Tri-State Altec 19 owners?
- Thread starter hornertuber
- Start date
hornertuber
macgyver
Feel free to give me a call.
I'll bring some vinyl if you bring a tt. My tt is mid/low range and bulky :-(. I have yet to figure out how to get it sounding decent with my set up. The cornwalls are so efficient they just broadcast how bad w/e the weakest link is. Maybe a new cartridge or something idk....
If you bring a laptop I'll load my phone and a thumb drive with some good FLACs too.
That M audio fast track is cool. I was thinking of one at some point but ended up with their audiophile 2496 card. Just recently upgraded to a xonar st for its 24/192 support, crazy clean stats and built in headphone amp.
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Hi guys. It will be great to meet you on Saturday. Let’s make the time 2:30. Bring music. I will set up for CD. My own selections will come from my laptop (iTunes), if you want vinyl, you'll need to bring a TT and pre. If you have other sources, let me know.
We will listen to the Altec 9844-8B and Pi Speakers model 4. The 4 Pi s are mounted in a control room of a recording studio, so the listening area is kind of “focused.” But there should be plenty of room to move around and hear what they are like.
As for the Altecs, depending on what I can set up on Friday or Saturday morning, we’ll listen to them bi-amped on an active crossover, possibly with a T amp or tubes on the HF and solid state on the LF, and with the passive Z-19 crossover (M-19, modified by Zilch.) However, these speakers are a work in progress and my Z-19 now has the low pass section of the 9844 circuit, coupled with the high pass of the Z-19. I make no claims that any of the configurations will be perfect.
I would hope to demonstrate the difference between Altec’s 902 HF driver and BMS’ 4552 ND. That will take a few minutes to change out, if you are interested.
If I can get to it tomorrow, I also hope to post some frequency response graphs of the Altecs in each setup, so you can see what’s going on. (The ugly truth.) I had hoped to have that posted already, but I ran out of time.
Z19 thread on AK:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=328530
My 9844 thread on Lansing Heritage, a long one:
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?18913-Altec-9844-8B
Pi Speakers Forum:
http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=thread&frm_id=33
We will listen to the Altec 9844-8B and Pi Speakers model 4. The 4 Pi s are mounted in a control room of a recording studio, so the listening area is kind of “focused.” But there should be plenty of room to move around and hear what they are like.
As for the Altecs, depending on what I can set up on Friday or Saturday morning, we’ll listen to them bi-amped on an active crossover, possibly with a T amp or tubes on the HF and solid state on the LF, and with the passive Z-19 crossover (M-19, modified by Zilch.) However, these speakers are a work in progress and my Z-19 now has the low pass section of the 9844 circuit, coupled with the high pass of the Z-19. I make no claims that any of the configurations will be perfect.
I would hope to demonstrate the difference between Altec’s 902 HF driver and BMS’ 4552 ND. That will take a few minutes to change out, if you are interested.
If I can get to it tomorrow, I also hope to post some frequency response graphs of the Altecs in each setup, so you can see what’s going on. (The ugly truth.) I had hoped to have that posted already, but I ran out of time.
Z19 thread on AK:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=328530
My 9844 thread on Lansing Heritage, a long one:
http://www.audioheritage.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?18913-Altec-9844-8B
Pi Speakers Forum:
http://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=thread&frm_id=33
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Is this the whole group? Don't want to leave anyone out.
Altec Best
Almost There
Hornertuber
frperdurabo
chinacave
Altec Best
Almost There
Hornertuber
frperdurabo
chinacave
hornertuber
macgyver
I actually found and read that whole thread when I searched out info on 9844's in the beginning of this thread. Was a good read for sure.
As my impatience would have it I bought a pair of 511b's off ebay for 200 bucks this week. If you want to do an A/B driver comparison without swapping I could bring them
. Going to clean them up and refinish after I get my TOOL tickets tomorrow morning. They are paper weights until I can figure out a mid crossover for them and the selenium adapters come in the mail. Personally I'm very interested in different drivers for that reason. Also interested in watching/learning how to take response info.
I'll bring a thumb drive with media and I'll have some stuff on my phone since I found that app that plays 24/96. Kind of curious how it will compare to a real dac.
If a TT/pre makes its way there I'll bring some vinyl too.
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
I actually found and read that whole thread when I searched out info on 9844's in the beginning of this thread. Was a good read for sure.
As my impatience would have it I bought a pair of 511b's off ebay for 200 bucks this week. If you want to do an A/B driver comparison without swapping I could bring them
Also interested in watching/learning how to take response info.
I'll bring a thumb drive with media and I'll have some stuff on my phone since I found that app that plays 24/96. Kind of curious how it will compare to a real dac.
If a TT/pre makes its way there I'll bring some vinyl too.
Hornertuber,
If you bring media on any sort of drive, make sure to bring something that will play it, as Murphy's law always prevails.
How about this, after we try the BMS on the 811 (on my Altecs,) we can turn the 9844s on their side and place the 511 on top. That should give a reasonable center to center distance. Not sure if you have a driver, but we can put the BMS or 902 on them, assuming I get the right mounting hardware. We'll run the BMS on the active x-o, the 902 can go active or passive
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Can anyone bring a hi fi preamp? It would be convenient to have one so I could bypass the console when we listen to the Pi 4 speakers. If so let me know what the i/o is if not RCAs.
hornertuber
macgyver
Well you call it out I dont want to impose my craziness lol. If there is a want or need though I can bring the 511's no prob. Don't have drivers I can bring though, was going to use the k55s but haven cracked the cornwalls open yet.
Ya good idea, I'll toss some players on there too.
Ya good idea, I'll toss some players on there too.
Altec Best
Well-Known Member
The K-55's won't mount to the 511's.The K-55's are screw on the 511's are bolt on.I think I have some 802G's laying around .
hornertuber
macgyver
Come on give me some credit
I ordered adapters.
Not my pic, same adapter from parts express. The pair shipped was like 10 bucks.
Altec are you bringing a tt/pre?
I'm in. See you guys at 2:30.
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Bring the horns.
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
I'll post some frequency response graphs when I get back late tonight...of the various Altec configs we'll be listening to, xcept the 501. We can measure that tomorrow.
hornertuber
macgyver
Will do, I gave them a light coat of paint early they should be looking pretty by tom.
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Response Graphs
Here's what we got so far on Altec 9844-8B (measurements at 44" at middle horn height and anechoic down to about 340Hz):
9844 with active crossover, Altec 902 (RED) vs. BMS 4552ND
9844 with 902 driver on Z19N passive crossover (Z19 with N800F low pass) showing woofer/tweeter and full range:
9844 with BMS 4552 on Z19N passive crossover (Z19 with N800F low pass):
I should have had a full N800F for this. But I don't want to re wire in the original x-o. Though I might build one in the future for comparison.
I want to bring my QSC/DE250 combination from home, but I can't carry them. Maybe next time.
Here's what we got so far on Altec 9844-8B (measurements at 44" at middle horn height and anechoic down to about 340Hz):
9844 with active crossover, Altec 902 (RED) vs. BMS 4552ND
9844 with 902 driver on Z19N passive crossover (Z19 with N800F low pass) showing woofer/tweeter and full range:
9844 with BMS 4552 on Z19N passive crossover (Z19 with N800F low pass):
I should have had a full N800F for this. But I don't want to re wire in the original x-o. Though I might build one in the future for comparison.
I want to bring my QSC/DE250 combination from home, but I can't carry them. Maybe next time.
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skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
Nice to meet you guys and your significant others. :thmbsp:
Hornertuber brought his new 511B horns and we put the 9844s on their side, so the woofers were vertically oriented, and loaded on the 902 drivers. In about 5 minutes of adjustments, we got the response below.
We ran it active, but did not have time to put it on the Z19N. I would have also liked to try that vertical combination in 2.5 mode.
Hornertuber brought his new 511B horns and we put the 9844s on their side, so the woofers were vertically oriented, and loaded on the 902 drivers. In about 5 minutes of adjustments, we got the response below.
We ran it active, but did not have time to put it on the Z19N. I would have also liked to try that vertical combination in 2.5 mode.
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hornertuber
macgyver
Right off the bat thank you skywave-rider for hosting us. Getting to listen to such equipment at such a great location with knowledgeable, nice people is just great. My wife and I had such a good time.
I liked the Pi's, as they were set up. They are prob one of the best studio monitors I have heard to date. My 1st inclination was to be curious of what the timber was in 5.1 with the Pi's in front. Forgot quickly though as I started to run through my playlist. Dabbling in mastering I really have grown to appreciate an accurate neutral sound because you can really dial it in. At my place with such a colored set up my masters are naturally bias by the set up.
The 9844's sounded really nice and smooth. I liked the Altec 902's over the BMS drivers. The BMS was very accurate but I felt the 902's represented the music better, if that makes sense. I may be bias, listening to vintage drivers all the time maybe my ears are becoming accustomed.
I really enjoyed listening to the 9844's with the 511b's after we dialed them in. Thought honestly to me it sounded like it was the best combo of the day. It's really motivated me to d/l the software, buy the hardware, and rig a mic mount at a close distance as your tests to date so we can compare your tests with the 511b's/k55 combo with the k400/600/k55 combo. I would like to even test driver orientation at a greater distance on my set up.
Was a nice learning experience for me. After the holidays I'm next on the tour although I cant nearly come close to providing the listening area as we had of pleasure of visiting today
I Didnt think to take pics until later. Others were taken though
I liked the Pi's, as they were set up. They are prob one of the best studio monitors I have heard to date. My 1st inclination was to be curious of what the timber was in 5.1 with the Pi's in front. Forgot quickly though as I started to run through my playlist. Dabbling in mastering I really have grown to appreciate an accurate neutral sound because you can really dial it in. At my place with such a colored set up my masters are naturally bias by the set up.
The 9844's sounded really nice and smooth. I liked the Altec 902's over the BMS drivers. The BMS was very accurate but I felt the 902's represented the music better, if that makes sense. I may be bias, listening to vintage drivers all the time maybe my ears are becoming accustomed.
I really enjoyed listening to the 9844's with the 511b's after we dialed them in. Thought honestly to me it sounded like it was the best combo of the day. It's really motivated me to d/l the software, buy the hardware, and rig a mic mount at a close distance as your tests to date so we can compare your tests with the 511b's/k55 combo with the k400/600/k55 combo. I would like to even test driver orientation at a greater distance on my set up.
Was a nice learning experience for me. After the holidays I'm next on the tour although I cant nearly come close to providing the listening area as we had of pleasure of visiting today
I Didnt think to take pics until later. Others were taken though
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chinacave
Its Like a Jungle Sometimes; It makes me Wonder
Wow -
A Little belated, but hearty THANKS to skywave-rider and Hornertuber for a very pleasant and informative afternoon!
Vin - Thanks so much for opening your workspace and walking a total newb at horns through some of the ins and outs of listening to speakers with a more than casual interest. It was interesting hearing from the professional perspective.
My better half, who has pointed out more than once that companies make "really small speakers" - holds fingers 5 inches apart- ... (read - Bose...) was interested and now has some insight into this seemingly pointless but definitely decor-wrecking passion of mine!
If anyone wants to make the trek to N Westchester (I can pick you up at the Katonah Metro-north station) here is an offer to have a listen to my B &W DM-70 hybrid electrostatics, and if I ever get my act together, two pair of KLH Nines.
Thanks again, guys!
A Little belated, but hearty THANKS to skywave-rider and Hornertuber for a very pleasant and informative afternoon!
Vin - Thanks so much for opening your workspace and walking a total newb at horns through some of the ins and outs of listening to speakers with a more than casual interest. It was interesting hearing from the professional perspective.
My better half, who has pointed out more than once that companies make "really small speakers" - holds fingers 5 inches apart- ... (read - Bose...) was interested and now has some insight into this seemingly pointless but definitely decor-wrecking passion of mine!
If anyone wants to make the trek to N Westchester (I can pick you up at the Katonah Metro-north station) here is an offer to have a listen to my B &W DM-70 hybrid electrostatics, and if I ever get my act together, two pair of KLH Nines.
Thanks again, guys!
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hornertuber
macgyver
Was nice to meet you and your wife.
I would be very interested in having a listen. Didnt realize when we were talking sat those where the B&Ws you were referring to. They are one of the speakers that put B&W on the map from what I have read.
My ONLY experience with electrostatics were a set of quad esl 57's I was planning on buying before the cornwalls. I imagine the bass is better with your B&Ws being hybrids. So really I'm the same way with electrostatics as you are with horns lol.
I'd be driving and willing to carpool :thmbsp:
skywave-rider
Slumming in Akihabara
I would be up for that, too. But I can't for well after the holidays. If you are interested, I can bring the laptop and measuring mic and we could look at the response. Not much to carry.
What about those 19s?
Happy Holidays guys!
What about those 19s?
Happy Holidays guys!