2. speakers
  3. 170234-118117

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
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,898 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
551 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.
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
@panzrwagn

Thanks a lot for your valuable opinion.

My room is kind of marginal although it could be regarded as big.

I use only tube amplifiers except driving subwoofers.

Thomas
shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 
Accuphase DG-68 Digital Voicing Equalizer

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. A great conceptsound enough to serve as the foundation for an independent democratic nation.

www.stereophile.com


It seems that JVS had been fascinated with Accuphase DG-68 Digital Voicing Equalizer .



https://www.accuphase.com/historys/images/dg-28.jpg


I had been usin DG-28 model since 2001.



I set up DG-28 last night after 11PM.


Using the mike, it scans 64 frequencies and then adjust the spectrum in the digital domain.


It has 4 pre sets so that I can choose the adjusted results for 4 different speakers.


Lansche 4.1 tends to sound sweet and warm but after room equlaization, it’s sounds get sharper and crispy.


The result with Altec A7 is very satisfactory.


A7 tend to be a little bit too aggressive in the treble.


I mean it give slight harsh edge from time to time.


But room correction and equalization through DG-28 seems to ameliorate such harsh edge.



[MEDIA=youtube]jO3rwoDpvqM[/MEDIA]


After equalization, Heifetz’ s violin sounds warm and full freshed.



[MEDIA=youtube]VTIe50QgCJI[/MEDIA]


But without equalization, his viloin sounds somewhat metallic.




[MEDIA=youtube]yPHZgInSsPU[/MEDIA]


After equalization, the bass seems to be little bit tighter and more extended but not a day and night difference.



To conclude, I am happy with equalization on Altec A7.


The most pronounced effect is to get the treble clean and make violin sounds warm and full freshed.


Thomas


shkong78's avatar
shkong78 OP
1,485 posts
 

I also tested frequency extension using Stereophie test disc tracks.


Before Eq, useful signal until 31.5 hz, only faint rumbling at 25hz and 20hz.


After Eq,   useful signal until 31.5 hz and at 25hz , only faint rumbling  20hz.


Thus I do not need subwoofer with A7 in my room.


More to discover