GPA 399's

Well I've finally finished my Elliptracs built up from a kit supplied by Dave Harris. Took a lot of work, but I'm pretty pleased with the result.

I've wanted these to mate with some of the GPA 399 drivers. These babies are nearly 8" in diameter & weigh nearly 10kgs.

So , to cut to the chase, first the Elliptracs. Compared to the ALK Martinelli Trachorn that I was using, I would say that they are different, rather than better, having said that, I prefer the sound of these to the Trachorn. They are much less directional, the sound doesn't come from the speakers anymore & produces a very wide soundfield.

The GPA's - everything is better, the detail, the contrasts between instruments, the timbre of the instruments, the ability to pick out individual instruments. They have a dimension that the 1" drivers just cannot produce, no matter their quality. They have a much fuller sound & an effortlessness that has to be heard. For the first time in a long time, I find myself listening to the music & not to the equipment & that's probably the highest compliment I can give them.

Finally I have some Altecs in my system again!

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/atta...ac-400-006.jpghttp://www.hostboard.com/forums/atta...ac-400-004.jpg

You did a great job on those ellipticals, as well as their casing ( the horn shape looks like spitting image of my H5038 horns ) .

That's a beautifully smooth finish on the inside of the flair ( that must of been a lot of work ) .

Yeh, Altec 288s walk all over 802s ( IME ) from all the perspectives that you've mentioned .


<> :)

Thanks Earl,
Makes you wonder why we muck around with other drivers at all.
Should have just got the best ones from the start!!

I bought a pair of GPA 416-8C's and GPA 399A's from Bill and Steve a couple of weeks ago. I am building the cabinets now. I am going to use Faital Pro LTH142 horns that I adapted to the 399A's.

Makes me feel better to hear you like your 399's.

Kenny

As beautiful as those are to look at, I bet the listening is just over the top! Congrats and nice job!!

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Originally Posted by Kenny Brant

I bought a pair of GPA 416-8C's and GPA 399A's from Bill and Steve a couple of weeks ago. I am building the cabinets now. I am going to use Faital Pro LTH142 horns that I adapted to the 399A's.

Makes me feel better to hear you like your 399's.

Kenny

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You won't be disappointed!!!

Thanks. Yes, they sound just superb!

Excellent looking work Sootshe.

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Originally Posted by SOOTSHE

Thanks. Yes, they sound just superb!

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Thanks, SOOTSHE, a few more days and I will have the enclosures done. I am going to play them and get everything ironed out before I veneer them. I am building 5.65 cu. ft. enclosures tuned to 35 hz. I used 13 ply Baltic Birch and build a seperate enclosure for the 416-8c by putting a divider between the woofer and 399. I also bought a pair of B & C ME10 horns for the highs and am going to use Altec 902T's that I already have that I have taken the loading caps off and felt lined. If I don't like the 902's for tweeters I will go another route. I may not even have to use any tweeters at all, but have the option to.

I am going to triamp using either tube or T-amps. I know I am pretty sure I will use SE tube amp for the 399's. I already have the amps and active crossovers.

I wanted a system to listen to at lower levels and have good detail. A lot of systems when you turn down the volume you just get a flat sound but when turned up sounds good.

Thanks for your reply, Kenny

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kenny Brant

Thanks, SOOTSHE, a few more days and I will have the enclosures done. I am going to play them and get everything ironed out before I veneer them. I am building 5.65 cu. ft. enclosures tuned to 35 hz. I used 13 ply Baltic Birch and build a seperate enclosure for the 416-8c by putting a divider between the woofer and 399. I also bought a pair of B & C ME10 horns for the highs and am going to use Altec 902T's that I already have that I have taken the loading caps off and felt lined. If I don't like the 902's for tweeters I will go another route. I may not even have to use any tweeters at all, but have the option to.

I am going to triamp using either tube or T-amps. I know I am pretty sure I will use SE tube amp for the 399's. I already have the amps and active crossovers.

I wanted a system to listen to at lower levels and have good detail. A lot of systems when you turn down the volume you just get a flat sound but when turned up sounds good.

Thanks for your reply, Kenny

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I'm running mine passive with a Conrad Johnson valve pre & power combo.

I find the nature of the sound doesn't change at all whether listening at whisper levels or up higher.

It will be interesting to get your impressions on running them 2 way. Whan I build my new crossovers I'm going to experiment with the 2 way set up just for the heck of it. Currently I cross the GPA's over at 6K to some JBL 2404's.

Cheers,
John

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Earl K

You did a great job on those ellipticals, as well as their casing ( the horn shape looks like spitting image of my H5038 horns ) .

That's a beautifully smooth finish on the inside of the flair ( that must of been a lot of work ) .

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these were my first two thoughts also...

if you decide to tweak any, I have seen pictures of folks using the JBL elliptical (H5038 or 2343) with some sort of open cell foam on the front flat 'baffle' (for lack of a better term) portion of the horn assembly...

never played with any of that, so no personal experience to share...


great looking units though, I am sure they sound great too...

enjoy them!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SOOTSHE

I'm running mine passive with a Conrad Johnson valve pre & power combo.

I find the nature of the sound doesn't change at all whether listening at whisper levels or up higher.

It will be interesting to get your impressions on running them 2 way. Whan I build my new crossovers I'm going to experiment with the 2 way set up just for the heck of it. Currently I cross the GPA's over at 6K to some JBL 2404's.

Cheers,
John

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John, I really like your horns. I would like to have a pair but just couldn't afford them, but thought about getting them. Maybe in the future. I was going to get the flat pack kit if I did get them. I had to notch the LTH142's bolt on plates for the 4.75 inch circle bolt pattern of the 399's as the LTH142's back plate is 120mm dia. which is 4.75 inches. So I had to grind 4 half circle notches to get the driver to fit. The LTH142 is a 1.4 inch throat. The 3 bolt pattern on the 399's wouldn't work as it was too close to the throat to get nuts on.

I run a Doge 8 tube preamp and a Doge 6 tube CD player and a Rane AC23B 3 way electronic crossover. I have a Magnavox 6V6 PP, a Magnavox EL84 PP, a APPJ EL84 mini tube Single Ended and a Topping TP60 TA2022 T. These amps I can try. I have other amps to try also but think these will work best.

A couple of years ago I used JBL LE175 drivers on Altec 511b horns and really liked this combo using a Magnavox EL84 Single Ended amp. I like the JBL drivers better than the Altec 902-8T's crossed over at 500 Hz. I want to get back to that type of sound if I can. I'm sure it will be better.

I have the 902's and bought the B & C ME10's so why not try them I thought for tweeters. I can also use the Rane as a 2 way, so I will play around and see what I like the best. It will probably take a week or 2 before I get the speakers done.

Kenny

Kenny,

Thanks for heads-up regarding that Faital Pro LTH142 horn .

I have a ( retro-fit ) project that involves replacing existing horns within a few of my SR enclosures ( for one that'll support a lower crossover point ) .

This horn might be just the ticket ( I've always appreciated the "coherency" achieved by this shape of horn ) .

http://www.hostboard.com/forums/hbmc...2012/05/1.jpeg

<> cheers

Earl K, the Faital Pro LTH142 horn has a 102mm 4 bolt pattern. Other drivers may bolt up easier to the horn than the 399a. Also it is a 1.4 inch throat so a 2 inch may not work and a 1 inch will need some kind of adapter. It is a nice looking horn. Hope it sounds as good as it looks. I've heard it does. Bob Crites likes it on his Cornscalas. What I'm trying to do is mate a SAE to a Metric. This is audio hot rodding in it's raw form. Can you say Ford V8 in a AC Cobra!

They say you can cross this horn over at 400Hz. I don't plan on going that low, will try 500Hz and see how that sounds.

Kenny