steamer

I might have missed something, but 902's bolt directly to the 511b. No adapter is needed. Small format diaphragms from GPA are $119 each. I hammer the 902's crossed at 400hz first order with no prob. However, the loading caps are still in place. What exactly is loud? That is what it is to each listener. I lost a K33 at just over 120db[:$] and the 902's were still there. Regards, Terry My 902's are bolted to the 511's,no adapter needed Greg

Hello, Welcome to the forum. I have recently went to a triamp configuration with an active xover to split signals at 500hz-20khz for my Altec 511b/902 horns and below that to the bass bins on my LaScala's/BagEnd subs. If you have level controls for each channel and passives to protect the tweets it should work.You may be able to use your existing passives to divide the higher signals with some simple modifications.I cant give advise there but others on this forum can.You might be able to use what they call a L-pad in the signal line to the tweeter. In my recent expierience the biggest hurdle was matching the levels of the various drivers and amps. BTW what speakers are you listening to? Greg

link on compression in audio: http://sound.westhost.com/compression.htm

Chris, I agree and now have a SET amp,go for it,you wont go back! Greg

sounds like KHORNS to me

Anthony, Thankyou for your article,it was very interesting for me as I would enjoy trying some vintage tube gear soon,Your list was a good starting point.Sorry to put you in hot water just thought the people on this forum would enjoy and give some of thier thoughts. The last thing I expected was for the author of the article to post on this forum LOL,glad you did and well done explaining your alltime greats. Chris, Enjoyed your Decware Zen comment,being an owner of the monos I have to agree that the sound is very good and the best I have heard in my limited expierience with tubes. As for the power issue I ran my LaScala's full range with the Decwares.The plan was to check them out before I put the Altec 511/902 combo in a 2way setup...well2 days turned into a week.They completely amazed me and drove the LaScala's at very high spl's,yes I could make them say uncle but I was surprised at the volume level to get there.Maybe someday the Decwares will be a classic on someones list! Greg

Hi Pauln, I can say I have never listened below @95 db untill recently due to system changes,oh I got fatigued and eventually turned it down then it was right back up like a damn YO-YO. I now power my LaScala's 2way(Altec 511b/902 combo sittin on top)with Decware monos rated at 4 watts or so.The bass bins are powered by SS. Then I have the BagEnd sub system(2x18 passive w/dedicated SS amp). All signals go thru a Rane active. I can turn it up ... WOW and I do sometimes but it sounds as good at low volumes.I spend alot of time at the lower volume setting now,cant really say what spl's.The system has a special synergy for sure! As far as listening times the best is after 10 or so.I hate it when my heating system kicks on.such a distraction.I actually shut it off the other night and woke up the next am to 60 degrees. I really like this SET ampflication,such clarity and detail rarely harsh and the mids to die for.The bass is so integrated with the highs,tight and punchy even at low volumes,never had that before,maybe a reason I always turned it up. The machine is doin its job!!! Greg

Well folks what say you? What is in your CDP right now? Pick your 3 favorite BAD A%^&&$# bass discs Lets hear your thoughts,Mine are as follows: BHTM(Big Head Todd&the MONSTERS)-Sister Sweetly!!! the new Nickelback-All The Right Reasons Candelbox-Candelbox and in the player now: The Bent Scepters-Blind Date With Destiny,a local eastern Iowa band,awsome bass that propels the music along,lots of toe tappin type bass!!! Yea only 3,I know,as I type this others enter my mind. Greg

I think there is truth in this statement as I relate to always turning the volume up to get that bass(rythym impact)goin in the past.With the BagEnd sub system in my setup its always there at any volume plus all the other changes to the topend and WOW!!! folks..Im very happy and listening at way lower volumes Greg

What Dean says is so true or at least I am expieriencing that with my new configuration of the perfect music machine(see profile). For the first time in the evolution of my system I am listening at a much lower volume.This is crazy good!I think I would always turn it up to get that impact or hear more of the music.Now I have that impact at all volumes and the coherency of the system is so right...lots of changes lately and I am still getting a feel for the sound but the change that struck me was the reduced volume to achieve THE sound!!! BTW it sounds awsome at higher SPL's,just have not gone there much in the last few weeks. Greg

I have heard good things about Dynaco. I would really like to set up a second system (Klipsch based) and go with some vintage tube gear from ebay or audiogon.Maybe something to restore,lots of options. Greg

Do you own any of these models or can think of any to add to the list? http://stereos.about.com/od/amplifierreviews/tp/classic_tubes.htm Greg

Check these babys out! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5847252392&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1 Greg

Since I am a humble person and hate the Chiefs LOL, yes da Raiders suck this year...dissappointing to say the least! I understand currious 4 yr olds and that would excellerate my timeline also! As for the Shannling monos they are sitting on the bench in favor of a pair of Decware SET mono's hooked directly to the big ol horns signal fed from a Rane active 2way xover.I guess I have to update my profile.Alot has changed in the last 3 weeks with the system.The tube player was traded for the Decware gear from Charlieboy on this forum. The rest of the system is as follows: Bass bins powered by a Bryston 3BPRO SS amp 2 BagEnd 18 passive subs powered by a Bryston 4BPRO The Rane splits the signal at 500hz,everything above 500 goes to the big ol horn and below goes to the BagEnd integrator that splits it at 90 hz,the subs see below 90 and the bass bins above that. Wow this is really SWEEEET!!!! The Shannling gear is very good but man SET on that horn is something else.And these Decware amps are amazing! My CDP is a Mark Levinson #39 with a killer volume controlling system level. BTW the Shannling monos are for sell,not because they sound bad but just dont fit the direction of my system. Greg

Erik, I powered my La Scalas with Decware SE84CS monos(4 watts per) for about a week before integrating my Altec 511B/902 horns into a 2way setup.I was very impressed with only 4 watts of SET power.Yes I could make the amps run out of steam but it took alot more volume than I expected to get there! As for your SVS subs...sounds like you have found a good match for the Korns that you like.Getting them to blend with the system and not sound disconnected is a long procces but well worth the time involved! Hope you enjoy the new addition to your system. Greg

The Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies....oh YEA!!!!! Greg

DITTO!!!!!!!!!!! I am running the 511/902 combo and well....WHAT A DRIVER!!!!,very smooth goes to 20K and walks all over my stock La Scala mid and tweet! no drilling or adapters just bolt it on! Greg

Greg, I am doing a similar project. I also added 511Bs but am running 3-way with upgraded AA networks. I had the altec horns sitting on the top of the cabinets but could not deal with it any longer. Running the LS as 3-ways presents more of a problem due to the placement of the tweeter. My speakers were bought from Audiogon about a year ago and the cabinets were nothing special, so it was a little easier to cut into. Oh yeah, I am not particularly handy or skilled with tools or woodworking. Good luck finding a cabinet shop to work for $25 an hour. Unless you have a hookup, that probably won't happen. I put an add on craigslist. Wanted: Woodworking Help. I said I needed a guy with a shop and some skills and received 5 replies within a week. I took three La Scalas over to the guy's shop at his house that I felt most comfortable with. Two of the speakers cabs were extended. For the third, we lopped off the top section and I made a split LS to fit under/over my projector screen. The whole project took about 6 hours and I paid him $150 and got him baked. It was a fun day and I learned alot. I took them home and sanded them and will be priming and painting later in the week. I understand that you do not want to cut your precious La Scala.. With a little oil-based primer, sanding, and brushed oil-based paint, they will look far better than the factory paint job. It will also be the easiest and most cost-effective. I will post some pics this weekend of the final product. We basically added 3.875" to the cabinet using 'biscuit joints'. Basically, you make a thin cut through the middle of the plywood and insert small wood pieces (or biscuits) to add a little strength and help with alignment of the wood. With the wood glue, these cabs are as strong as the originals. Don't let the ugly pics scare you. There is also some wood putty in the holes where the previous owner did a crappy job of adding a decorative trim. I am going to paint them black and may veneer them in the future. I want to enjoy them for a while first. Good luck with your project. Dirk, I have followed your project with interest and WOW you are gonna like the result!!!...mine has turned out quite well sound wise,still have to figure out the details of my cab configuration as I am exploring several options. Hell I could listen to the system with them on top for awhile its that good and completely ignore what it looks like. I bought a set of JBL 2404 babycheeks as backup to my 2way configuration but they sound really good and have no problems with despersion and yes that would change cab setup,like your solution to the issue.should look very good when you finish and also get that tweet up a little closer to the Khorn setup. Great advise on the hired help sceneario!!!at this point all options are on the table.I do have a friend who is into woodworking but dont know if he wants a project like this. The pics dont scare me because I realize the end result will justify the meens...idealy a beater set of bins with no top conforms with the mods I want to do,lots of vibe control for the bass bin and a custom top built around the Altec.The final demensions would look like a Scala on steroids! BTW have you ever seen the movie "Boogie Nights" LOL Greg

I have a uniqe setup where I use Decware SET monos(4watts per) to power an Altaec 511/902 combo in a 2way La Scala configuration. Before I added the Altec and went 2way I ran the Decware monos fullrange to power my La Scala's and WOW they did a very good job of it...but if you stood on the system they ran out of steam and it took alot of volume to get there!!!! I now have the monos connected directly to the Altec horns using an outboard xover and there is alot more headroom. The bass is covered by SS amps with plenty of power for headroom. I can now say I have all the headroom I need!!!! I agree with the comments on headroom previosly mentioned and WOW this rig I have put together really seems to fit that mold!!! of course freeing the SET amps from the bass freq.'s does alot in that regaurd. Greg

djk, Thanks for the input,I dont have the tools or expieience working with wood to complete a project of this magnetude. I like your idea of a carpenter building these for me,do you have a link for the plans? Sounds like you have expierience building these,if you are interested in undertaking a project with my vibe mods LOL let me know! Greg

Yes, Shawn made the cuts for his 511's,saw them and even copied the pic's for reference,but my problem is...dont want to mess up a perfectly good set of La Scala's,would rather sell them intact to someone! Thanks, Greg

I voted for flat... but on second thought my BagEnd bass system uses an EQ to do its thing but other than that I have no preamp unless you count the Rane xover to set levels for low and high...are these tone controls? if so then I voted wrong! Greg

I know an older gentelman from work with a bunch of old gear that he wants to sell me,namely a pair of Crown tube monos rated at 160 watts per! He says just take um home a try them out...I dont know what model they are but am looking forward to checking this gear out and hear what vintage is all about!!!!! He isnt into music anymore,system has not been setup for years,wait till he hears my rig LOL, La Scala's with 5 watts of SET,he is used to Maggies(those are for sell also),kind of the other end of the spectrum! Wonder what he has for a preamp... Greg

I might I found these under my favorites,I tend to save every site related to audio in favorites. I was just going thru them and stumbled on these 2. I will post any more I find and beleve me there are more! Greg

On another note, I love your avatar steamer! What a crappy frustrating year it has been though. ____________________________________________________ Yes ,I agree what a terrible year!Thought with the key additions of Moss and L. Jordan we would turn things around...at least make it a respectable year. BTW my fantasy team looked the same,literally!!!! Greg