Altec advice appreciated

[rusty jefferson]

I have a friend who has been interested in this particular speaker build by Exemplar Audio using Altec drivers. http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649284639-exemplar-audio-exemplar-horn-speakers-103db-extremely-rare/ He hasn't heard horn loaded speakers before, and is trying to audition this pair as they're located near him. He called asking my opinion about the speakers in general, and also what I thought about the cost compared to other Altec horn loaded speakers that may be available on the market.

I have zero knowledge of things Altec, though I have heard horn loaded Altec arrangements and know (approximately) what they'll sound like. My questions for the group here are, assuming he likes the way they sound, is the price being asked fair to both a buyer and seller based on what parts have been assembled? Is there another stock Altec based system that sounds similar, but is less expensive? This fellow isn't a DIYer, so he's not going to track down drivers, build crossovers and cabinets, etc. He would just like to pay a reasonable price for the sound

There was apparently another pair on the west coast asking twice the price not long ago. http://www.audiomart.com/details/1146/exemplar-audio-exemplar-horns.html

A copy of a Sound Practices article about the build is attached below.

Thanks for thoughtful comments regarding value.

[Horn Fanatic]

I have a friend who has been interested in this particular speaker build by Exemplar Audio using Altec drivers. http://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649284639-exemplar-audio-exemplar-horn-speakers-103db-extremely-rare/ He hasn't heard horn loaded speakers before, and is trying to audition this pair as they're located near him. He called asking my opinion about the speakers in general, and also what I thought about the cost compared to other Altec horn loaded speakers that may be available on the market.

I have zero knowledge of things Altec, though I have heard horn loaded Altec arrangements and know (approximately) what they'll sound like. My questions for the group here are, assuming he likes the way they sound, is the price being asked fair to both a buyer and seller based on what parts have been assembled? Is there another stock Altec based system that sounds similar, but is less expensive? This fellow isn't a DIYer, so he's not going to track down drivers, build crossovers and cabinets, etc. He would just like to pay a reasonable price for the sound

There was apparently another pair on the west coast asking twice the price not long ago. http://www.audiomart.com/details/1146/exemplar-audio-exemplar-horns.html

A copy of a Sound Practices article about the build is attached below.

Thanks for thoughtful comments regarding value.

I'm sorry to inform you, but John Tucker no longer offers his Exemplar horn system.

"Is there another stock Altec based system that sounds similar, but is less expensive?"

I have never heard a horn system that matched the sonic excellence of the Exemplar horn system. You can always spend less money on a loud speaker system. You get what you pay for. John held the building details of his system close to the vest, although there are a few questimated knock-offs floating about. In short, the perps shamelessly, behind his back at audio trade shows, stole John's and Jeff's design.

This is the complete Exemplar system at VSAC 2008 mentioned in the Audio Mart ad, although the speakers in the ad were build quite some time ago when John still lived in Texas.

http://www.jenalabs.com/images/vsac2008-12-r.png

John has a whole new line of speakers, one of which utilizes the Great Plains Audio 604-8H III. IMO, the 604 has never sounded better. The cabinet was measured by Bob Hodas as flat down to 28 Hz, and if memory serves me correctly, -3dB at 24 Hz. John uses a proprietary passive crossover network internal to the cabinet, based off of a Jeff Marquart design.

This is John's website where you can see his whole product line including a review on the XL IV system, along with a few other components John designed and manufactures. As there were many components, the review is a bit long winded. The walnut cabinets in the lead photo are without grilles. The XL IV review begins about half way down where the images of the figured cherry cabinets are.

(http://positive-feedback.com/Issue79/exemplar.htm)http://positive-feedback.com/Issue79/exemplar.htm


(http://positive-feedback.com/Issue79/exemplar.htm)

[rusty jefferson]

I'm sorry to inform you, but John Tucker no longer offers his Exemplar horn system.....

Thanks for the quick reply HF. I appreciate your honest recommendation of the speakers being among the best (horn speakers) you've heard. He's not looking to purchase a new pair, but rather the used pair in my 1st link, that are located in Ohio.

Do you feel the asking price of approximately $5k is reasonable for such a system? I appreciate "reasonable" is subjective, here. I didn't want to see him spend $5k when another Altec 2 way might have sounded as good, for $2.5k. Again, no Altec knowledge here.

[Horn Fanatic]

Thanks for the quick reply HF. I appreciate your honest recommendation of the speakers being among the best (horn speakers) you've heard. He's not looking to purchase a new pair, but rather the used pair in my 1st link, that are located in Ohio.

Do you feel the asking price of approximately $5k is reasonable for such a system? I appreciate "reasonable" is subjective, here. I didn't want to see him spend $5k when another Altec 2 way might have sounded as good, for $2.5k. Again, no Altec knowledge here.

Hi Rusty -

Oddly enough, when I met John in 2003 his retail cost on the system was $5K. Whether $5K is a reasonable price for the system in the ad is between the seller and buyer. Your friend may want to grind on the seller a bit. There are shipping charges to contend with also. IMO, if your friend purchased the Audio Mart system and ran it with vacuum tube gear, particularly a 300B set up, he wouldn't be sorry. A good 3 to5 watt amp will drive the hell out of those speakers.


H.F.

[rusty jefferson]

...... John held the building details of his system close to the vest, although there are a few questimated knock-offs floating about. In short, the perps shamelessly, behind his back at audio trade shows, stole John's and Jeff's design........

My friend noticed this comment you made about knock off copies of the Exemplar speakers and dug a little deeper into the provenance of the pair in question. He contacted John, and Jeff Markwart. I think most here would probably consider this pair "clones" and not "factory".

The seller has all the receipts and correspondences with John concerning purchasing the cabinets directly from him, and the same for the drivers purchased from GPA. John then supplied him with his last schematic for the crossover, and the fellow built them himself. It was at a point in time when Exemplar had moved on from this model. The seller is not hiding the fact they are home assembled, but not promoting it in his advertising.

My friend enjoyed the audition, however he passed on them at the $5.5k price. Seller wasn't going to move much.

Thanks for the detailed information.