Altec Model 23?

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November 11th, 2011, 12:44 AM
voice of the theater

Altec Model 23?

Many of us have seen this guy's home brew Model 19 cabinets listed on Ebay. Certainly usable, and probably sound fine, but not overly impressive (especially due to a lack of attention to detail), IMHO.....

I do give him credit though for originality with these Model 23's. I'm sure there are people out there that would love to experiment with a 500hz crossover (which you obviously can't do with 811B's) in a Model 19 system. In one of the photos he's got a cab loaded with a 511B horn and (what looks like) a 416. I admit, I'd love to hear what that sounds like......

Next, he should build Model 19 cabs that would fit a Mantaray Horn. Hmmmm, Model 24's anyone??

Altec Lansing Model 23 (19) Cabinets! For 511B Horns | eBay......
November 11th, 2011, 03:23 AM
mah

Re: Altec Model 23?

With hindsight, whilst struggling along with my build, those cabs are worth considering but I would prefer the lower cab to be a bit taller for better LF response and a more balanced appearance. I think many DIYers grossly under-estimate the cost of building decent cabinets.
November 11th, 2011, 11:40 AM
Panomaniac

Re: Altec Model 23?

Those do look nice.
Lack of attention to detail?
November 11th, 2011, 12:48 PM
bowtie427ss

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

Those do look nice.
Lack of attention to detail?

Lack of detail period. If you own or have owned 19's, the difference is immediately noticeable.

For a lot of folks it's probably picking nits, to me it's the difference between "genuine" and "faux".

Of course we're not talking about details that are audible. But they are huge differences if we're talking accurate copy/clone of model 19 versus reasonable facsimile of model 19.

The one that really screams at me off the bat is the missing 1/8-3/16 "kerf" that forms a boundary between the front edges of the bass section panels and the baffle.

It's a non-functional detail, and it would add a great deal of complexity for a builder that yields no significant gain other than to possibly "fool" a few individuals. For all but a handful of builders it's an impractical detail to copy. As a DIYer with a bit of cabinetmaker in his blood i can appreciate why one builder would omit this detail while another would strive to duplicate it perfectly. Neither builder is wrong in their pursuit, IMO.

Just my .02.............
November 11th, 2011, 01:18 PM
GM

Re: Altec Model 23?

Atlanta listing, interesting, wonder who/where it is...........

GM
November 11th, 2011, 04:37 PM
gvasale

Re: Altec Model 23?

Does the trademark infringement or the misrepresentation of Altec ever stop? I will say I'm not buying them.
November 11th, 2011, 06:43 PM
tomt

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by gvasale

Does the trademark infringement or the misrepresentation of Altec ever stop? I will say I'm not buying them.

if altec/sparkomatic/plano/whatever wanted to stop this they certainty would.
November 11th, 2011, 09:36 PM
Altec Best

Re: Altec Model 23?

Well he doesn't call it a model 19 so a little variance is OK me thinks.I think they look good,a lot of work went into them for sure.The only thing about them that I don't like is the 511 horn it doesn't look right on it.But if you put grills on them you won't see any of those minor details anyways IMO ! :biggrin2:

If he put the black vinyl on the base and in between the top and bottom cabs and cutout for the M19 XO's it would be all good for me ! After all Gentlemen it's the Altec sound we are after ! :wink2:
November 11th, 2011, 09:53 PM
VolvoHeretic

Re: Altec Model 23?

Altec Lansing is DEAD, just look at the thread at the top of the forum. Great for anyone who still wants to reproduce them and even improve them, including Great Plains Audio. I guess he could have called them Alex Lancings.
November 11th, 2011, 11:18 PM
Panomaniac

Re: Altec Model 23?

Vive the exploitation! I say. Better copied than forgotten.
November 12th, 2011, 01:26 AM
magnarc

Re: Altec Model 23?

They are not M19s, it's really no different to me or anyone putting together a cabinet with a separate HF section, or for that matter, getting M19 plans and making an exact copy then loading them with drivers and flogging them off. Thats worse. They are larger, as he says, and I also agree that lets allow people without the cab skills to be able to experience a M19 sound. I for one would love to do this. Even try it with an MR994.
November 12th, 2011, 03:23 PM
Audio_by_Goodwill

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic

Altec Lansing is DEAD, just look at the thread at the top of the forum. Great for anyone who still wants to reproduce them and even improve them, including Great Plains Audio. I guess he could have called them Alex Lancings.

Not really. It sounds like you haven't read all the details. It's not the same thing as a company like Studebaker, or Packard.
November 12th, 2011, 05:28 PM
gvasale

Re: Altec Model 23?

Just because ALT or whatever corporation owns the Altec Lansing name hasn't jumped on this seller yet, they may not be aware. Altec Lansing "clone" is a far better way and might not raise any eyebrows. BTW. How about Oldsmobile? Not a GM trademarked name anymore.
They forgot to do the trademark maintenance and now a Japanese company owns the name. May even be Toyota owns the name now.
November 12th, 2011, 08:10 PM
Panomaniac

Re: Altec Model 23?

That's funny! I'll be looking for a new Ordsmobire.
EDIT: OK, a little Googling finds that this was an April Fool's joke from 3 years ago.

It's no joke that the Altec brand is now a joke. Yikes, what crap they turn out under the once great name.
November 12th, 2011, 10:06 PM
Steve Mac

Re: Altec Model 23?

I know how long something like this takes...and with the low numbers...it is not a bad deal...not to me...would save me a lot of time for sure.
They look pretty darn nice! And I bet a pair new vintage transducers from gpa might cause some 19 owners to start salivating. :)
November 13th, 2011, 05:24 AM
Altec Best

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panomaniac

It's no joke that the Altec brand is now a joke. Yikes, what crap they turn out under the once great name.

Yup !! Because it is actually Sparkomatic.
November 13th, 2011, 06:23 AM
tomt

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by VolvoHeretic

could have called them Alex Lancings.

actually thats quite good.

like 'Marc Jacobs'.

a bit effeminate, it might appeal to the ladies.

for the menfolk, how about 'Al Tex' ...
November 13th, 2011, 06:33 AM
tomt

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altec Best

Yup !! Because it is actually Sparkomatic.

'The Voice of the PC'

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2002/1004810k.jpg
November 13th, 2011, 10:14 AM
GM

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altec Best

Yup !! Because it is actually Sparkomatic.

IIRC Plantronics has more recently acquired ALT.

GM
November 13th, 2011, 02:14 PM
Nipper

Re: Altec Model 23?

You guys could make a dog laugh!
November 13th, 2011, 09:50 PM
cradeldorf

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altec Best

Yup !! Because it is actually Sparkomatic.

They made some awesome car stereo equipment back in the 80's........BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
November 14th, 2011, 12:01 AM
mah

Re: Altec Model 23?

Are they the ones that go DORF DORF DORF?:biggrin2:
November 14th, 2011, 08:54 AM
bowtie427ss

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cradeldorf

They made some awesome car stereo equipment back in the 80's........BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

I think you might be stretching the definition of "awesome" a bit.:D

They sure made and sold a ton of "affordable" stuff. As an aspiring teenage audiotool i have fond memories of a cheap sparko car deck and rat shack speakers that were the basis of my very first portable sound system. Powered by a garden tractor battery, that rig saw many campouts with good friends.
November 14th, 2011, 09:03 AM
Audio_by_Goodwill

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowtie427ss

I think you might be stretching the definition of "awesome" a bit.:D

They sure made and sold a ton of "affordable" stuff. As an aspiring teenage audiotool i have fond memories of a cheap sparko car deck and rat shack speakers that were the basis of my very first portable sound system. Powered by a garden tractor battery, that rig saw many campouts with good friends.

I had a Sparkomatic tape deck, in my first truck, powering some 10" drivers pulled from a console........ mounted in cardboard boxes that I got from work :-)
November 14th, 2011, 09:52 AM
Nipper

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill

I had a Sparkomatic tape deck, in my first truck, powering some 10" drivers pulled from a console........ mounted in cardboard boxes that I got from work :-)

I remember reading a Julian Hirsch review on this system. He was highly critical of the porting.
November 14th, 2011, 10:18 AM
bowtie427ss

Re: Altec Model 23?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nipper

I remember reading a Julian Hirsch review on this system. He was highly critical of the porting.

That's the whole problem, they should have been in open baffles cut from double wall corrugated.:D

Tom Brennan, if you still peruse this forum, please post "that" pic.;)
November 14th, 2011, 05:17 PM
Audio_by_Goodwill

Re: Altec Model 23?

There have been people that have made Jensen Imperials out of cardboard and other materials like foam.