My current Altec project - 1235c horns

Well folks,
I had asked about a z19 on my Milaon's because I was already building them. Here are a few pictures of what I am building them for. I got the cabinets for virtually free - they need some tlc for sure. The horns came from ebay, and the 921-8a drivers I got from AK over a year ago.

I thought it would be easier and better to build a fresh crossover than it would be to find the correct vintage crossovers. As to the compression driver for the 511b horns, all I currently have are a set of acoustician 2425h drivers. These are a direct clone to the JBL's. I am going to try them, and probably use them until I can get enough funds together to buy the correct altec drivers.


As to the finish on the 816a cabinets, I am seriously looking at stripping, filling and then veneering them with either maple or walnut. The horns are going to be bead blasted and then powder coated a hunter green

The crossover will be built and placed on the back of the top of the bass cabinet next to the horn and left exposed. The picture of the crossover is where it is at today, but by no means complete as yet.

Any thoughts?

Oh, any reccomendations for stands or feet? I think they need to get up off the ground about 10 to 20 inches.

Acoustician is not a "direct clone" more like a "sort of" clone. Their Altec clones are awful. They were made by Zomax, sold thru Waldom.

The crossovers are very nice looking.

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Originally Posted by Old Guy

Acoustician is not a "direct clone" more like a "sort of" clone. Their Altec clones are awful. They were made by Zomax, sold thru Waldom.

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I wonder if the JBL stuff is closer by virtue of cooperation from JBL. I'm pretty sure Zomax made the "Control" series of monitors for JBL.

My bad then. I looked at these fairly closely. I thought even the JBL diaphragms would interchange. Either way, they actually sound pretty decent. I have them running right now in a three way as the midrange, xover points of 700 and 5600. I feel thye do really well in that application. They are on a fibergalss horn that is a little bigger than an 811b.

But, to get back to the 1235c - any suggestions as to drivers for the 511b horns. I think the tangerine plug drivers are going to be difficult to find and cost an arm and a leg too.

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I think the tangerine plug drivers are going to be difficult to find and cost an arm and a leg too.

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Patience Grasshopper!

Seek 808-8B's individually, dead or alive. They can be sourced individually for very little money if you're willing to put in a little time waiting for them to be offered. Once you have a pair, send them to GPA for full rebuild and update to 802G. If nothing is out of whack, and there's no broken studs or screws, it will cost you for the parts and shipping. You will have a pair of 802G's performing electrically and sonically as new along with the assurance that they'll continue to play that way for years to come. The best part is, if you buy your basic assemblies right, the whole shebang will cost you less than a pair of 30+ yr old heavily used 802G's sells for on ebay. This is what i would do/have done multiple times.

I knew there was a reason I listened to you. Thanks Tom, I'll start my search now. BTW - I am a cricket not a grasshopper - just sayin.;)

Don't hesitate to put a "wanted" in the classifieds here. It wouldn't surprise me if you might be able to source what you need from members right here. Be patient, it can take some time for people to see your ad as well as some members don't log in all that often during the nice weather months. We're just about at the tipping point right now where activity should start to pick up a little.

Other alternatives to look into:
The GPA 902 $200
or the B&C DE250 $130

You'll have to cross that DE250 over at a min of 1k though...
Recently stated here, if you intend to use 511s and cross over at 500Hz, you're probably best off going with a large format driver...all that extra weight gives 'em the OOMPH you'll enjoy.

I thought the z19 crossover was closer to the 1200hz mark. Anyone know what it really is? I'll go read up on that z19 thread and post for sure It may be next week though with the length of the thread.

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Originally Posted by Alien_Shore

Other alternatives to look into:
The GPA 902 $200
or the B&C DE250 $130

You'll have to cross that DE250 over at a min of 1k though...
Recently stated here, if you intend to use 511s and cross over at 500Hz, you're probably best off going with a large format driver...all that extra weight gives 'em the OOMPH you'll enjoy.

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511's are small format horns.

The relatively rare 511E is large format. Personally, I prefer a stacked pair of 511s, which yields more piston, mouth area than a 288/805, but with superior HF and pattern control if you roll off one of the 1" drivers to create a 1.5 way horn system. Historically, it's also been a cheaper solution.

GM

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Originally Posted by GM

The relatively rare 511E is large format. Personally, I prefer a stacked pair of 511s, which yields more piston, mouth area than a 288/805, but with superior HF and pattern control if you roll off one of the 1" drivers to create a 1.5 way horn system. Historically, it's also been a cheaper solution.

GM

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Stacked 511b's? I would have never thought of that. Cool idea for sure, really cool. I mean really super cool.

I am going to look into that for sure.

For stands, how about a box filled with a pair of 411-8A 12" subs to compliment that pair of 511's your now dreaming of? :)

Great idea, that would be about the perfect height and look really good too. Will those go deep, like 30hz?

More research to do......................

Hmm, it will take [4] channel to match an 816 and if baffle step compensation is required, then up to [8] is required if max efficiency is desired. With this requirement, multiple inexpensive drivers or single driver bass 'horns' [TLs actually] is a better option overall as they can be arranged around the room to maximize blending to the major room modes.

GM

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Originally Posted by jcricket

Stacked 511b's? I would have never thought of that. Cool idea for sure, really cool. I mean really super cool.

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I think Cal Weldon was running 811s stacked on 511s. Seemed to work for him. I could try that, I have the horns and drivers.

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Originally Posted by GM

Hmm, it will take [4] channel to match an 816 and if baffle step compensation is required, then up to [8] is required if max efficiency is desired. With this requirement, multiple inexpensive drivers or single driver bass 'horns' [TLs actually] is a better option overall as they can be arranged around the room to maximize blending to the major room modes.

GM

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Hey, I am a newbie with two brain cells and you just blew up one of them. Baffle step compensation would be expaining this to me in baby steps at about a 5th grade level.


I'll google it and see if I can get anything. Sounds cool anyway.
Mark

See if this helps or at least can get you far enough along to ask more specific Qs: Baffle Step Compensation

GM

The JBL fram will fit and vice versa. But the same is true of a dozen Eastern drivers, all different. Even the big Peavey 4 inch fram driver will accept a JBL. But being able to take each other's frams is still not a direct copy. As far as cooperation between JBL and Zomax, seriously have doubts.


To see how bad the stuff is...pics here.

2405 UHF Clones

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Originally Posted by GM

The relatively rare 511E is large format. Personally, I prefer a stacked pair of 511s, which yields more piston, mouth area than a 288/805, but with superior HF and pattern control if you roll off one of the 1" drivers to create a 1.5 way horn system. Historically, it's also been a cheaper solution.

GM

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Yeah but the 288 has midrange to die for... Just add a tweeter ... with dual woofers and your GOLDEN !

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Originally Posted by Altec Best

Yeah but the 288 has midrange to die for...

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Different strokes........XO'd at 500 Hz, to my ears the dual 802/511 combo was at least as good through the mids as the 288B/805 combo I had and probably measure better overall, but only well healed folks could afford the necessary test equipment back then to find out, so just my opinion.

GM

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Originally Posted by GM

Different strokes........XO'd at 500 Hz, to my ears the dual 802/511 combo was at least as good through the mids as the 288B/805 combo I had and probably measure better overall, but only well healed folks could afford the necessary test equipment back then to find out, so just my opinion.

GM

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Pretty much ! To me the 288's don't need lots of power and they just do it effortlessly.Very smooth...

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Originally Posted by Panomaniac

I think Cal Weldon was running 811s stacked on 511s.

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That's correct Pano. I used a slotted board so I could line up the flanges. If you look in my sig line and go to Photobucket, it is listed as 3 way A7.

Thanks Cal. That's the rig I heard, right?