Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Bi Amping altec A5's

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    2

    Bi Amping altec A5's

    Advice on type of crossover , I am using these for sound reinforcement for my Beatles tribute band for out door summer concerts , I am thinking of JBL M552 crossover because it has cd horn eq . do I even need it for 1005/288 16K on the top end . thanks , Tom

  2. #2
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,719
    Since your speakers don’t have controlled directivity horns, the CD compensation won’t really buy you much. A modern digital unit with DSP will give you tons of control and flexibility. Or you can keep it simple with any standard analog crossover from JBL, Rane, Ashly etc.

    If you want to stay vintage and get really fancy with lots of EQ control, the Orban 674A has a variable second-order network and parametric equalizer built in. Image below is from the web. These are sonically very nice and in keeping with your retro system.

    ftp://ftp.orban.com/674A_674ASL/674A%20Manual.pdf


    Widget
    .
    Attached Images Attached Images  

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    WDC USA
    Posts
    310
    I hate to say it since those Orbans were current when I was something like that would require an awful lot of care and feeding even if used in a fixed installation, in portable use it would likely be an enormous weak point in a PA that needed to be reliable. Running a pair of A5s for the period look and sound ( although Vox columns would likely be more authentic ) would certainly make some sense I'd be inclined to stick with current electronics for the behind the stage components. Get a solid DSP crossover like an Ashly, have a sound engineer make some measurements with an FFT analysis program and load the crossover with some appropriate presets for the kinds of venues your band will be playing. Keep the vintage stuff out front for the audience visuals.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Widget View Post
    ...
    If you want to stay vintage and get really fancy with lots of EQ control, the Orban 674A has a variable second-order network and parametric equalizer built in. Image below is from the web. These are sonically very nice and in keeping with your retro system.
    ...

    Widget
    .

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    WDC USA
    Posts
    310
    Much as I hate to say it, especially since I actually had some Orban gear back in the day something like that paragraphic would require a great deal of care and feeding to be usable in even a fixed install or studio and would likely be a serious weak point in a portable PA system for a working bad. I'd strongly suggest finding a nice reliable DSP crossover like an Ashly or even some amps with built in crossovers like the Lab Gruppens or QSCs and set up some presets for the venues your band is likely to be playing and go from there. While the A5s are probably not a bad choice for the period look and sound ( although some Vox columns might be more authentic ) I'd keep that back stage elements as current and reliable as possible.

  5. #5
    Administrator Mr. Widget's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    9,719
    I can’t speak to their roadworthiness, but in fixed installs we’ve had decades of trouble free service.


    Widget

  6. #6
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2021
    Location
    Washington
    Posts
    2
    Thanks for the replies , I keep getting logged off before I can reply . whats up with that ?

  7. #7
    Member macsic's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    62
    Hi,
    I have had several Orbans 674A and never had any problems and they are good devices but if you have a little more budget invest in a more modern DSP this is what I did several years ago and I have also improved amplification and others since. A DSP is only useful if you know who to do with it and are willing to do multiple measurements and trial and error, the fun is down the road too

    Several years ago an Orban with Altec...
    Music is emotion.

  8. #8
    Senior Member grumpy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    5,742
    Quote Originally Posted by TomBrighton View Post
    Thanks for the replies , I keep getting logged off before I can reply . whats up with that ?
    are you clicking on the little ‘Remember Me’ box next to the login fields?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Bi Amping
    By ChitoBG in forum General Audio Discussion
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 03-17-2016, 06:58 AM
  2. XPL200A + dual 4645C (tri-amping) vs 4341 (bi-amping)
    By timca in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11-03-2015, 07:06 PM
  3. Bi-amping
    By racinoffrd in forum General Audio Discussion
    Replies: 25
    Last Post: 03-20-2014, 01:03 PM
  4. Bi-amping my 4622's
    By wrager in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-30-2010, 02:26 PM
  5. JBL XPL 200 Bi-amping questions
    By longwalker in forum Lansing Product General Information
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-10-2009, 07:48 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •