Woofer for Altec A7?

[allen mueller]

Thanks for all the great responses guys. I was away over the weekend and had no computer access. The drivers should be here on thursday.

I have been using the cabinets for a couple of months with out a sub and have been happy with the bass response so i am not to concerened with using them with out a sub. I love the effecency i get out of the system as a whole. Normal listening levels the signal lights on my amps hardly ever light up. Getting the altec drivers back in them sould be a good move.

allen

[scott fitlin]

You will be quite surprised at the sound you get with the 416,s. The ease they have with the low mids, and the sweet sounding bottom, will be amazing. I really dig the tonal balance of this woofer, it just sounds so smooth and open.

When you get them, you look at the quality of construction, I swear they are works of art. The cone has such a nice look and feel, they sound great. Nice big mounting gasket around the front rim of the basket. The only little thing I dont like are the screw terminals instead of push terminals, but, oh well, you put em in once, and thats that! But, they are well made, "American Made" in a world of "Made In China" these days, and it shows! It really does.

These have the magic, that is what we all thought, my oldest employee, Rob, who has been here almost since the place opened, said that sounds the way the speakers we used to have sounded! I told him, basically they are what we used to have, only brand new.

Altec is my favorite sound. And these are special, they have it! Mine will be coming along in a week or two.

[Storm]

Wow, funny you say that.

My dad blew one of his 416's and instead of throwing it away, he gave it to me. I have it in my living room as a show piece. Even though I listen to JBL, I cannot forget what turned me on to great music -- those sweet sounding 416's.

I even have it leaning back on a speaker stand. I know, I am pitiful.

LOL.



-Storm

When you get them, you look at the quality of construction, I swear they are works of art. The cone has such a nice look and feel, they sound great. Nice big mounting gasket around the front rim of the basket. But, they are well made, "American Made" in a world of "Made In China" these days, and it shows! It really does.

[louped garouv]

you should send it to GPA for a rebuild and make a mono system Storm....

it could be pretty fun...




hope all is well...

[SMKSoundPro]

In the "ZilchLencia" project, I worked with 416-16 ohmers, and understand their appeal.

That little box had a pretty good kick to it, that I started to really like, as compared to my L200b's with 2235's.

If Scott's mind is made up on the use of these New 416's, maybe I can use them for my own pair of ZilchLencia's, but this time with my 511 horns.

Happy B-Day Scotty! Hope all is well!

Scott.

[scott fitlin]

Well, Im a die hard Altec fan from as far back as the beginning of my frantic LOVE AFFAIR with audio!

I know there are other good products out there, and properly loaded they do work, BUT, only Altec sounds like Altec, in the same way that ONLY JBL products sound like JBL.

The 416,s have that kick, but also an openess to the mids I cant achieve any other way. Presence they used to call it. I love it.

Not only did I commit to going back to Altec, the woofers are paid for in full. Something special about the way the 416 sounds. Something Altec.

Brand new GPA Altec 416-8C,s were my birthday present to myself!

[SMKSoundPro]

I just went to GPA's site, and was unable to see or read any info on their new 416 -8.

Can you share a price per unit?

[scott fitlin]

I just went to GPA's site, and was unable to see or read any info on their new 416 -8.

Can you share a price per unit?

$280.00ea, plus shipping. I consider this reasonable in this day and age.

[scott fitlin]

Whats going to be good reading, is when forum member Allen Mueller gives us a reveiw of his newly recieved GPA Altec 416-8C,s.

Its one thing to hear what I have to say, Im 45, sort of set in my audio ways, and like listening to the sound I always had growing up and throughout my teen and young adult years.

Better to hear what the fresh ears of a young man, who has been introduced to the Altec sound via forums like these, but was taught very differently, has to say.

[SMKSoundPro]

I'm also 45, and understand your point.

I know what I like in audio world, and will wait to read what younger men have to say.

Just hope it doesn't contain the phrase: "ipod this or ipod that."

Rock on!

[scott fitlin]

Just hope it doesn't contain the phrase: "ipod this or ipod that."

Rock on!

No, no ipods in this equation.

Mr. Mueller is into his audio gear.

[CONVERGENCE]

I just went to GPA's site, and was unable to see or read any info on their new 416 -8.

Can you share a price per unit?

You can find it on their EBAY web site.

http://stores.ebay.com/Great-Plains-Audio


..............

[scott fitlin]

Those specs have been edited, they used to have the T/S parameters too.

qTs- .26

vas- 22cu ft.

I know I loved the bottom end of these things! Thats for sure.

[intotubes]

I have been reading this thread while listening to 416's in my 19's and brothers, I agree wholeheartedly with what's been said - especially by Scott.

What is your club called? I would love to come have a listen if I am ever in your part of the country.

I am 48 yrs old and my ears aren't what they used to be but I know good sound when I hear it. My little sound system is the best these ears have heard and I am quite happy.

Great thread!

[scott fitlin]

I own and operate The Eldorado Auto Skooter in Brooklyns Coney Island.

We are a bumper car ride, and riding in here is like riding around a nightclub. We got into large sound with the advent of Disco in 1976, although we opened up in 1973 with a small system four A7,s, music has always been an integral part of our ride. As our sound system grew, and get better, we have tried many, many things. Back in the days when there were no HUGE amounts of power available Altec was some of the most efficient speakers available and sounded great. When big power and high power handling speakers did become available, we tried some different things, but Altec still sounded the BEST! So, we kept Altec.

Even today, I have endeavored to get into more modern speakers, and amplifiers, all to no avail, they just dont sound proper to me.

We always used the 421-8LF woofer in our Altec basshorns, but, these days with the amount of HF energy present in todays digital recordings the aluminum dustcap gets too ringy. I tried to go JBL, TAD, B & C, the B & C high efficiency woofers work decently in basshorns, but it doesnt sound like Altec, nor do they have the bottom end of a GOOD Altec woofer.

I tried two of GPA,s 416-8C woofers, H_LY SH_T, I was blown away, they are so efficient, they are so clear, they make GREAT bass, and they make recordings sound REAL. Best of all, digital sources, downloads and CD,s sound to me, the way vinyl used to sound, big, warm, realistic, etc. Couldnt believe it, but my CD,s sound terrific now. Very much like a good record, depth and dimension and transient response is excellent. And they do it with relatively little power and sound so sweet, they dont hurt your ears. You hear things in your recordings you never knew were there. I am once again, Altec midbass, and I am loving it! They put out so much sound, so effortlessly, and such sweet, realistic sounding low mids and bass, they are INCREDIBLE! They sounded so good I ordered and paid for TWELVE more.

I also tried two of GPA,s 515-8LF woofers, good midrange, somewhat shallow sound low end, compared to a 416 or 421, so I preferred the 416.

I use vintage JBL 18,s, vintage JBL compression drivers and horns, Altec woofers in Altec VOTT cabinets, and vintage JBL tweeters, and vintage Crown amps, and NOTHING sounds better to me in my room. I have modern comp drivers, newer amps, modern crossovers and EQ, but I like certain older technologies, it just sounds good. I dont really care if my room is the ultimate in SPL, but IT MUST SOUND LIKE MUSIC, if it doesnt nothing else matters. I, so far, have always only been able to achieve what I like with Altec midbass in this room. Oh yeah, I am also using eight NEW ported JBL 2242,s and I have some new Bassmaxx Duece 12in folded folded horns.

Wait till we hear what Allen Mueller has to say about his new GPA 416-8C woofers. And this is a young man, not raised in the Altec era!

ALTEC, and Eldorado, its a winning combination!

If your ever in NYC, by all means come down and HEAR the MONSTER!