Vincentz
Marantz Maniac
After more than two long years of looking I finally found a pair of oak Altec 19 speakers. In very good condition.
I got back into the high quality and 70's - 80's stereo thing a few years ago. I have been on the search for a certain sound that I heard in my cousins home back in the early 80's. He worked as a high-end stereo salesman at the local shop in town. He had some Altec 19s that just blew me away and I never forgot the sound. When getting back into this hobby, or as it should be called, an obsession, I have been continually on the lookout for those Altecs.
I had BA200's for a few years after having ACI G3 speakers for almost 20 years. I sold the Boston speakers to buy Altec 14 speakers a couple of years ago, which I just love and never thought that I would part with. However, I just found the Altec 19's and I will have them in my possession in the next couple of weeks. After two years of looking. Time to say bye to the 14's. ity: I'm going to miss them. But, it's at least for a good reason. I surely can't keep both monsters. My wife is only so forgiving. I did get permission for the 19's though. She actually said, "they don't look much bigger than the 14's". :smlove:
She loves the 14's almost as much as me, so I think the 19's are going to be an easy sell.
Right now the cabinets are being professionally refinished, the horns are also getting powder coated, the woofers are being upgraded to the 515 version. Plus, I also have the 416's that I will swap out after a while to check them out against the 515 set. The grills are getting redone with a maroon color and I'm also having the speaker posts upgraded underneath. I'm making sure that the cross-overs are up to spec, otherwise they will get treatment as well. The baseboards aren't the best, so they are being replaced with hardwood ones. Finally, I'm having smoked glass tops made, to help protect them.
I will posts pictures as soon as I have them. This work is being done at a local audio shop and I'm trading back the Altec 14's to help re-coup the cost of the 19's. I was going to try and do most of the work myself. However, with work and family I just don't have the time. I'm also upgrading an AR turntable at the moment myself and that is taking a lot of my audio expenses lately. Did not expect the 19's to come up. But, you have grab this sort of thing when it surfaces. Now my long, long search is over.:grnbounce Can't wait!!
For now I will enjoy the 14's for as long as I have them. Listening to them as I write this. :thmbsp:
I got back into the high quality and 70's - 80's stereo thing a few years ago. I have been on the search for a certain sound that I heard in my cousins home back in the early 80's. He worked as a high-end stereo salesman at the local shop in town. He had some Altec 19s that just blew me away and I never forgot the sound. When getting back into this hobby, or as it should be called, an obsession, I have been continually on the lookout for those Altecs.
I had BA200's for a few years after having ACI G3 speakers for almost 20 years. I sold the Boston speakers to buy Altec 14 speakers a couple of years ago, which I just love and never thought that I would part with. However, I just found the Altec 19's and I will have them in my possession in the next couple of weeks. After two years of looking. Time to say bye to the 14's. ity: I'm going to miss them. But, it's at least for a good reason. I surely can't keep both monsters. My wife is only so forgiving. I did get permission for the 19's though. She actually said, "they don't look much bigger than the 14's". :smlove:
She loves the 14's almost as much as me, so I think the 19's are going to be an easy sell.
Right now the cabinets are being professionally refinished, the horns are also getting powder coated, the woofers are being upgraded to the 515 version. Plus, I also have the 416's that I will swap out after a while to check them out against the 515 set. The grills are getting redone with a maroon color and I'm also having the speaker posts upgraded underneath. I'm making sure that the cross-overs are up to spec, otherwise they will get treatment as well. The baseboards aren't the best, so they are being replaced with hardwood ones. Finally, I'm having smoked glass tops made, to help protect them.
I will posts pictures as soon as I have them. This work is being done at a local audio shop and I'm trading back the Altec 14's to help re-coup the cost of the 19's. I was going to try and do most of the work myself. However, with work and family I just don't have the time. I'm also upgrading an AR turntable at the moment myself and that is taking a lot of my audio expenses lately. Did not expect the 19's to come up. But, you have grab this sort of thing when it surfaces. Now my long, long search is over.:grnbounce Can't wait!!
For now I will enjoy the 14's for as long as I have them. Listening to them as I write this. :thmbsp: