Altec 416-8A Build

[sebrof]

I put these refurbed 416s into an 11 cu/ft cabinet (before bracing and driver) with a Great Heil on top. The 416 is crossed at 850Hz 1st order, the Heil comes in at 1,000Hz 3rd order. Two 4” ports on the front, cabinets set on 4” feet. The cabinets are 40” wide x 30” high (before feet, after feet the top of the cabinets are at ear level) x 20” deep. I used Obligato Oil caps and 14 gauge coils for the crossover, Cat 5e Plenum for speaker cables.

I drive these with a 2A3 SET amp that I built a few years ago, probably puts out 3 watts or so.

I’m sure I can get more out of them, and I will in time. But even as they are they sound pretty darn good, and I have been enjoying them a lot over the past few months. I finished these just January 2013, or I should say I started listening to them then. Not finished yet, probably won’t be truly “finished” for years. I have a friend who I bought the 416s from who has been very helpful so far, and I expect will continue to help me.
Thanks for looking.

5853158532

[NickH]

Howdy. Nice build. So how much can you get out of those with a couple watts.


Look very nice. Hope it sounds as good as it looks. I really dig the finish on the cab.

Good to see another Texan on here.

Nick

[Lee in Montreal]

Great work. It looks like you also are a fan of Ikea's shelves for records ;-)

[sebrof]

Howdy. Nice build. So how much can you get out of those with a couple watts.

Look very nice. Hope it sounds as good as it looks. I really dig the finish on the cab.

Good to see another Texan on here.

NickThanks, I get enough volume for me. I don't listen very loud. But there is perhaps another amp for the woofers in my future, PP EL34 or something like that.And the finish looks better in the pics - My first build so I learned a lot and was not very patient. Next time...


Great work. It looks like you also are a fan of Ikea's shelves for records ;-) Thanks. Yes, the Ikea Expidite I believe it's called. Inexpensive and work very well.

[NickH]

Great work. It looks like you also are a fan of Ikea's shelves for records ;-)


Holy crap they do fit. I was at Ikea with my Wife on Saturday. I was looking at those shelf thinking about record storage. I didnt think an album would fit in them. Thoose are the ones for the slide out bins they have? 12" tall?


I think I need to make another ikea trip. The first was for the all important poang chair for listening.


Sebrof, Im happy with my volume of the 90's at most. I preffer around 85 db. As for the finish, im right there with you. You have to start somewhere. Like my bass horn I just built. It dosnt look perfect. And I didnt try to make it look perfect. If did I would have never finished the first one. You have to crawl before you can run you know. Thats how we learn to do it beter the next time.

[sebrof]

Holy crap they do fit. I was at Ikea with my Wife on Saturday. I was looking at those shelf thinking about record storage. I didnt think an album would fit in them. Thoose are the ones for the slide out bins they have? 12" tall?


I think I need to make another ikea trip. The first was for the all important poang chair for listening.


Sebrof, Im happy with my volume of the 90's at most. I preffer around 85 db. As for the finish, im right there with you. You have to start somewhere. Like my bass horn I just built. It dosnt look perfect. And I didnt try to make it look perfect. If did I would have never finished the first one. You have to crawl before you can run you know. Thats how we learn to do it beter the next time.

Be careful not to do what I did. At Ikea there are 2 shelves with similar names and looks, but the Expedit is the one you want. I forget the name of the other ones, but records do not fit (ask me how I know ;) ).
I'll have to check out your bass horns, are they on this forum?

[NickH]

Be careful not to do what I did. At Ikea there are 2 shelves with similar names and looks, but the Expedit is the one you want. I forget the name of the other ones, but records do not fit.
I'll have to check out your bass horns, are they on this forum?

I did a search. I see there are 2 different ones. Its really annoying that they dont list the dimension for the openings. Ill have to bring a test fit album when I go to get one.




Nick

[Lee in Montreal]

Not to steer this great thread away from its original direction. But those are indeed Expedit shelves. Available in 2 cells x 4 cells, 4 x 4 and 5 x 5. I have been using them for close to 20 years. Each cell measures 13-1/4" x 13-1/4"

Lee

[NickH]

Not to steer this great thread away from its original direction. But those are indeed Expedit shelves. Available in 2 cells x 4 cells, 4 x 4 and 5 x 5. I have been using them for close to 20 years. Each cell measures 13-1/4" x 13-1/4"

Lee

Excellent. Perfect size for the old lp collection.


Ya we kinda went off on an ikea tangent. Seems to be a common thing on this forum.


Can we play 6 degrees of James Lansing and Ikea. Go!!

That was plain wrong of me, I know.

Nick

[intercity125]

Hey Sebrof,

I don't know how I missed this thread. Welcome aboard. And, like Nick said, it's nice to see another Lone Star member in the club. Fabulous job! I love the uniqueness of the design (especially those feet), and although a pretty large cabinet, they do not look obtrusive at all. Very nice, indeed!

Willy

[sebrof]

Hey Sebrof,

I don't know how I missed this thread. Welcome aboard. And, like Nick said, it's nice to see another Lone Star member in the club. Fabulous job! I love the uniqueness of the design (especially those feet),
WillyThanks Willy. Not sure if any of you guys will be heading to the Lone Start Audio Fest, but I'll be there. May 3, 4, 5 this year.
...and although a pretty large cabinet, they do not look obtrusive at all. Very nice, indeed!

Willy Ha ha, tell that to my wife :D

[NickH]

Thanks Willy. Not sure if any of you guys will be heading to the Lone Start Audio Fest, but I'll be there. May 3, 4, 5 this year. Ha ha, tell that to my wife :D

Geez is it that time again?


I'd love to go. I've never been to a big audio show. I'm deprived.

I'm hoping to go to either lone star or rocky mountain in the next few years.

[intercity125]

Ha ha, tell that to my wife :D

I hear ya! It's always a gamble when bringing a large, unknown, object into the house; especially one that makes noise!

I remember when I bought home a pair of Klipsch Belle's to restore a few years ago, my wife's eyes were as big a saucers. She didn't really say it, but her expression was one of where the hell are those things going to go? Thankfully, they turned out beautiful and sounded wonderful. Since then she has warmed up to my speaker projects and, although she doesn't say it, I think she actually looks forward to the next one. I hope so because the Onken/Altec speakers I am currently doing are going to be huge!

As for the Lone Star Audio Fest, I'm not sure I'm going to make it. I've been to CES, back when it was open to the public, and a few in Europe when I was in the Air Force stationed over there, but I have since then fallen out of touch with these kinds of shows. I have a good friend who goes to the RMAF with his wife every year and they love it every time. One of these days my wife and I are going to have to get back into it, if anything just for the sake of travel and getting away.

[barossi]

I put these refurbed 416s into an 11 cu/ft cabinet (before bracing and driver) with a Great Heil on top. The 416 is crossed at 850Hz 1st order, the Heil comes in at 1,000Hz 3rd order. Two 4” ports on the front, cabinets set on 4” feet. The cabinets are 40” wide x 30” high (before feet, after feet the top of the cabinets are at ear level) x 20” deep. I used Obligato Oil caps and 14 gauge coils for the crossover, Cat 5e Plenum for speaker cables.

I drive these with a 2A3 SET amp that I built a few years ago, probably puts out 3 watts or so.

I’m sure I can get more out of them, and I will in time. But even as they are they sound pretty darn good, and I have been enjoying them a lot over the past few months. I finished these just January 2013, or I should say I started listening to them then. Not finished yet, probably won’t be truly “finished” for years. I have a friend who I bought the 416s from who has been very helpful so far, and I expect will continue to help me.
Thanks for looking.

5853158532


Hi,

i really like the design. I just wonder if the 416 is capable to close the gap to play with the Heil AMT !?

KR Barossi

[Earl K]

Hi,

i really like the design. I just wonder if the 416 is capable to close the gap to play with the Heil AMT !?

KR Barossi

The big Heil shown in the picture should do fine ( if the OP's network is designed right ).

Generally Altec 15's ( & 12's ) have quite linear response over 1K ( up to 3K ).

See;

http://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/416-8A_10051566476.jpghttp://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/416-8B_10013249151.jpg
http://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/414-8B_10021419423.jpghttp://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/515b_10026681266.jpg

Those are all older pics from a Japanese blog belonging to an apprentice reconer/reburfisher ( who dealt with all makes & brands of drivers ).

The shop would run ( the pictured ) sweeps to provide customer with reliable assurance that their "babies" were back to normal operating spec ( or better ).

Compare the Altecs ( above 1K response ) to the following JBL 15's ( &14 ) .


http://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/2235h-red_vs_2231a-blue_10028244130.jpghttp://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/2235h_x4_10015979762.jpg
http://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/ME150H_10073812383.jpghttp://www.audioheritage.org/photopost/data//500/Le14a-vs-Le14H-1_10019780934.jpg


:)

[barossi]

Hi Earl,

you are absolutely right! But a 15" 416 starts beaming. I prefer to cross them way below 1KHz.
The Heil shows signs of distortion when crossing below 1,5 KHz.

Not an easy game!

KR Barossi

[sebrof]

83145

Well, I won't say they are perfect but they sound good to me.
Here's the 2.0 version of the big black speakers I originally posted. Also, I use the Beyma TPL 150 instead of the Heils now (Heils in the pic though)

[barossi]

Very nice!

11cu ft as well? I would like to build the E280 Arai enclosure for my 416's:


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwicrsH13eXfAhUBkywKHWYMAfsQFjAJegQIBRAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.geocities.jp%2Farai401204%2FD rawings%2FE280%2FE280.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1AoAx5NPlFT1BCoLOVkBQe

KR Barossi

[bedrock602]

Well, I won't say they are perfect but they sound good to me.
Here's the 2.0 version of the big black speakers I originally posted. Also, I use the Beyma TPL 150 instead of the Heils now (Heils in the pic though)

Very nice indeed !

What made you go with those tweeters vs original Altec horns and drivers?