Hi, I have a conundrum and I need sum advice... (Sorry a bit of a story follows). I have two nice pairs of loudspeakers I purchased second hand about a year or so ago when I first discovered what stereo was. Call me a late bloomer, long time music fan, short time audiophile. Through reading forums and some personal encounters I purchased my first true 'old school' solid state amp and loudspeakers. They where called Infinity Quantum 3. Some repairs where done. I really liked the punchy sound i got through the 2 bridged Nads and JVC preamp I purchased with the system. I paid $600 for the lot and well I started to think maybe there could be better in the vintage field, because as good as the Quantums are there a bit muddy sounding. So the search began. I did sum more reading and countless hours of sifting through classified sites and etc. Then 1 day I came across a very inconspicuous add without a picture sitting amongst the jumble of other classified. The guy on the add didn't have a price listed only a name 808-8g altec lansing and sum old records. So I researched some more and well came up with very little. I gave him a call becuase people all over the net seemed to think old altecs are awsome and well nothing ventured nothing gained. I lined it up to buy them, the price was steep $1200. After taking off the back of the cabinets i dicovered they where infact a pair of 604e's I paid the money and got em home. I later brought a Naim nap90 and Nac 92 to drive both. Ok so we come to now. The problem I am having is I love the punch of the Infinity's the music flows through you. But the clarity of the Altecs is amazing. Which in anyone's opinion are worth keeping cause I wanna get rid of 1 pair. I don't wanna rush into it and regret it later I think there might be a way to improve the infinity's sound but at the moment im leaning toward the altecs. Any advice ppl???
Don't rush into getting rid of anything, I was in a similar predicament 4 years ago, when I found some old jbl speakers on the side of the road. I took them home and put them in my garrage.
After 6months I had a look at them and decided to throw them out because they had some weird passive crossover adjustment, and I thought if they don't know how to design a proper crossover they must be crap, after all, the original owner threw them out.
Recently, I discovered what it was that I had stupidly thrown out 🙁
I am not going to say what I had because I still feel sick about it.
After 6months I had a look at them and decided to throw them out because they had some weird passive crossover adjustment, and I thought if they don't know how to design a proper crossover they must be crap, after all, the original owner threw them out.
Recently, I discovered what it was that I had stupidly thrown out 🙁
I am not going to say what I had because I still feel sick about it.
Thanks melonhead good advice. Wish I could run both at once but the power cost would kill me and probably the neighbours.
Lobare,
I on't know anything about the Infinity speakers but those Altec's are getting pretty rare to find like that. The crossovers that came with those drivers were not very great, just a common low quality xo of the time. You could improve the sound with some upgrades to the passive crossovers or even move up to active crossovers and two sets of amplifiers. I always liked the sound though I always thought that you do give up a bit in the mid-range between the cone and the horn. The bass could also be improved with better design of the enclosure matching specification to optimized cabinet and port size. Don't get rid of them until you hear all that they can be.
I on't know anything about the Infinity speakers but those Altec's are getting pretty rare to find like that. The crossovers that came with those drivers were not very great, just a common low quality xo of the time. You could improve the sound with some upgrades to the passive crossovers or even move up to active crossovers and two sets of amplifiers. I always liked the sound though I always thought that you do give up a bit in the mid-range between the cone and the horn. The bass could also be improved with better design of the enclosure matching specification to optimized cabinet and port size. Don't get rid of them until you hear all that they can be.
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Hi Kindhornman I'm not too clued into how to build active xovers ne tips on resistance values like uF's and watts and maybe sum schematic pics please??
imo punchy has more of short term appeal and the clarity will be seductive for many years.
I'd love to find a pair of 604's of any stripe!
I've owned several sets of Infinity speakers from the Qe to the RS7 and, while I loved the sound, Altecs so far win the day for me🙂
I would say own both for a while and let your heart guide you😉
I'd love to find a pair of 604's of any stripe!
I've owned several sets of Infinity speakers from the Qe to the RS7 and, while I loved the sound, Altecs so far win the day for me🙂
I would say own both for a while and let your heart guide you😉
i am not sure what kind of amps you have but infinities need really high current
amps to give their best.
look for old nakamichi,yamaha,harman kardon amps.
maybe they need new caps at the crossovers because of age too.
amps to give their best.
look for old nakamichi,yamaha,harman kardon amps.
maybe they need new caps at the crossovers because of age too.
As you are asking about "watts" and active crossover in the same sentence, I recommend you buy one. Even the dirt cheap Bheringer analog ($90) are better than most systems, and the DCX ($350) can do about anything you could want.
If you want to know about what there is in analog crossovers, the good Douglas Self just published a 500 page book on the subject. Even if you choose not to build one, it is a very good read in explaining in normal non-engineer terms what is going on. For a much lighter (and free) read, check out the papers on ESP. If you have had advanced math, check out Linkwitz.
Looks like everyone else covered it but I will reinforce that the Infinity's do love power. The Altecs you could just about power from an Ipod🙂
When I had my RS7's I was using a Sansui AU-G99x, 160wpc and the combination was great sounding.
IMO the 604's are a "find', those are potentially Wonderful speakers.. in the appropriate enclosures 🙂
The Infinities? Stick 'em in a box in your attic.
Do try bi-amping the 604's.
That will give you 90% of what an active will give, especially a non specifically designed to suit one
The Infinities? Stick 'em in a box in your attic.
Do try bi-amping the 604's.
That will give you 90% of what an active will give, especially a non specifically designed to suit one
Thanks too all responses looks like the altec are a clear winner. I'm working on bi-amping em as I speak. Unfortunatly I need the space so it looks like the Infinitys might have to go TBH I need the funds. So the question is now whats a good price to put on em?? I've updated the caps and most of the pots. I shouldn't have to replace the inductors or resistors right? All drivers are in working order and cabnets are in good shape...
Since these are both multi-way speaker systems I will move the discussion there. Full range is generally understood to mean a single driver based system.
I assume, that are the speakers from follow URLs:
http://www.wardsweb.org/audio/Altec/604_valencia.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ETDOWY2Ee...mSg/s1600/Infinity+Quantum+3+Loudspeakers.jpg
I know these kind of differences how do you explain it above.
My suggestion is the use of Altec's 604 include high pass filter and an additional subwoofer for the punch.
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tiefbassuebertr,
Those cabinets almost look as nice as the Altec Barcelona cabinets I have in my livingroom ,just smaller and mine have angled faces containing an 811 horn and 1-15" speaker in a sealed enclosure. Looks like the same cabinet shop built them both.
Those cabinets almost look as nice as the Altec Barcelona cabinets I have in my livingroom ,just smaller and mine have angled faces containing an 811 horn and 1-15" speaker in a sealed enclosure. Looks like the same cabinet shop built them both.
Boy, talk about different animals. I think all you can do is judge for yourself. As far as value goes, the Altec's just seem to keep going up while the Infinity, a very decent speaker, isn't likely to help you in your retirement years.
I agree with those recommending going active with the Altecs.
BTW, an 808-8G is a tweeter.
I agree with those recommending going active with the Altecs.
BTW, an 808-8G is a tweeter.
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