Modern speakers vs Vintage speakers

MarcelNL

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No judgment, yet it sounds as if you are already giving enough to your wife to keep your speakers where you want them.....and that is from someone who does not believe in trades being part of a relationship...
 

thomask

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No judgment, yet it sounds as if you are already giving enough to your wife to keep your speakers where you want them.....and that is from someone who does not believe in trades being part of a relationship...
It is not that simple.

i may have to do something before she move in.

:cool:
 

thomask

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After listening to Altec A7 for 5 days, I am back to Lansche 4.1 for freash air.

Without room correction of DG 28 equalizer, Lansche gave too much bass on the second floor.

But after eq, it gives very clear and transparent sound.
;)

Lansche give more 3 D pin point imaging than A7 with slightly more nuanced details out of plasma tweeter.

On the other hand Altec A7 give more effortless bass without any strain.

I will keep both speakers on the second flloor and taking turns depending on music and my mood.

Lansche has rather small footprint, thus Altec A7 does not appear to be affected by the presence of Lansche.

After all A7 is supposed to be speaker for theater with broad sweet area.

:cool:
 
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thomask

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Do you think each pair of speakers is more or less in its optimal position within the room?
In terms of tonal balance, they are close to optimal position with help from DG 28 which give 4 different presets applied to separate speakers.

In terms of sharp focusing and depth of imaging, there may still be room to move them around.
 

Rensselaer

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It's probably me, but over this computer listening device of MP3 recording of your speakers, the Altec still sounded to me more real and pleasant, the Lansche more hi fi. For what it's worth, my ears have had 67 years of wear and tear (including trains in my back yard as a kid, military service that included training with the US Marines and duty as an in flight medical specialist aboard jet powered Chinook's at a Naval Air Station).

Sorry thomask, I just realised this isn't about what we think, listening to your MP3 recordings, but what you are learning from owning these speakers and teaching from your listening to them with the rest of us.
 
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thomask

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It's probably me, but over this computer listening device of MP3 recording of your speakers, the Altec still sounded to me more real and pleasant, the Lansche more hi fi. For what it's worth, my ears have had 67 years of wear and tear (including trains in my back yard as a kid, military service that included training with the US Marines and duty as an in flight medical specialist aboard jet powered Chinook's at a Naval Air Station).

Sorry thomask, I just realised this isn't about what we think, listening to your MP3 recordings, but what you are learning from owning these speakers and teaching from your listening to them with the rest of us.
I agree with most of your points.

Altec give more realistic sound but the 3D imaging brought by Lansche is enjoyable. You may never hear such 3 D sound in real concert.

But audiophile tend to enjoy such 3 D pinpoint imaging brought by modern high end speaker.

Thus I will play each of them depending on music and my mood.

This thread is near the end.

The only open end is to test different kind of amplifier for Altec A7.

I consider 300b push pull or some OTL amp for A7.

When my Silbatone get repaired Feb next year, I will also try 300b SET and WE 300b tubes made in 50's that I already have.
 

PeterA

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Thomask, The subject of vintage speakers versus modern speakers will not end when you decide to stop talking about your system. You have provided an example around w to have a good discussion.

An equally interesting discussion, IMO, could be had between vintage and modern turntables, at least at the higher end.

The subject seems to revolve around one’s preference versus what one thanks sounds most like the real thing. They are not necessarily the same thing and that is what makes it so fascinating. At least to me.
 
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Rensselaer

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I agree with most of your points.

Altec give more realistic sound but the 3D imaging brought by Lansche is enjoyable. You may never hear such 3 D sound in real concert.

But audiophile tend to enjoy such 3 D pinpoint imaging brought by modern high end speaker.

Thus I will play each of them depending on music and my mood.

This thread is near the end.

The only open end is to test different kind of amplifier for Altec A7.

I consider 300b push pull or some OTL amp for A7.

When my Silbatone get repaired Feb next year, I will also try 300b SET and WE 300b tubes made in 50's that I already have.
I am very interested in your A7’s, as my Ayon Spitfire Integrated, being a 30 watt per channel SET, doesn’t sound real or full spectrum through my 90db/watt sens Thrax Lyra speakers. The bass speakers for the A7 might be obtainable, along with plans for the cabinet and crossover, then there is the horn and high end driver for that, but at some cost in terms of money and hassle so, please sir, could we hear more?
 

dwhistance

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I am very interested in your A7’s, as my Ayon Spitfire Integrated, being a 30 watt per channel SET, doesn’t sound real or full spectrum through my 90db/watt sens Thrax Lyra speakers. The bass speakers for the A7 might be obtainable, along with plans for the cabinet and crossover, then there is the horn and high end driver for that, but at some cost in terms of money and hassle so, please sir, could we hear more?
All the drivers are available from Great Plains Audio as are crossovers though there are better ones available from elsewhere - try Pete Wriggle at vtaf.com. That just leaves cabinets which are easily made from plans on the Lansing Heritage site and the treble horn which is generally available on eBay though there are wooden copies which are supposed to be very good. Reading the VOTT pages on Pete Wiggles site is a good place to start if you are interested in A7’s.

Good luck

David
 

thomask

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I am very interested in your A7’s, as my Ayon Spitfire Integrated, being a 30 watt per channel SET, doesn’t sound real or full spectrum through my 90db/watt sens Thrax Lyra speakers. The bass speakers for the A7 might be obtainable, along with plans for the cabinet and crossover, then there is the horn and high end driver for that, but at some cost in terms of money and hassle so, please sir, could we hear more?

Fully assembled A7's are available in Europe too. ;)
 

thomask

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Thomask, The subject of vintage speakers versus modern speakers will not end when you decide to stop talking about your system. You have provided an example around w to have a good discussion.

An equally interesting discussion, IMO, could be had between vintage and modern turntables, at least at the higher end.

The subject seems to revolve around one’s preference versus what one thanks sounds most like the real thing. They are not necessarily the same thing and that is what makes it so fascinating. At least to me.
I had listened to my friend's Western Electric horn more than 50 hours at his home which had been the best audio system to me.


But I never expected that Altec A7 could be such exciting speaker.

There is an interesting aricle.


"The A5 would be very dark chocolate. The A7 would be medium dark chocolate. Although the A5 components are more expensive than the A7 components, I somehow prefer the A7. Jeff doesn't have to worry about that. He has both."

Before reading the article, I got also temptation to add A5 in addition to A7.

I agree with Pete in his assessment of A7.

"So how will I describe the A7 speakers as set up in my Garden of Earthly Delights listening room: full bodied, rich, directly engaging, punchy, present, immediate,smooth, sweet, musical, articulate, and nuanced, with a big sound stage, pin point localization of instruments, and lots of space. The sound stage lies well behind the loudspeakers."

The most nice thing is that A7 breathe well in my listeing room with high ceiling. :)


s-l1600 (8).jpg

There are lot of things to play around A7 before changing its network.

Although I enjoy open and extended treble after adding Fostex supertweeter, I ordered Philips KS Polysterene Capacitor to tone it down little bit.

The show will go on! :cool:
 
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Solypsa

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we are all going to learn from your adventure thanks!
 
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morricab

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I had listened to my friend's Western Electric horn more than 50 hours at his home which had been the best audio system to me.


But I never expected that Altec A7 could be such exciting speaker.

There is an interesting aricle.


"The A5 would be very dark chocolate. The A7 would be medium dark chocolate. Although the A5 components are more expensive than the A7 components, I somehow prefer the A7. Jeff doesn't have to worry about that. He has both."

Before reading the article, I got also temptation to add A5 in addition to A7.

I agree with Pete in his assessment of A7.

"So how will I describe the A7 speakers as set up in my Garden of Earthly Delights listening room: full bodied, rich, directly engaging, punchy, present, immediate,smooth, sweet, musical, articulate, and nuanced, with a big sound stage, pin point localization of instruments, and lots of space. The sound stage lies well behind the loudspeakers."

The most nice thing is that A7 breathe well in my listeing room with high ceiling. :)


View attachment 83842

There are lot of things to play around A7 before changing its network.

Although I enjoy open and extended treble after adding Fostex supertweeter, I ordered Philips KS Polysterene Capacitor to tone it down little bit.

The show will go on! :cool:
Now you need a JBL Hartsfield or Paragon to go with your ALTECs.
 

thomask

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Now you need a JBL Hartsfield or Paragon to go with your ALTECs.
No more room to to take them in my house.

My next step on the vintage side will be the one with field coil drivers.

Also I have to assemble Scaena 3.2 and set it up on the third floor before the end of this year.
 
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DasguteOhr

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If you are looking for a used field coil, register at auctions.yahoo.jp there you will be more likely than anywhere else in the world. At the moment there is only one Open baffle 8 "speaker listed for just under 1000 €. Perhaps interesting to try out.
 

thomask

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If you are looking for a used field coil, register at auctions.yahoo.jp there you will be more likely than anywhere else in the world. At the moment there is only one Open baffle 8 "speaker listed for just under 1000 €. Perhaps interesting to try out.
Thanks

But I will choose one after full auditioning.

There are some available in US Ebay, but I am not sure they are in good condition.

The owner of Korean audio shop on the first page of this thread will get me field coil drivers if I want.

I will wait until I save enough budget on the project.
 
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thomask

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161109032931_714.jpg



Had anyone used Cayn A-300p push pull 300b amp?

It gives 20 watts enough to drive Altec A7 or Lansche 4.1.

I also have several Nos 12ax7, 12Au7 tubes.

I plan to use Psavne Acme 300b tubes if I buy this .
 
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Addicted to hifi

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View attachment 83865



Had anyone used Cayn A-300p push pull 300b amp?

It gives 20 watts enough to drive Altec A7 or Lansche 4.1.

I also have several Nos 12ax7, 12Au7 tubes.

I plan to use Psavne Acme 300b tubes if I buy this .
Love the looks of it.
 
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