I can't believe from out of nowhere this is becoming the Altec Speaker Forum. Good thing I kept all my drivers so I can play too. The best dream shootout I can think of would be A7's/Pi Pro 4's. That might be worth traveling for.
I know, I know. I now realize that I am addicted: i own a pair of K horns and now a pair of VOTTTs. Not to mention sundry drivers that I am doing little projects with. THis is IT! No more speaker purchases...and no more spending money, i am just going to enjoy the music. (not to mention that my house & office are running out of space). -akhilesh
Well; regarding the Theater 4's I am sure you know you're preaching to the choir there; best deal since the Louisiana Purchase. But they are pretty different animals, horn loaded woofer and all. I don't mean a comparison in absolute terms; ie. regarding better or worse. I mean more of how each affects particular styles of music and reacts with different amplification.
Wayne Parham Messages: 18678 Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)
That's what I meant too. They sound similar. Each has a nice full midrange and they are both physically large so bass is deep but shelved. That makes quarter-space and eighth-space radiation work best. It also makes both speakers forgiving of a little bit of SET bloom on the bottom. But neither is good for a SET amp that has weak bass. The A7 VOTT and the Theater four π have always struck me as having similar characteristics and sound.
You know; sitting them againsnt the rear wall I have not noticed a lack of bass with SE compared to a push-pull amp or SS. Different bass and somewhat looser but to my ears it seems to go equally as low. Which brings up this question. I hear people say that this or that speaker goes down to 35hz or 30hz. Without having something to measure the actual number such as the HFNRR record or something similar; what to your ears enables you; or anyone to tell where you are in the frequency spectrum? I can hear low tones from recordings I know to be representing fundementals; but discerning that your speakers are playing say, 25-30hz; how does one know? Unless you have a proven recording that you can point to as an example; say the big bass drum in Pictures at an Exhibition; the Great Gates Of Kiev; I personally can't distinguish exact low notes. Something to me either sounds powerfull in the bass; or it has that punchy lower/mid- bass sound; or it has the sub-woofer rumble. But I don't hear real bass like a pipe organ in any current music that would inform me of very low tones. Here's an example. We spoke about the fact that Altec's are weak in the bass; however I tend to favor their lighter touch with acoustic low tones over some of the more overwhelming examples of bass reproduction. It just seems more natural to me. Same with the Theater 4's, they have a nice touch with bass but they don't do that sub-rumble thing people seem to favor. Since there is not much recorded music below 30hz; what are we trying to accomplish by tuning the bass as low as possible? Any thought's?
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