Altec 511B horn

[Steve Racey]

Hello,

What Altec drivers where designed for this horn? As Altec drivers are becoming scarce, what current JBL drivers would you recommend for this horn?

The horns currently have 1 3/8 screw on adaptor plates fitted with E/V 1829 drivers, limited in thier frequency and power range

Thanks

Steve

[Tom Brennan]

The 1" throat 800 and 900 series drivers fit on the 511. They are not scarce and GPA makes brand new "Altec" 902s, I just bought a pair. The picture is one of my new GPA 902-16s used in 1961 Heathkit AS-21s with Altec 811 horn and 414 woofers.

JBL 2420, 2410, 2426 etc 1" drivers will work fine on 511s if you redrill the 511's flange to the JBL 3 hole bolt pattern. I've used 2420s and 2410s on 511s. Shown is a 2420 I put on a 511.

[Thom]

You should be able to find a peir of altec drivers with another set of horns hanging on them for what you' get the JBL's for. AS for the EV's they have a simple passive EQ circuit on their websightfor the highs. I've got EV horns and drivers, had altec 800 .night and day the altecs were sort of a tweeter these carry the load and I bought a pair of pyramid Tw67 looks like an 075 on steroids so far I love it wow brings out stuff that an equalizer cant get out of the horns. Haven't had it long. Can't guarantee I won't get tired of it but I sure like it now

[intotubes]

How do you like those 902-16B's Mr. Brennan? I thought about upgrading my Carmel's with the same drivers. I would need to sell the original 802's to help offset the cost of them. Was it a worthwhile upgrade? I assume they have the Tangerine phasing plug.
Regards,
Mark

[Tom Brennan]

Mark---I didn't really hear any difference. Note though that I'm 57 years old and if the 902s have better highs I might not be hearing it anyway.

I changed out the old 804s last night and a little while later swapped out my Jolida amp for my old Fisher 500B which was just gone over by Terry Dewick in Knoxville. Now THAT made a big difference, the Fisher sounds MUCH better than the Jolida, much better clarity. So the 804-902 thing has been kind'a swamped.

In any event I'm happy.

Kind Regards

[moldyoldy]

I can't hear any difference between 800s and 900s (given equivalent 'frams/horns), as long as I cross them at 800 or better. Go to 500 though, I'd have to pick the AlNiCos. Nothing a little shelving won't cure for either one. I've got enough of both to last me, but at the current market if I were buying I'd buy new for sure.

Just pick a bolt-on model from those suggested Steve, and lose the threaded adapter.....literally.

[arawak1969]

I can't hear any difference between 800s and 900s (given equivalent 'frams/horns), as long as I cross them at 800 or better. Go to 500 though, I'd have to pick the AlNiCos. Nothing a little shelving won't cure for either one. I've got enough of both to last me, but at the current market if I were buying I'd buy new for sure.

Just pick a bolt-on model from those suggested Steve, and lose the threaded adapter.....literally.

Hey Moldy, would you recommend I try the new 902-8 driver for the 9846 project I am doing or stick with the 802-8g's?

[Mike Caldwell]

Hello
If you want to go with JBL drivers look some JBL 2425 one inch drivers. They are drilled and tapped for both three bolt and two bolt mounting and fairly easy to come by. I have re drilled horn flanges on some B&C horns for three bolt drivers, I used a 2327 one inch to two inch throat adapter for the three hole pattern. That made it easy to get the holes correct for proper throat alignment by looking through it to line up the throats. Any one inch horn would work for a pattern.

Mike Caldwell

[moldyoldy]

Hey Moldy, would you recommend I try the new 902-8 driver for the 9846 project I am doing or stick with the 802-8g's?

I guess that's not OT since it's about drivers for 511s, but let me take the liberty of giving 2 replies;

Yes, I recommend you try the new 902s (18,000 gauss). If you play loud, go Pascalite, otherwise AL.

For the 9846s w/stock XO and 511s, recharged or equiv. 802G/808B (15,250 gauss). Steeper active filters could be "better", everything considered. If you already have 802s, it's a no-brainer to at least try 'em first.

Keep in mind the additional network for the 9846 further flattens and extends HF (hint for all; the series R and bypass cap from the 9846 network circuit works to shelve 800s or 900s nicely, about anywhere).

What I get with 900s on 511s (below) pretty well looks like it should on RTA, with 500Hz not being a particularly pretty place to add a 12dB rolloff.

If you weren't around then, (many of us weren't...), 900s hit the streets about the same time most all the Pro, MI, and PA systems went to 800/1200Hz XO. For most >800Hz XO apps, they shine. I've played them on several smaller CD horns too, (personal preference), for >1200Hz in a limited space, you can easily EQ them to alienate all the dogs in the 'hood.

[Steve Racey]

Thanks for all the info everyone! I am new at this.

I currently have found two JBL 2225h woofers in 4 cubic ft boxes. The orginal horns was missing and while these boxes appeared tuned for the driver I am considering closing up the horn cutout and using a pair of 511b's that I have had for some time now. For example the JBL specs for there JBL46710k speaker system crosses over at 800 HZ with a 2426J driver and the JBL4673 crosses over at 500 HZ with a 2445J driver. I got these spec sheets from a friend at IMAX Mississauga.

In order to keep the cost down a bit I am trying to find a resonable match to these woofers using the old Alec horns.

Will the newer Altec 288-8L drivers keep up with the 2225H? What is the power handling capibility of the 228- 8L

Again, thanks for all the help

Steve Racey,

( The Frogman)

[speakerdave]

It depends on the crossover point and horn, but you will not exceed the power handling capacity of the 288-8L (for home hi fi) unless you are planning on listening from a couple of streets over. However, that is a 1.4" exit driver and will not mount on the 511b horn.

David

[Chas]

No worries for any compression driver mounted to a 511B keeping up with a 2225. Any combination (barring physical mounting issues) would render a very high effeciency combination compared to any woofer in a box.

FWIW I have used Altec 806/802 drivers with good results on this horn. However my favourite was a JBL LE175 after drilling extra holes in he 511. It had a very seductive, big, warm sound. No doubt a 2420/LE85 would be nice too. My horns also had automobile undercoating to hep dampen the ringing.

Charles.