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Vintage vs Modern speakers.

Most people have wrong belief that modern speaker has more clarity and details than vintage speakers
Recently I got 50 years old Altec A7 which sounds much better than my expectation.

I had kept Lansche 4.1 with plasma tweeter for 16 years which is still regarded as modern speaker.

You judge ths sound of Lansche 4.1 which go down to 20 hz and Altec A7 whcih go down to only 31.5 hz but more robust bass from the following Youtube videos.
Surpising thing is that Altec A7 give as much as details as Lansche 4.1 with plasma tweeter.


[MEDIA=youtube]LE8j3ufH3u4[/MEDIA]
Loving you was like party
https://youtu.be/LE8j3ufH3u4
https://youtu.be/gGu9NfsMzGQ

Way down deep
https://youtu.be/jSfOCo-EKPU
https://youtu.be/-4apGL7GnGg

A touch of sonic madness
https://youtu.be/OGBUpeNqvcY
https://youtu.be/OGBUpeNqvcY

The Gate of Dafos

https://youtu.be/ulY5cfEA8bM

https://youtu.be/HlNwXvjxcu4

Which do you like better between Vintage(1) and Modern (2) judging from the Youtube videos?
128x128shkong78
cns1946's avatar
cns1946
66 posts
 
Altec A7-8 components bought new directly from Altec in 1974 and installed in custom cabinets to Altec specifications. Driving them with Luxman Neo Classic 10 wpc Amp with upgraded Mazda of France power tubes and Telefunken Preamp tubes. Great clarity and presence, detail is also great. You are pleasantly rewarded when the recording is clean, but a bad recording or scratched vinyl, not pleasant to the ears. Everyone who listens to them are impressed, the only negative is how big they are  and how much space they take up. Price for 4 drivers, two horns, and two crossovers in 1974 was $462, and 4 sheets of AA marine grade 3/4" plywood was less than $100. Efficiency is 97db measured. 
cns1946's avatar
cns1946
66 posts
 
The A7s were made for large spaces like movie theaters, recording studios, live theaters, outdoor concerts, while the Lansches are more suited for the home. Both sound excellent, the Lansches are more refined while the A7s have a bigger sound and presence. No bad choices here. 
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,463 posts
 
@cns1946

Thanks for useful experience of you.

My listeing room (actually living room on the second floor) is large

17ft wide 30ft deep 20 ft high and open to the third floor attic.

That may be the reason why I get good sound from Altec A7.

Lansche also sound well in small space too.

Thomas

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,689 posts
 
Billie Holiday’s voice sounds warm and sentimental through Altec A7.
     That’s Ella Fitzgerald not Billie Holiday!

       
      https://youtu.be/eyTSyclr-GQ
panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
436 posts
 
Altec A7s need to be in 8-10,000 ft3 room minimum, otherwise the 2K bump will drive you crazy, likewise they really are at their best with a tube amp. Those big 515 woofers kick back a lot of EMF that most solid state amps weren't designed to handle. That back EMF can trigger current limiting, or leak into the feedback loop, neither of which helps sound quality.

But, in their place, and with a proper amp, their dynamics and clarity will amaze you.
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