Vintage Altec A8 Voice of The Theater Speakers Set of 3 | eBay
Late model set too.
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Vintage Altec A8 Voice of The Theater Speakers Set of 3 | eBay
Late model set too.
Ah... The A8. The "I don't have any room behind the screens of my multiplex" speaker. JBL does a similar box, right?
Nice set, but not at that price.
I don't know what they sound like, but I've always liked the way the A8 looks....... simple and clean looking.
I'd like to build some using gpa 416's, 902's and mr 931-12. If you mounted the horn in front and 416 from behind you'd have perfect phase alignment and could get away with a 24 db octave x-over. Tone down the mids and i'm willing to bet you'd get a really flat responce.
Sounds like a stellar combination. The Mantaray horn would be a significant upgrade over the "curved" horns shown in the photos/description IMHO..... Not sure what h.f. drivers are in those 3 cabs from the photos but the 902's are one of my favorite (smaller format) h.f. drivers.....Quote:
Originally Posted by louder
Yeah the price is a tad? high. I think they will be 902-16x, based on the fact that the Lf are 416-16B.
Funny how these are now classed as 'big speakers'. The cab is roughly the size of the traditional double 15 box common to many cinemas.
Yikes! Nice looking (at first glance) but too rich for my blood. I might go $800 for the lot. Would seem to be export pricing @ 1k each.
Typical 800 for a pair from what I have seen. Honestly think at that price though would get Valencias instead.
Very nice, laid back when driven with a period correct amp once you get far enough away from them. For HIFI though, best use an 802/902 and drop the horn down till it's right up against the woofer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill
Price wise, those are by far the best built A8s I've ever seen other than DIY. Makes me wonder if those were made by a distributor rather than the factory, so worth a bit more IMO.
GM
Aren't they particle board? I didn't think you were a fan of particleboard/MDF?Quote:
Originally Posted by GM
These were Altecs model for small theatres, ie up to say 200 seats!. Large auditoria by todays standards!
Well, MDF grade, the same as M19, etc. are made from.
No, I'm not except for when the speaker needs its superior damping such as a high Q driver does or for a mids/HF horn or similar and the A8 isn't one of them IMO. The clones I've done were braced 3/4" marine grade no void plywood, but the consensus around here is that MDF is great for Altec bass [horn] cabs, so it seems reasonable to me that it would also apply to these A8s.
GM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill
Particle board is pressed sawdust.
MDF is wood fibers, much better. You probably knew that, but if 6 months from now somebody runs across this, just wanted the record set straight. They are only interchangeable for low end uses. MDF is far superior.
There are two issues with MDF from a professional standpoint. Weight and durability. However the added mass can actually be a plus for home speakers.
Plywood is used for guitar tops as it resonates. You will never see an MDF acoustic guitar. Not in the hands of anybody older than ten with an ear anyway.
Lack of resonance can be good in the right place and time.
As far as particle board, I guess dummies have to have something to do. But if you have half a brain and one good ear pony up the slight extra for MDF.
There is also a high density fiberboard, the m in MDF stands for medium. High density is hard to find, but even heavier. Will kill saw blades though...like cutting stone almost.
If you find a place that builds counter tops they may have one inch MDF. Don't drop it on your foot you can lose a toe.
And the saw dust from MDF will choke you quick though.I hate working with it anymore.It will get on anything and everything.I try to use nothing but plywood anymore.I've had my fill of MDF.It is no good in high Humidity or wet/damp or outside locations, if it ever gets wet once it is toast.That's were the durability issues arise IMO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
I have a craftsman, not even an expensive saw. With a shop vac hooked to it, I never breathe dust, but still wear a mask.Quote:
Originally Posted by Altec Best
If you have cheap tools, most lumber yards will cut for something low...last I checked 50 cents a cut a couple years ago.
I don't have cheap tools ! I use a vac too,the dust is so fine it goes everywhere regardless. Makita,Bosch,Dewalt,are the tool brands that I have.It's just nasty stuff to work with IMHO.I would rather use plywood.Problem solved. :wink2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
I'm in the middle of building some 12 cuft enclosures, I used oak veneered plywood, will be posting some pics up soon. My craftsman router came in quite handy for doing them, along with my tool shop drill. :D
I know they're not the same, but MDF looks like a finer particle to me....... more akin to what I'd call dust. Particle board has always looked more like granules, to me. I don't really like either one.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
FWIW, based on my experience at the manufacturing level, Wikipedia does a good job of explaining the differences of the various grades/types: Particle board - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and its references
GM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill
Nope. completely different. It is fine strands. The cut particles ARE smaller though since you are cutting thru a fiber instead of crumbling sawdust.
I don't understand why AB has the issues he does with dust as I don't, but again having it precut will solve that.
Bottom line your money use what you want. But for permanent installs, MDF is measurably superior acoustically. That's all I said, that argument is over.
We can quibble preference till the cows come home.
BTW I never understood how they rated a later curfew than the other farm animals.
Some folks have sensitive respiratory systems. Sometimes the MDF, and even plywood bothers me, i'm pretty sure it's the resins and not the wood itself, a big fan and good ventilation makes it pretty much a non issue.Quote:
I don't understand why AB has the issues he does with dust as I don't, but again having it precut will solve that.
Now certain weeds, and the weed eater or bush hog are another story and can leave me pretty distressed until i get to clear air, not a good feeling at all. So, i can appreciate and understand wanting to just avoid the MDF altogether for those who are really sensitive to it.
It just seems when i have to make a bunch of cuts with that MDF I tend to choke and gag for whatever reason (Very Fine Particulates) so I don't like using it.It had nothing to do with how it performs I just don't like cutting it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
MDF is widely used in the joinery and furniture industry as well as in building and housing construction. The major constituents of MDF particle boards are pulverized softwood and urea-formaldehyde resin, both of which are recognized as potential health hazards in the working environment. MDF produces very fine dust during processing and the dust particles act as a carrier of absorbed formaldehyde to the lower airways of lungs.
Wood dust and formaldehyde together have been reported to cause respiratory irritation with symptoms of dryness of throat, rhinitis and eye irritation as well as occupational skin disease. Protective measures for wood dust exposure should be followed when MDF is used.
The only housing use I can think of would be countertops, and furniture is typically particle board, unless some of the "higher end" stuff is veneered MDF, now.Quote:
Originally Posted by cradeldorf
I've mentioned it before here, but I still haven't tried it yet.......... before I used MDF I'd give OSB a whirl. It's supposed to be as strong as plywood. I'd probably try to find a brand that I could find some numbers for. I think GM (Oldguy maybe?) has looked at GP numbers that weren't so hot, but I think things have gotten better since then, or other companies have products with better numbers. I really haven't looked at it too deeply recently enough to recall the details. The 816VI cabinet that I have is made of something resembling OSB...... can't recall the official name the material was marketed under, as told to me by one of the former Altec guys here.
Out in California you can get 1.25" (nominal) OSB because of the earthquake codes. I think it's actually 1.125" Thick and heavy stuff that works well for baffles.
Here on the east coast it's special order.
It may be as simple as different sensitivities to the stuff. Do have a very powerful shop vac hooked up, I get only minimal dust.
There IS a very similar material to MDF but with no formaldehyde.
Arreis Nonformaldehyde MDF from SierraPine | GreenSource Magazine
It also seemed germane to post this link-
MDF Board FAQ - Tutorial
In mine (clone cabs with 416-8C, 800-series HF's with GPA 8-ohm alum dia's) I got a lot better-balanced frequency response with the N1201-8A networks than with the N-800 8-ohm jobs. I think it's a good match for the smaller, bent HF horn. The bass comes off much stronger relative to the 1200hz x-over point than at 800, not to mention whatever other wizardry the n1201 does (aka the Model 19 crossover).
Jon Archibald