizing a tweeter or midrange/tweeter for the Madrids.

I wonder if an 811 horn could be adapted to fit in that cabinet?

EDIT: I forgot to mention, one of the nice things about the 872B is that the front baffle board is removable, and by the above pix, same with the Santana.

It allows for some easy tinkering with the driver load while maintaining your original board in pristine condition if so desired

I think there is enough room to fit a 32b and 902 in there...

Parts Express makes a waveguide...

Dayton H07E 6" x 6" Elliptical Waveguide 1" Threaded | Parts-Express.com



and mebbe a BMS driver...

Overview

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Mmmmm I beg to differ.

Madrids, prolly 872B's.

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Good eye!

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I'm by no means a Santana expert, but IIRC, many of them had a stone or slate top.

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"simulated" slate........................ but you won't leave drink rings on em, and they're pretty resistant to burns too.

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I think there is enough room to fit a 32b and 902 in there...

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The removable baffle presents a host of possibilities.

I think i'd find a way to stuff the MR 931 in there, $20.40 ea at GPA.

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Originally Posted by Old Guy

I think there is enough room to fit a 32b and 902 in there...

Parts Express makes a waveguide...

Dayton H07E 6" x 6" Elliptical Waveguide 1" Threaded | Parts-Express.com

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The Zilch inspired Econowave set up huh?

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Originally Posted by Old Guy

and mebbe a BMS driver...

Overview

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BMS...OG say it ain't so!??!!!:snickerpup:

That BMS is a really nice driver....cheap too...you can buy it new for about 50 bucks more than an Altec fram..

Would be nice to have an Altec there though...

Bowtie's idea with the small Mantaray holds promise...

well, I got fully functional 902's collecting dust, and a pair of 802D's needing 'phragms also collecting dust, so BMS would be third choice....:p

How would that little 'ray compare with an 811?

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How would that little 'ray compare with an 811?

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Limited experience thus far. Won't load nearly as low as 811, recommend 1.5khz min XO. Superior HF w/902, is made for that driver, and the asymmetrical geometry kind of "bends" the axis for lack of better terminology, in other words the sweet spot isn't directly in front of them which is perfect for shorter floor standing cabs that put the horns up to a couple feet below your listening position.

It would be interesting to know if the GPA versions have a 7/8 throat like the originals.

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Originally Posted by bowtie427ss

It would be interesting to know if the GPA versions have a 7/8 throat like the originals.

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0.875" per data page....

http://www.greatplainsaudio.com/downloads/MR931-12.pdf

Made a call to GPA after checking the ol' Paypal account. No one home.

However, a pair is in my immediate future....:2thumbsup:

A year ago the originals were bringing a LOT of money, i saw some sell for 200, bare horns only.

many Altecs came in 3 variations...2 being the new frame with early and late mags...the later had the "stepped" magnet..

The 416 had 4, those 3 and a ceramic...

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Originally Posted by bowtie427ss

A year ago the originals were bringing a LOT of money, i saw some sell for 200, bare horns only.

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Now that they are available from GPA for $20 that went out the window quick. ;)

Actually it's a typo on the website. Should be $24.00, not $20.40.

My total is $59.40 incl. shipping....

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Originally Posted by analog addict

Lastly, IMO, the Madrid's capture much of the Altec magic, although the OEM tweeter is essentially useless. I think a real interesting project for the long term would be optimizing a tweeter or midrange/tweeter for the Madrids.

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them old cts tweets are'nt all bad.


might start with the crossover, first.

any electrolytic capacitor, is a distortion generator.

plastic caps, have so much less distortion.

and oils, even less.

the difference is huge.

yeah, at the extreme it's like the difference from cleaning an old scratchy/corroded pot............

GM

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Originally Posted by GM

at the extreme ............

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since the Jung/Marsh 'picking capacitors', my favorite distortion to get rid of -

Picking Capacitors - Walter G. Jung and Richard Marsh

http://a.imageshack.us/img5/4438/pick18894274.jpg

i miss these 'leo pando' cartoons

Hello all. I too have a pair of 872b Madrid speakers original in my family from about 1972 or so. A few years ago I wasn't too happy with the tweeter action so I replaced the caps and installed new Dayton Silk domes. I'm wondering if that was the correct solution. Today a fellow from a simply speakers said I should of used Horn Loaded Silk Dome Tweeter T-520 $30 each (Partsexpress $10 Goldwood GT-520 1" Soft Dome Horn Tweeter)

I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Rick

[email protected]

Hey Rick, :welcome: To the board, I think there are a few guys here that own Madrid's and should be able to help you. Again Welcome. :waver: Regards !!