Help with Altec model

[Wilson]

Have inherited these.

Bad photo of a vintage Altec. Which model are these please?

Thanks in advance,

John

https://ibb.co/iU5Uxf

 

[Yank]

Looks like an Altec Valencia.

 

[Hook]

Agreed with Yank. Looks like an early model. The later ones had two front ports.

 

[Wilson]

Thanks for your assistance.

Would a Decware Zen pair well with these? I have never owned a horn loudpeaker nor a valve amp so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Currently own Exposure 17 and 18 Super monos.

Thanks again for your time.

 

[Tony L]

I’d personally go for a bit more power than a Zen, but you don’t need much. If these are your first high efficiency speakers be aware that a quiet amp is just as important as a good sounding one, the speakers will find any hiss or hum present. Have a good read of Stereophile as one of the columnists, Art Dudley I think, had a pair of Valencias and loved them. He used crazy expensive Shindo amps though.

 

[Hook]

The Valencia specs say 10W minimum, but there’s a guy here who says Decware Zen (1.8W) can work.

https://www.audioasylum.com/cgi/t.mpl?f=vintage&m=112819

I used to know a guy (long since deceased) with the later Valencias who used a valve amp, but it is too long ago for me to remember the amp make and model.

 

[Wilson]

Pick them up next week. May well come back here for further advice.

Thanks, guys.

 

[jtrade]

Please keep us informed - I followed Art Dudley's very positive experiences with his Valencias and always fancied a pair.

 

[Wilson]

Finally have these set up.

They are late model Valencia 846A. Late 70's I would guess. They are all original and in great condition.

Currently running off of Expo 17 18 monos. Not ideal but tells me that I like them. I also inherited a Sansui 9090 that is in great shape but will be due for a service. Shall I run them off of the Sansui once it has been serviced and be content with that or go down the tubes road?

 

[Tony L]

I’d go down the tube road if at all possible, the Sansui, lovely though it no doubt it, just won’t be the right thing for high-efficiency horns. You don’t need much power, something like a little EL84 Leben or equivalent would be ideal.

 

[Wilson]

Thanks, Tony.

Might an Icon 20 PP, based on the Leak Stereo 20, suffice?

 

[Tony L]

If it really is of the quality of a Stereo 20 I suspect it would be ideal. You really don’t need any more than 10 watts with a 95db+ loudspeaker, and a couple of EL84s with a nice output transformer do that as well as anything to my ears.

 

[Wilson]

Thanks, Tony.

 

[jtrade]

I came across an interesting short article on Valencia mods : https://www.audiophilenirvana.com/a...ews/altec-lansing-valencia-improving-classic/ .

 

[Wilson]

Thanks, jtrade.

 

[Wilson]

With regard to my Altec Valencia 846As; should these be positioned near to the wall behind them or in free space? And if near the wall, how close? Can’t find too much info on placement.

Thanks.

 

[Hook]

Here’s a pic of how Stereophile’s Art Dudley has his Flamencos set up in his 16’x11’x9’ room.

He uses both Flamencos and Valencias, and discusses some of their minor differences here.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/listening-169

 

[Wilson]

Thanks for that, Hook. I had read the Valencia article in Stereophile but was unaware of the one that you have linked to. I will read that this evening.

Have a good weekend.

 

[Hoopsontoast]

I love the Decware Zen, but if you need a little more power, the Puresound A10 EL84 or Audion Stirling SE EL34 would be a good affordable choice!

 

[Wilson]

Thanks, Hoopsontoast. Planning to buy a used Leben 300 or used Manley Stingray.