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Altecs, which would you choose, and why?

Ken Boyd

Ken Boyd

Super Member
Subscriber
I am going to probably get a pair of Altec two ways in the future and I would like to learn a bit more before I make my choice.

Which Altecs would be the best, with a small to mid size tube amp.

Altec Model 19
Altec Model 17
Altec Model A7 Magnificent
Altec Valencia

Or if there are others that would be as good, or better. No VOT as I don't want the looks of a theather cabinet.
 
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Model 19, no contest.

The Seventeen could compete after serious crossover mods or upgrade.

But, beware the model 19 footprint is the same as an A7, it's just a bit shorter and pretty.
 
bowtie427ss said:
Model 19, no contest.

The Seventeen could compete after serious crossover mods or upgrade.

But, beware the model 19 footprint is the same as an A7, it's just a bit shorter and pretty.
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Thank you for that. I have been wondering if I am missing out not having the model 17 or other 604 based system. I've read several members post that they traded their 19's for 604 systems and its had me itching. :D
 
marantzfan said:
Thank you for that. I have been wondering if I am missing out not having the model 17 or other 604 based system. I've read several members post that they traded their 19's for 604 systems and its had me itching. :D
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IMO, folks who don't have a fairly large listening room to get the full benefit of the HUGE soundstage of the 19's will be better served by the smaller yet maybe more precise point source soundstage of the duplexes in their smaller listening quarters.

But, make no mistake, you can make 19's play pretty well in a smaller room just as easily as the duplexes can fill a larger space, albeit with a narrower HF sweet spot.

Duplexes from the model Seventeen's 604-8G back will all benefit from more modern compensated crossover topologies. Jeff Markwarts phase corrected networks get a lot of praise, even the factory model Eighteen network is a very good duplex crossover. It's not very dissimilar from a model 19 or Z-19 network.
 
The Model 14 has almost all the goodness of the Model 19.
Just somewhat smaller.
Smaller being a relative term.
Looking like a Model 19 that got shrunk in the wash, these still have a pretty large cabinet but they fare better in smaller spaces.

Great detail, dynamics and soundstage.

Very versatile speakers in terms of what you drive them with.

I use mine with a pair a QuadII amps of about 18 watts each
but have driven them in the past with a pair of modded
Akai M8 monoblocks, of about 3.5 watts each, with no problem.
I also use them with my Revox solid state system - 110 wpc. (or 120 - don't recall exactly right now)

The mantaray horns in these are really very nice.

Art
 
Thanks everyone so far for all the information. I wanted to get some two ways and had just about concluded the Model 17 would be best suited. But lately I have been seeing so many threads praising the Model 19's attributes I thought well why settle for a Model 17 if the 19 was it.

There is a pair of the Magnicents near me, all orginal and I did have a lot of people who really said they were great, but I didn't know if they were a lot better than the other models or just about equal.

As far as room size, it is about 25X20, but I do have double pocket doors that lead to the next room that can be opend which extends the room to some degree by doubling the length making it about 25x40, but I really don't think that it would be that benifical in terms as the doors don't completely open the full width of the room, only about 10 feet wide the ceilings are 11 feet high, if that makes any difference.
 
There is a pair of the Magnicents near me, all orginal and I did have a lot of people who really said they were great
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In some ways they are great, and would match a low powered tube amp the best of the lot. They have incredible dynamic ability, and are one of the very few home speakers that can claim very high sensitivity.

But, given your familiarity with Infinity low end, i'm not sure you'd ever be satisfied with the lack of LF extension.:no: And, they'd need serious crossover tweaking to really be all they can. Plus they're huge, upside down A7's with a grill and acres of walnut.

I think your room dimensions while toward the smaller end, are within the ideal range for the 19's.:yes:

Considering where you've been in loudspeakers, the 19 is probably going to be the best "off the shelf" Altec fit for you. For home environment hifi, it's probably the best they ever made.:yes:

The Model 14 has almost all the goodness of the Model 19.
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I very much believe this to be true, and it actually trumps the 19 a tad in VHF.

But, the OP has ideal model 19 acreage in his listening space. Given the space, there's just no contest. The realism of the 416-8B from the very low end thru the midrange combined with the huge soundstage of the 19's is what puts them in a class with very few other 2 way speakers. In nearly every way, they just get it right.
 
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IMO the 19 is the ultimate expression of Altec and fixes the weaknesses of the older models with it's extended highs and lows and improved imaging. All the while retaining the clarity and hair-trigger dynamics big Altecs are noted for.

I'm prejudiced against the 14; the woofer just ain't real Altec to me; it appears, I dunno, lazy. I'd prefer the 414 woofer with it's glorious midrange and put up with less deep bass. This may very well be an irrational view but there it is.
 
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Oh Ken, our QLS-1's are positively livid. I couldn't resist either....

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I just have to know what all the fuss is about and I've grown tired of waiting for 19's to show up around here. Maybe I'll come close with my DIY attempt. But, regardless how these turn out I likely won't pass if the chance at a pair of 19's comes along.

- Michael
 
At some point, if I live long enough, I plan on making my attic into a combination art studio, music lounge, work shop, where I can have all my sound systems spread out, a painting easel, maybe a potters wheel and a big 80 inch flat screen hanging from the rafters. There is plenty of room up there, I would estimate it at around 60' by 80' and it will be one large open room, and ceilings around 20 feet high. The largest obstacle would be getting all these large speakers up there, as it would be on the third floor, of the house, and keeping it cool in the summer could be costly.

I do like the asthetics of the Valencias, and I don't need every speaker to have bass in the extended ranges, and to be honest I think either the Model 17's or 19's would fit the bill. If I had to choose over extended low frequecies, or sweet sounding midrange, I would take the sweet midrange over the bass anyday. I like a lot of music with female vocals, and I can always use another system if bass is my goal.
 
tomlinmgt said:
Oh Ken, our QLS-1's are positively livid. I couldn't resist either....

picture.php


I just have to know what all the fuss is about and I've grown tired of waiting for 19's to show up around here. Maybe I'll come close with my DIY attempt. But, regardless how these turn out I likely won't pass if the chance at a pair of 19's comes along.

- Michael
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Michael the QLS's won't mind company, and those look real nice.

ARe you using that Dynaco amp on them? The look like they might be great with a small SET amp.
 
Tom Brennan said:
IMO the 19 is the ultimate expression of Altec and fixes the weaknesses of the older models with it's extended highs and lows and improved imaging. All the while retaining the clarity and hair-trigger dynamics big Altecs are noted for.

I'm prejudiced against the 14; the woofer just ain't real Altec to me; it appears, I dunno, lazy. I'd prefer the 414 woofer with it's glorious midrange and put up with less deep bass. This may very well be an irrational view but there it is.
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I've read criticisms of the Model 14 lower mid and bass which is often described as being bloated and slow in transients
I have found that generous amounts of dampening behind the speakers and in corner bass traps using OC 703 panels have removed any trace of bloat, and gave the midrange a wonderful, more natural tonality.
Placing the speakers on 1.5" of plywood dollies in order to roll them out of harms way, I accidentally found that this tightened up the bass further.
The Mantaray horn with its dispersion characteristics and Tangerine phase plug does produce nice clean extended highs and really is very nice.

The end result of all the room treatment and placing the speakers on thick plywood dollies is some really terrific sound.

As far as the lf drivers not being "real Altec", contrary to common belief, they where not sourced out to CTS but manufactured in house.
My source for this is a posting (I think on the Altec Lansing Forum) by a former employee at Altec.
If I can find that thread again I could post a link to it.


No the M14's are not M19's but in a smaller space they can acquit themselves quite credibly and not give up too much in the way of detail, tonality and dynamics.


All this being said, had I a larger space, it is a certainly that the m14's would be history and there would be a pair of M19's in their place.

Art
 
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I've got a set of Model 14's (with 414's installed), 2 sets of 604's (B and E's) and a set of Model 19's. They all are very good and each has their own distinctive benefit.

However if you have the room, I would go with the model 19. Their dynamics are awesome, they sound fantastic and they can fill up a room.

I'm so into their sound that I'm actually building some additional cabinets so I can have an additional set (and a set for a buddy).

Can't go wrong with the 19's

P1080194.jpg
 
The answer to the question is obvious. That is why so many of us want the 19s when we already have other models.
 
sempai said:
As far as the lf drivers not being "real Altec", contrary to common belief, they where not sourced out to CTS but manufactured in house.
My source for this is a posting (I think on the Altec Lansing Forum) by a former employee at Altec.
If I can find that thread again I could post a link to it.
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Oh yeah, I know the woofers were made by Altec, I never swallowed the canard they were made by RCA. What I meant by "real" Altec is they strayed from the traditional big motor, short coil, light cone, short stroke model of previous woofers. I'm probably being shortsighted and selling Altec short.
 
I'm probably being shortsighted and selling Altec short.
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IMO, not in this case. The bean counters were too influential on design at this point.

I've had a number of 34633(model 14) and 33785(mod 15, santana II, mod 9, and others) woofers. It's rather disheartening to see the variations among them in finish detail.

Historically, Altec baskets have always had a quality painted finish. Among these modern 12 inch woofers i've had examples that were totally naked, painted half heartedly in the mounting rim region only, and fully painted on the outer surfaces of the frame with only sporadic overspray on the insides of the spokes.

I can understand how folks who are familiar with vintage/classic Altec components could be less than endeared to these more modern specimens.

But, i have to say that i think they still got the important bits "right" with these woofers. I've been toying with my 15's bi-amped, and i'm liking what i'm hearing. Sempai's above posts have inspired me to do some experimenting with damping/stuffing at my next session with them.
 
If I had the room and didn't live in a Townhome, I'd Pick the Model 19's hands down. They are as impresive to listen to as they look. A perfect ballance of Hi-Fi and serious SPL's that IMO can't be Matched. I no longer listen to music that loud anymore, thats another reason I passed on a pair in good shape 20 minutes from my house for a reasonable price. The poor old lady selling them had no Idea what she had, said they were for a church or hall LOL!

The New ones I heard in an audio shop many years ago used a passive filter set to tame these beast's and sounded Amazing.
 
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