Cost to finish a pair of A7's
There are some A7's (I think) for sale near me in Illinois. They have 805b horns, 291-16k drivers, and empty cabinets. What would be a good price for them if the cabinets are in fair-to-good condition? Drivers are functioning, one has been replaced.
What is missing: everything else. No LF driver, no crossover, etc.
In addition to how much I should offer what would be the cost to complete them? What if I upgrade to an active crossover?
Didn't want to post a link as I was unaware of your listing policies (I am not affiliated with the seller in any way).
This is my first post here and I am new the vintage VOTT but I have always enjoyed the sound of horns so this could be a fun project. I am overall a novice in DIY speaker building but I am an engineer.
Thanks in advance.
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Get the seller to mention a price first. If he's under 500 bucks I'd jump. Active crossover if your not familiar with them are an extremely expensive way to go. If you like the finest sound in the world it would Behoove you to grab them.
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Those look pretty decent, correct sleds and brackets enhance the value a bit too.
It'd be nice to know what diaphragms are in the 291's, you don't want the stock ones for hifi.
If you can buy them outright for the opening bid, i'd run.
I'd make contact with the seller to show interest if you're local before somebody convinces him to ship the horns separately.
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
You'd run to get them or run away? Don't know if I can get them for the opening bid. There's always hoping. I will be contacting him to look at them in person before the auction ends. Do you know what the potential across the terminals should read for the drivers? Also any ideas on total build cost. Thanks for the quick replies.
Yeah, I was wondering if I would have to replace the diaphragms. It would make sense that they would be different for hifi. I was reading that great plains has some replacements... is this what I would want. Looks like that may be an additional 100-200 too. :-/
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Quote:
Originally Posted by
crazyish1
You'd run to get them or run away? Don't know if I can get them for the opening bid. There's always hoping. I will be contacting him to look at them in person before the auction ends. Do you know what the potential across the terminals should read for the drivers? Also any ideas on total build cost. Thanks for the quick replies.
Yeah, I was wondering if I would have to replace the diaphragms. It would make sense that they would be different for hifi. I was reading that great plains has some replacements... is this what I would want. Looks like that may be an additional 100-200 too. :-/
I would be tempted to run to get them. They're a great start to an A5 system. GPA makes a variety of ferrite 515 woofers as well as a couple alnico versions, i'd probably go with a ferrite to match the ferrite of the HF drivers.
GPA may also have a crossover solution though i'd be tempted to go DIY in a pair of vintage correct chassis. One note, if you DIY networks, be sure to provide enough HF attenuation to get the horn down far enough for proper system balance.
If the diaphragms are 16 ohm, i'd expect a DCR in the neighborhood of 11.5ohms +/- an ohm or two wouldn't be cause for alarm.
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
If you're replacing the diaphragms anyway, wouldn’t it behoove you to go with 8 ohms if it is going to be paired with SS amps since every thing else will have to be acquired anyway?
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Ok now I see them, I would bid the 600 and see what happens. They look like a nice starting point. as far as cost to finish them... That depends on what kind of deal you can find and which route you want to go. you might be able to get them fired up for roughly 400 bucks if you have good luck and on the other hand you could want the very best in them and spend 20 grand...
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
New GPA 416-8B woofers are ~$360 ea.(416-8C are somewhat cheaper). I would allow around $1200 -$1300 to include 416Bs, new diaphragms and quality passive crossovers. Well worth the outlay.
Cheers, Marshall.
P.S. An alternative approach would be to sell the large format horns and drivers and replace them with 802/511B combos and put the remaining cash toward the woofers. Still a very good system and may be better for smaller rooms.
Others may like to comment on this post.
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mah
New GPA 416-8B woofers are ~$360 ea.(416-8C are somewhat cheaper). I would allow around $1200 -$1300 to include 416Bs, new diaphragms and quality passive crossovers. Well worth the outlay.
Cheers, Marshall.
P.S. An alternative approach would be to sell the large format horns and drivers and replace them with 802/511B combos and put the remaining cash toward the woofers. Still a very good system and may be better for smaller rooms.
Others may like to comment on this post.
I just like the looks of the horns that come with them better. never really heard anything good about the 511/811's
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Quote:
never really heard anything good about the 511/811's
How long have you been on this forum? Of literally hundreds, they're 2 of the best sounding small format exponential horns ever made.
Quote:
P.S. An alternative approach would be to sell the large format horns and drivers and replace them with 802/511B combos and put the remaining cash toward the woofers. Still a very good system and may be better for smaller rooms.
Others may like to comment on this post.
I agree about the room size and small format components. However, the large format multicells are the only reason for the OP to make this purchase. The lot is priced at the very low end FMV of the horns. Buying them to sell them would make no sense at all to me as it would be a LOT of work to net very little if any profit above the initial cost of the horns.
The VOT cabinets may or may not be the genuine article, and they're painted white. Their value is negligible in terms of resale. Combined with the horns and drivers however, they are a big step at a very very fair price toward an A5(515 woofer) VOT system, or large format A7(416 woofer)
Just my .02 of course.......................
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bowtie427ss
How long have you been on this forum? Of literally hundreds, they're 2 of the best sounding small format exponential horns ever made.
I agree about the room size and small format components. However, the large format multicells are the only reason for the OP to make this purchase. The lot is priced at the very low end FMV of the horns. Buying them to sell them would make no sense at all to me as it would be a LOT of work to net very little if any profit above the initial cost of the horns.
The VOT cabinets may or may not be the genuine article, and they're painted white. Their value is negligible in terms of resale. Combined with the horns and drivers however, they are a big step at a very very fair price toward an A5(515 woofer) VOT system, or large format A7(416 woofer)
Just my .02 of course.......................
I agree with everything in this post ! 110% Very Good Advice Crazyish1 !
BTW Welcome to "The Altec User Board" !
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Keep the multicell horns and the big drivers. You will not regret it. The A5 has been my favorite speaker for decades.
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Panomaniac
Keep the multicell horns and the big drivers. You will not regret it. The A5 has been my favorite speaker for decades.
We need to get you a set of dual 515 cabs.....
Re: Cost to finish a pair of A7's
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bowtie427ss
How long have you been on this forum? Of literally hundreds, they're 2 of the best sounding small format exponential horns ever made.
Just my .02 of course.......................
I was just going on the fact that I've seen more than one comment on here about people smothering them with all sorts of crap to quell the ringing from them.
But I do agree 100% on the fact that the OP should jump on these just for the multicells. I bet those are sweet sounding.
