Anyone familiar with this Altec compression driver

[doucanoe]

In preforming a search on the site, I was unable to come up with a match for a ALtec compression driver (1044-16a)

I won a auction for these mystery Altec drivers and D.A.S. horns at a not to be mentioned auction site. The seller provided these numbers for the drivers but I think that they are related to something else stamped or marked on them.

I not really sure what Im going to end up with but Im a gambling man with a horn jones. They tested at 12 ohm on the sellers voltmeter so Im getting "16 ohm" compressions drivers and thats good by me but the 1044 designation is non-existant in the library.

thanks
Ron

[Zilch]

You KNOW the drill:

We need PICS!!! :p

[doucanoe]

I know you slave driver:D

I just won them yesterday. Let me go steal the few pics she had of them and I will post those.

Ron

[doucanoe]

This is the best that I can co for now. They shipped today and should be here by weeks end.

Oh by the way, As you can see by the one driver pic, they must of been 8 ohm and changed out to 16 at some point if you believe the voltmeter. I spoke with her by email and she sounds legit. 99+ pos. seller with 5500+ transactions but mostly reel to reel tapes and the like.

They came out of a church and were most likely used as part of a program sound system of some kind. They measure 27" x 20" deep, no height of the horn was provided and I didnt ask.

Here are some of the photos

[louped garouv]

Is that the symbiotik diaphragm? the outer edge of the diaphragm looks like the original ones in a pair of 808-8Bs I have....

[spkrman57]

Is that the symbiotik diaphragm? the outer edge of the diaphragm looks like the original ones in a pair of 808-8Bs I have....

If not, I would have gone with 902 or 909's.

Funny how the model nr is just a label sticker, not foilcal like most I have seen!

Ron

[doucanoe]

If not, I would have gone with 902 or 909's.

Funny how the model nr is just a label sticker, not foilcal like most I have seen!

Ron



Hey Ron, So is 808-16A the general consensus so far?

RC

[spkrman57]

Hey Ron, So is 808-16A the general consensus so far?

RC

808's are alnico and 908 if the ferrite equivalent ferrite driver.

As least that is my 2 cents worth guess!

Ron:blink:

[John]

For some reason that looks to be some type of clone driver? The depth of the magnet looks different as well as the diameter? Maybe wierd angle pictures? The design of the rear label does have a bit of a altec look to it? When you get them in your hands let us see more pictures and maybe we can figure this out? :(

[John]

Just took another look at the picture, that is a clone for sure. That Diaphragm is not altec, Voice coil leads are different than altec.

[louped garouv]

where the cap mounts to the driver appears different than the alnico altec drivers that i have seen (802G/808B)


edit***nevermind me -- just never seen the rubber boot mentioned below....***

[moldyoldy]

Just took another look at the picture, that is a clone for sure......

I agree. It has the rubber boot of a 900 series, but is too thick to be one. It appears to have a 900 series rear cover and pseudo-label, but the glaring lack of the Altec logo on the label really tells the tale.

[doucanoe]

Well, It should be interesting to hear what they sound like. Your right about being close but not matching the Altec compression drivers you have mentioned. The rear cover sure looks like Altec but nothing else to indentify them as such. Did Altec make drivers for other private label companies? Maybe like you guys are saying, just someones "knockoff". At 27" across, the horns are actually larger than it would appear in the photo (to me anyway) so maybe the driver looks smaller than it actually is.

The D.A.S. horns are inentifiable for obvious reasons but their website has no info on old or discontinued products.

RC

[moldyoldy]

I've heard that Waldom issued some 900-series knock-offs, but I've not been able to verify that. 291/299 rear covers have the same shape as 900s, but these don't look like LFs either. The photos don't show for sure, but they appear to be a 2-bolt pattern, which would eliminate Altec's large-format line. Also no holes in the fram to tweak the locating pins, if LF. I give up....

[doucanoe]

Well, Im sure not sure what they are. The number on the drivers is actually 1244 8a. The must of been in for a voice coil repair or something at one point because it was changed to a 16a.

The compression driver is @5" in diameter and 3" deep must weigh 6-7 lbs easy. Im not entirely in love with these yet but Im continuing to dial them in. They will have to do until I can get the driver/horn combo I really want.

RC

[moldyoldy]

Are there any other numbers anywhere that might indicate a mfr code? Altec used a 6-digit mfr/date code, 391XXX. The rubber boot can be easily "rolled off" to inspect underneath. A picture of the phase plug under the diaphragm would be helpful too, as Altec's Tangerine pp was a trademark-protected proprietary device not likely to be cloned.

[moldyoldy]

Just googled 1244-8A, the first return was for a closed eBay listing of a driver like yours, but with the "Waldom" logo still intact on the label;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9718861524

Waldom manufactured speaker components and complete drivers for many brands over the years, but I always thought they were wholesalers only, as I'd never seen any Waldom-labeled finished goods. Perhaps this was a remnant of a limited production run of a prototype that never flew, maybe one that was on the drawing board during Altec's demise.

[jimd]

What you have is a set of Zomax drivers made in Tiawan. They are not too good clones of the Altecs, have anular phasing plugs and a diaphragm with a different curvature. At a glance they look like an ALTEC. They were imported by Waldon, but they sure were a lot cheaper.

Have a happy day, JIM

[doucanoe]

Just googled 1244-8A, the first return was for a closed eBay listing of a driver like yours, but with the "Waldom" logo still intact on the label;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9718861524

Waldom manufactured speaker components and complete drivers for many brands over the years, but I always thought they were wholesalers only, as I'd never seen any Waldom-labeled finished goods. Perhaps this was a remnant of a limited production run of a prototype that never flew, maybe one that was on the drawing board during Altec's demise.


Thats as far as I got also. I was somewhat zeroing in on Waldom but I couldnt find a photo match. Thanks

RC

[doucanoe]

What you have is a set of Zomax drivers made in Tiawan. They are not too good clones of the Altecs, have anular phasing plugs and a diaphragm with a different curvature. At a glance they look like an ALTEC. They were imported by Waldon, but they sure were a lot cheaper.

Have a happy day, JIM

Well, Good thing I paid a "Zomax" price for them and not a Altec one. Actually I have been tweeking and dialing them in and Im finally onto something. Last sunday I was about to toss them out the window but things have improved much since then. Th active x-over thing is new to me and it took some experimentation to get the settings right. Even at that point I still had some nasty resonances in that horn that was eliminated by adding mass to horn and isolating it better.

They arent sounding too damn bad now.

RC

[louped garouv]

... still had some nasty resonances in that horn that was eliminated by adding mass to horn and isolating it better.

They arent sounding too damn bad now.

RC

many ppl will dampen the ALtec 811/511 horns as well.... a common method is to mix latex paint with sand and apply coats of the mixture until the horn is 'dead' when rapped with one's knuckles... but then your horn looks like it contracted venereal warts... ;)

[doucanoe]

many ppl will dampen the ALtec 811/511 horns as well.... a common method is to mix latex paint with sand and apply coats of the mixture until the horn is 'dead' when rapped with one's knuckles... but then your horn looks like it contracted venereal warts... ;)

I have seen a few methods that people have used. The one you are mentioning is a little unsightly as you are saying:D . The rope caulk system would work also I guess but It would take a truckload of the stuff and the patience of a saint to apply it. I am using ziplock bags of rice (about 2-3 lbs each) resting on top of the horns. Not the prettiest either but effective.

I had to interrupt and wrap up my last post quickly because the phone was ringing and forgot to thank everyone for help in identifing these drivers.

Thanks much!
RC

[doucanoe]

:) Altec or not, I have them dialed in pretty well. It was quite a struggle but worth the effort.

I thought that I would share a couple of picks of the final setup. A friend is coming into a pair of nice mid drivers and one 511b horn. He is not a horn/tube guy so with some persuasion and a little cash money, they might be coming my way (I dont know how i picked that other smilie) :)

In the mean time I will be enjoying my system the way it is.


RC