Altec model 15 ?

[garyl]

I have a nice set of 15s and can't seem to ID the woofer.
Guess they made this speaker with a few variations at different stages of its life.
Mine have plastic bent horns with 802-8Gs attached and they sound wonderful. I racooned the woogers and they too sound fine but I wonder if 414s might be a better choice. The stock woofs are cast frames, not stamped and appear to be the better of the woofer offerings for the 15s.

I know there are charts and numbers that determine what woof goes into what size cabinet and I would like to think Altec has this right. Then I get to wondering if cost might have played a roll and there could be something better.

Anyone have any ideas. This is the stock woof before refoaming.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Gamalot/15back.jpg

[John]

RCA.

[CONVERGENCE]

They don't look like Altec Woofers to me. The surround frame is not flush to the ground.

Anny way a 414 b's would be better. And if you can wait GPA is coming out with a new 12" .

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[garyl]

I am certain I was the first to ever open these speakers since new and these are the original woofs that came in them.
This is not to say Altec might not have used other drivers but I think they should be Altecs.
Here is the front and cones with numbers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Gamalot/15front.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Gamalot/15cone.jpg

[John]

It's a RCA.:blah:

Bill at G.P.A. told me this so I have to trust him. :D

[garyl]

I would trust Bill H. myself but sure wish you could be a bit more specific with this.
If Bill says it is an RCA then I believe it. This would also indicate to me that ALTEC put RCAs in Model 15s from the factory. I would not doubt this either.
I can certainly wait for GPA to produce the new 12" woofs but have to admit there is nothing wrong with the RCAs right now and my reason for asking this was to see if anyone knew if 414s might even be a better sound for this cabinet.
It does seem odd Altec used a great 802-8G and then paired it with an RCA woofer indtead of one of their own. Then again I was pretty surprised when I found the 802-8Gs attached to a chincy plastic horn.
I do believe towards the early 80s, Altec, like most companies started cutting some corners and these 15s could be the result of the cuts.

So give me some hope here. If I install some good GPAs or original 414s and possibly even some bent metal horns these might really come to life.

Oppinions?????

The cabinets are gorgeous, I just finished the grills and they look great so they are worth making right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Gamalot/15grill4.jpg

[CONVERGENCE]

Those cabs look great. Congratulations! Your 100% right with 414 b"s and metal horns like the ones in the A8 I imagine. Then you got yourself an extremely efficient speakers system.

RCA don't sound right to me . Altec used OEM cone tweeters. But never thought they would use 12" from some cheep company like RCA.

I knew that on certain big projects they used JBL woofers when demand was high and suply low.

It proves one thing : better to have more frames on the shelves and wait to cone them.

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[garyl]

Very interesting on this as I just got off the phone with the guy I got these from. He claims he bought them new and never did anything with them but play them till the foam went bad and sell them to me. Swears the woffs are what came in them from the box he personally opened.

If they really are RCAs then I have to believe Altec put them in.

John, if you know Bill H. well enough maybe he can shed some light on this.
I think the horns that have the 90 degree bend and are metal are # 32s so I will search for a pair of these to go with the 802s.
I really like the idea of the new GPA 12" woofs as a buddy just got a pair of the new GPA 515s and says they are better then any 515 he has ever heard. Great stuff happens at GPA and they deserve alot of praise from us.

Gary

[CONVERGENCE]

For those who don't know what were talking about. Here is a picture of Altec model 15. Metal horn 32B.

[garyl]

Wish I could have seen that pic about a month ago when I was trying to figure out the grills. Originals had thick foam and some sort of band to seperate top from bottom. My foam was shot so I had to use regular cloth but figure out the band part. On mine it is now a strip of Walnut stained to the same tone as the cabinets.

Never knew there was a series 2 either and wonder what is different from mine or how to tell which I have.
They look about identicle.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Gamalot/15done.jpg

[CONVERGENCE]

I don't know the difference between series 1 and 2 . The other site might be able to help. Probaly has to do with when Altec moved from Anaheim to Oklahoma.

Here is a picture of 32B Horn.

[Steve Gonzales]

Those are the correct woofers, I'm 100% sure. here are photos of my 15's. BTW, I thought about putting some 414-8B's in them also. Sold them before taking it that far.

[garyl]

Thanks Steve, it sure looks like yours and my woofs are identicle but the question still remains if they are real Altec woofers or RCAs as mentioned above.
I have attempted to research this a couple of times now but on this slow poke dial up it becomes little more then frustrating. Click and wait is what I call it.
I don't really know the specs on the 414s at all or if they are a good choice for these boxes. Like I said in the first post here, I like to think Altec knew what they were doing but still wonder if they did not cut some corners. The plastic horns sound great but I had to repair one that cracked down by the base and I expect it was from a very heavy driver hanging off it while being transported with the speakers facing up.
Hopefully, John can get some info from Bill at GPA and get me moving in the right direction.

[John]

Hi Gary Bill does not spend much time online as he has too much going on running G.P.A. and keeping everyone happy? But if you call him on the phone he will freely share his knowledge and experience regarding Altec. The way I remember it Altec had RCA build these for them, I think they call this out-sourcing to altec specs. So they are Altec 12's made by RCA. The thing about RCA being cheap, well I had the same perception but some say they made good stuff back in the 40,s- 50's.? Before my time;)

[garyl]

Thanks John, I just spent some time on GPA and did see that all 15s were supplied with RCA 33785 Woofs.
I did ask him for some guidance to see if he thinks the 414-8 woofs and the 32 B horn will be a better choice for my speakers.
Will wait to see what he says.
Bill has been great with me in the past and also with a friend so I have complete faith in his guidance.
I do know he is as busy as a one legged man in an a$$ kicking contest so I try not to bug him or take him from getting others speakers running. He sure did get my 19s going and in break neck speed.

Thanks for all your input here, nice to get good info when I need it.

Gary

[garyl]

Is it possible anyone out here has an extra one of these knobs laying around?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Gamalot/DSCN1281.jpg

I was able to find the L pad at madisound but the knob is the only thing missing to make these 15s Whole.

Thank you

Gary

[Steve Gonzales]

No doubt that if Bill says they were outsourced from RCA, that they are. I know that you at least have the correct woofers. As John says, RCA did make some of the best speakers in the old days. Steve Schell has posted a bit about them here. I found the model 15 to be a good sounding speaker. The 32B/802-8G topend is nice and the LF is good even if it is an RCA sourced driver. The 414-8B looks to be a 12" version of the Model 19's 416-8B and if the T/S parameters permit it to be used, I really think it would improve the 15 overall. I've always thought highly of the the 19 and am in the process of restoring a pair for myself. It is good to hear that the current GPA offerings are that good. Your 15's look very nice, I like what you have done better than the original. Regards, Steve G

[garyl]

Yes Steve, I have had very good results from GPA with rebuilds and parts they have supplied for my 19s and other friends have also had excellent results with the new 515 woofs they are producing.
I believe but am not certain that the 32B horn could be a direct replacment for the plastic horns in the 15s. I have no complaints how the plastic horns sound with the 802-8Gs but I do question their durability.

Can't seem to shake this feeling that Altec cut alot of corners in the components they used for the 15s and my intent is to see if I can make these even better then original by upgrading to the parts I think they should have used had the corners not been cut.

I could also be quite wrong about this with T/S Parameters and all but I don't have the technical knowledge to understand the differences.

I hope to get some info from Bill at GPA to clarify my beliefs or dispell them all together.

I will post it here when he responds.

I really like my grills with real fabric much better then the old style foam but this was no easy task to get them right.

Gary

[CONVERGENCE]

Model 15 was a commercial product. I never saw it in the pro league of Altec speakers. I wouldn't spend to much on this model or below.

The 604 Duplex and Models above were the true HI FI line of Altec.


:)

[garyl]

Agreed Convergence but I can't help but think they are just a few tweeks away from excellent. Your point is well taken and my point is can they be brought up a knotch or two.
Cabinets are nice, HF Driver is excellent, even the plastic horn is decent sounding. So what could be done to make them better?

Gary

[richard c.]

For what it's worth, my Altec Model 14 speakers (which are later models than the Model 15) have almost identical woofers. The stamp on the cone is "18-83-034642-01" and the frame measures 13 3/8" across. I see a reference to RCA for my woofers on the GPA website, also.

Richard C.

[garyl]

Hi Rich, I noticed that on GPA site and it appears the 14 & 15 have the same woofers. A few other models also used them.

I might be wrong here but I always thought the 14s came before the 15s.
I think when I bought my 19s in 1976 the 14s were also in the shop and nick named Baby 19s. I could be off a year or two on this as I did spend alot of time hanging out at the shop between '76 & 80 as a friend was running it and he had a couple of Cutties working there:D

What is your impression of your 14s? Do you think better woofs would improve the low end or are you satisfied as they are?

Gary

[richard c.]

Gary,

Well, you would think that 14 should come before 15, but...If you search the Altec catalogs, on this site, you will find the Model 15 in the 1976 "home" catalog, along with the 17, and the 19.

In the 1981 "home" catalog; the Model's 15 & 17 are gone, and the Model 14 is offered, along with the Model 19.

I love the Model 14 - as they are the largest pair of speakers I can have in my living room (without a fight). My 19's are downstairs! I modified the Model 14 crossover to tone down the hi-midrange a little. Now, they are smoother, BUT they are still my Rock & Roll, and Blues speakers. I raised them up 18" and I like them much better up off the floor. The woofers are fine. There only drawback is the foam surrounds! I am not even sure why they used foam, as the cloth surrounds should have worked just as well. The 902 compression drivers, along with the MR931 CD horn is hard to beat (unless you don't like the CD sound!) I also have 3 of the Model 14 studio monitor version - 9842.

I haven't heard any other Altec 12" woofers, so I can't comment on upgrading.

Richard C.

[garyl]

I do not like the foam surrounds at all but other then that the woofs perfom fine. I just refoamed mine but would prefer the accordion style with Altec Black goo.

I am sure there is a major difference as my 15s have the same HF driver as my 19s but it is attached to a chincy plastic bent horn which sounds fine but is not as durable as the metal 811 B in my 19s or even the 32 B Metal bent horn that looks like it might fit right in these boxes.

Also agreed about size constraints. 19s are a wonderfull speaker but tough to fit in most living rooms. The 14s and 15s are much better suited for this.

Thank you for the info.

Gary