Zero Distortion: Altec Assault and the Magic of Misho (Audio Antiquary)

[bonzo75]

Output impedance is not something I've thought much about - what do you consider high enough to be a good match for the Altecs?

I don't know about absolute values, but usually SETs work, while SS amps seem to grip it too much (including the ones made in France by the Hiraga community).

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

More damping factor, than output impedance, you've noticed imo

 

[Norway]

STEREO Germany measured the C 298 in there test very good in all areas ( Distortion, SNR, damping factor ) especially the damping factor ( 833 ( at 63Hz) to 550(at 14kHz) is quite high!? Many Manufacturers claim high values here but tests often can't prove that.
Very high power analog amplifiers often have an low signal to noise ratio with low power output but not the C 298.
For the C 298 it is >80db with 50mW output power only going up to 100db..
I usually hear music with < 1W. (more like 0,001W) So the SNR at low power output is important and makes life easy… absolutely no hiss when idling. The C298 also have variable gain 8-31 db.

 

[christensenleif@msn.com]

I have no hiss with tubes either

 

[Norway]

I have no hiss with tubes either

I know!

 

[djsina2]

If I may, I had followed Bonzo’s conviction and had Altec 817 built by PBN Audio, the rest of the speaker pretty much is an exact copy of Misho’s. All GPA drivers.
Initially I’ve used it with the Misho designed passive x-over, and now am trying Pass Labs active x-over and bi-amplification.
Overall the sound is miles ahead of my previous Avantgarde Duo Omega G2/ Lamm system.
In the last few days I’ve been glued to my chair. Everything sounds exceptionally engaging to me.
And that’s all that matters.
I couldn’t have cared less if Altecs are technically compromised, I’m sure they are. But that is of no consequence to me.

What speakers are you moving on to? I saw your 817 listed for sale.

 

[Maril555]

What speakers are you moving on to? I saw your 817 listed for sale.

Having another exact pair built-different finish and NOS Altec drivers that I only managed to purchase after my current pair had been built already.
I like them very much and currently experimenting with 4 different amplifiers.

 

[microstrip]

Having another exact pair built-different finish and NOS Altec drivers that I only managed to purchase after my current pair had been built already.
I like them very much and currently experimenting with 4 different amplifiers.

Do you think that the 817 with an adequate moder HF horn unit would be a good match for the Lamm ML3?

 

[Maril555]

Do you think that the 817 with an adequate moder HF horn unit would be a good match for the Lamm ML3?

I can’t think of why it wouldn’t work. It sounds wonderful with New Audio Frontiers 845 SE SET of 25 Watts. I actually ended up selling my pair of JL subs as a result.
With 32 wt of ML3 it should be glorious, given the Lamms quality.
Im listening to ML 3 in my friends system pretty frequently and its amazing.

 

[adamaley]

Having another exact pair built-different finish and NOS Altec drivers that I only managed to purchase after my current pair had been built already.
I like them very much and currently experimenting with 4 different amplifiers.

Has the replacement speaker build been completed yet? Can you share pictures?

 

[Maril555]

Has the replacement speaker build been completed yet? Can you share pictures?

Unfortunately not. Still probably 4-6 wks away.
Sold my old ones though.

 

[morricab]

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If someone designed and built a giant cabinet which could accommodate a vertically-oriented pair of woofers on the bottom and an identical box on top (just put a duplicate woofer driver section on top), with the Markus wood Altec multicell horn in the middle, I suspect the resulting loudspeaker would achieve near to or equal to state-of-the-art sound at a very modest price, and certainly so on classical and jazz.

Let's ask LL21 to explain what he and I mean about tall loudspeakers portraying "scale and grandeur." In loudspeakers I truly believe that height matters.

It was you, actually, who sensitized me to the concern of woofers in the bottom of the cabinet causing the sound to seem like low frequencies are coming from the bottom of the cabinet. I fully appreciate that you don't have that concern with these FLH open baffle dual woofer speakers. But a double-box, M-T-M design (like Rey) takes the issue completely off the table.

The Rey speakers woofers are not FLH.

 

[morricab]

And yet Bill went single driver BLH. Why do you think he is not convinced with the FLH topped with big horn/compression driver concept?

 

[bonzo75]

And yet Bill went single driver BLH. Why do you think he is not convinced with the FLH topped with big horn/compression driver concept?

because Bill didn’t hear those he heard the General’s pnoe system for a couple of years and wanted that. Not sure why Bill going one way is an endorsement of one and not the other. Bill thinks great things about the Altec 817 and Leif’s system based on videos and my feedback and these three systems and universums are mostly what we chat about daily.

it’s also spot the fact that he bought the BD4 two years ago and then the pnoe came up for sale.

 

[morricab]

I think TQWT gives that mid bass punch, particularly double one where you have a couple 12 inch drivers loading the horn.

 

[bonzo75]

Also most BLH are quite poor but the pnoe and Yamamura (a one off) when perfectly run stand out above all. Lots of things to get right there, and even then mainly for classical, jazz, blues etc while Altec 817, Leif‘a and others get everything

 

[morricab]

because Bill didn’t hear those he heard the General’s pnoe system for a couple of years and wanted that. Not sure why Bill going one way is an endorsement of one and not the other. Bill thinks great things about the Altec 817 and Leif’s system based on videos and my feedback and these three systems and universums are mostly what we chat about daily.

it’s also spot the fact that he bought the BD4 two years ago and then the pnoe came up for sale.

You didn’t really mention front loaded corner horns like Hartsfield and Vitavox etc. Some of the most realistic sounds and dynamics I have heard come from them, where all the bass is horn loaded. Your FLH only loads down to mid bass, or?

 

[morricab]

Also most BLH are quite poor but the pnoe and Yamamura (a one off) when perfectly run stand out above all. Lots of things to get right there, and even then mainly for classical, jazz, blues etc while Altec 817, Leif‘a and others get everything

Aries Cérat Symphonia does all except the deepest bass and is incredibly coherent. Plays all music superbly

 

[bonzo75]

You didn’t really mention front loaded corner horns like Hartsfield and Vitavox etc. Some of the most realistic sounds and dynamics I have heard come from them, where all the bass is horn loaded. Your FLH only loads down to mid bass, or?

when I say dual FLH it is two woofers, preferably 15 inch in the midbass, horn loaded, so going to around 100 from 500. Not corner, and horn mouth in front should be open to couple the air to the room

 

[morricab]

when I say dual FLH it is two woofers, preferably 15 inch in the midbass, horn loaded, so going to around 100 from 500. Not corner, and horn mouth in front should be open to couple the air to the room

Yes, I know what you mean but you didn’t compare to the most likely competition for superior bass.