Hello to all. I've been aware of this site for some time but just never signed up for the forums. Anyway, I guess I'm more of an Altec guy, but I've owned some classic JBL gear for sure. This is what I currently run:
Downstairs - I've got a pair of 9846-8A speakers that I bought from a church in about 1993. I gave $200 for the pair and to my ears, they just don't do much wrong. I ran them at first with a McIntosh MC240 and was really taken by their sound. Then, for almost five years, I drove them with a pair of strapped McIntosh MC2300s - yeah, I like it LOUD. Today, they're still powered by a single MC2300, but I don't do the loud bit like I once used to. I've tried a bunch of amps on them and the transformer coupled 2300s are simply the best match I've found. I've read a little bit in regards to the 411-8A woofers on the forum and the overall consensus is that woofer isn't typical Altec in the sound dept. I'd have to agree, but I really like their low frequency extension. Overall, I intend to keep these speakers as long as possible.
Upstairs - a pair of near mint Altec 14s. They're powered by a tiny Denon power amplifier and are in my upstairs office. Every 4th of July, we do a back yard party and they do their part from 80 Hz and up powered by one of my MC2300s. This year, from 80 Hz and down, we used (16) 12 inch woofers powered by a Crown MT2400. People simply can't believe how good the Altecs sound and how loud they get.
I've also got a pair of the high end Altec bi-polar surround speakers (can't remember the model # and they're packed up) that are near mint with the mounts that I've considered selling . . . but, they're still in my possession as I'm kind of a pack-rat. Does anyone have any experience with these?
I've had Model 15s, Model 19s, and plenty of raw Altec goodies. I waited forever for a pair of 19s and found a mint pair as part of a stereo package for $800! I repaired the lead wires to the diaphragms and I was off to the races. Unfortunately, my wife just didn't care for the top end of the 19s and she pleaded with me to sell them and put the "ugly" old speakers back in the system. That was about 1995.
Anyway, I thought I'd have some common ground here and maybe I could learn a thing or two. I would like to find a spare 411-8A woofer if anyone has one they'd be interested in selling or trading me for. I'd also like to get my hands on a pair of the fabled RTR towers . . . any leads?