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Info on Altec 601-Z Duplex Speakers?

J

jbpollock

Well-Known Member
I just brought home a pair on end tables containing Altec duplex drivers. Only markings on them are 601-Z. I haven't pulled the crossovers out yet to check for numbers. Any info? Google search didn't reveal much so I am guessing these may not be the highly sought after Altecs. The side table cabinets only put the drivers a few inches off the floor so, this is a problem. Thanks!

 
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Not highly sought after but good sounding none the less. I look for them all the time as I have an orphan 601-Z.
 
The crossovers are N-3000-E. I am thinking these are actual factory cabinets...Monaco or La Paz based on some additional AK searching.
 
hatrack71 said:
Not highly sought after but good sounding none the less. I look for them all the time as I have an orphan 601-Z.
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I disagree about the desirability of the Altec 601s. Look at the prices for the 601A and 601C on eBay, even partially-functional units bring good money. The 601Z just doesn't turn up as often. From what I can tell, it's just a 601C with an ugly paint job and no pretty cover over the magnet. I think they were made that way for use in factory Altec cabs where (presumably) the only people looking at them would be the Altec assembly-line workers.
 
I have stayed up too late listening to them, and they sound pretty good, even down on the floor. I would love to hear them in cabinets that get the speakers up to ear level. They do look a lot like the 601Cs now that you mention it.
 
Altec Altitude.....or Attitude

Howdy, jbpollock......I think you should get 'em up! In the air, that is........

The right size cabinets (proper size is essential) putting the tweeters up higher than your ankles will make a world of difference...( obviously....but I had to say it).....

Hoping you can pull this off.......willhowl:thmbsp:
 
jbpollock said:
I have stayed up too late listening to them, and they sound pretty good, even down on the floor. I would love to hear them in cabinets that get the speakers up to ear level. They do look a lot like the 601Cs now that you mention it.
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I have a single 601A (basically the same thing with a very different basket), and in the right cabinet they'll sing like very few other speakers that I've ever heard.

One thing that I've considered doing is installing a fuse to protect the 3000-series tweeter's voice coil. They're rather expensive to fix if damaged.
 
You probably know this already, but the 601 is an amalgam of a 414 woofer and a 3000 series tweeter, both of which are very high quality units and much sought after by the high efficiency SET crowd. Put these in a big rigid box tuned to your liking with the tweeter at ear level and just a few good watts should keep you happy -- just don't overpower the fragile and hard to replace tweeter!
 
Thanks for the information....I have found a cabinet designs for the 601-8hd, but haven't found any suggested dimensions or port sizes for this driver. Still looking...
 
jbpollock said:
Thanks for the information....I have found a cabinet designs for the 601-8hd, but haven't found any suggested dimensions or port sizes for this driver. Still looking...
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The suggested dimensions for all 601s are in the Altec Library at Lansing Heritage.

There is one repairman out there (that I know of) that can fix blown 3000 tweeters. The job runs around $180 each.
 
Sam Cogley said:
The suggested dimensions for all 601s are in the Altec Library at Lansing Heritage.

There is one repairman out there (that I know of) that can fix blown 3000 tweeters. The job runs around $180 each.
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I will have to look through the library again, more carefully. Seems like the tweeters are working...haven't metered them yet and the acoustics are so funny with them sitting on the floor I could be wrong.
 
jbpollock said:
I will have to look through the library again, more carefully. Seems like the tweeters are working...haven't metered them yet and the acoustics are so funny with them sitting on the floor I could be wrong.
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Page 19 of the 1974 Enclosure Manual. It's just listed as "12-inch Duplex" - but AFAIK, there was only one 12" Altec duplex speaker - the 601 series. There were a few different 15" duplexes, besides the famous 604/904 series.

http://www.lansingheritage.org/html/altec/plans/1974-enc-manual.htm

http://www.lansingheritage.org/images/altec/plans/1974-enc-design/page21.jpg
 
Hmm, I thought I had read somewhere else that they recommended a minimum of 3.5 cubic feet....I need to measure the cabinets they are currently in, since I think they are factory (although definite form over function).
 
I was also assuming .75" stock, minimal fill to counter driver displacement, etc.

Have you found the driver params?
 
Clmrt said:
I was also assuming .75" stock, minimal fill to counter driver displacement, etc.

Have you found the driver params?
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I found in the 1955 catolog: 601A: maximum cone resonance 55 cycles
and in the 1971 catalog : 601-8D: Cone resonance 39 HZ

Neither of these are the same model as I have. I am a real newby when it comes to cabinet design though....
 
eurasian said:
You probably know this already, but the 601 is an amalgam of a 414 woofer and a 3000 series tweeter, both of which are very high quality units and much sought after by the high efficiency SET crowd. Put these in a big rigid box tuned to your liking with the tweeter at ear level and just a few good watts should keep you happy -- just don't overpower the fragile and hard to replace tweeter!
Click to expand...

They're not the toughest things on Earth, but the 3000s aren't that fragile. My 601A survived nightclub duty for an unknown but apparently fairly extensive time. Of course, the 3000A from the matching cabinet is blown. They'll handle a lower-powered SS amp or most PP tube amps without much trouble. I think the 601 duplexes were rated for 25W continuous.
 
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