If you're searching for real old world detailed and powerful sound -- with the beauty that vintage audio from the USA has; and you are looking for an affordable 12" … then you know how hard it can be hard to select the right thing. These will do very well --- as ALTEC intended -- as a standalone full range speaker. They harken back to some of Jensen's earliest full range products as well as some of the offerings of Lansing iconic series from the early 1940s before being purchased by Altec, about the time -- just slightly post dating the "Hollywood" RWB era. With the added twist from Lansing's compression driver experience (ie the WE 594, and 287 of the 1930s) -- a somewhat ahead-of-the time center cap -- the dawn of combining hardened aluminum for better HF response -- In effect, like having a miniature 1" HF driver running right alongside your 12" paper/linen/silken cone. These are the 8 ohm 600B, the 600 is a different ribbed cone. This was the seed of later products from Jim Lansing. Altec later called this early product line -- the DiaCone series.
These early 12" drivers represent a type of product Altec only shortly made ... quickly left past as they moved towards high powered full excursion speakers of the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
You're not going to easily find a nicer matched pair. These drivers are fully tested, the pair made in 1954 during the consecutave months of April & May. Both speakers have the original Altec 20444 cone (see exhibit C) The edge gasket still showing Altec's original stamps (see exhibit B) … which means they are VERY early. Both even have the original sticker warning installers the novel Diacone aluminum center.
They are beautiful … they look as if he knew. The edges are factory treated paper. The cones are all original with matching numbers. (see exhibit E) . These are quite early drivers --- rather than have a bi-flex type (dual-cone) ( which Altec later made many of) – these have a high-frequency passive center -- similar to the 603, but lacking the added phenolic multicellular passive horn.
The Altec 600 series is an excellent choice if you plan to build a full range single driver system. But far better yet as a two or even three way speaker system. If you're trying to stay with all vintage extremely hi efficiency parts, and using ALTEC for HF … these are excellenct for compatibility (the sound like & go well with lots of fabulous vintage Altec drivers/horns). You should pick up a nice set of nice 600Bs. If you use low power tube amps ..they are uniquely versatile.
Please see our detailed, included test reports of these all original vintage 1950s drivers. They're the real McCoy, and you wont be disappointed.
ORIGINAL CONES. Both units, dated 1954. The have been fully swept, down to 20 cyc -- to 20,000cyc…. and have perfect function, and good & MATCHED sounding on the bench. Excellent response, clean and clear, well centered. No rattles or errant sounds of any kind.
Unit #2 has a couple of extremely small blemishes on the aluminum center (very slight and does not affect performance, see Exhibit E) Both speakers are beautiful. Both a calibrated DCR and Impedance sweep showed excellent matched response on both drivers (see included reports in exhibit C,D,E) .
Their all original cones have treated edges are still supportaive and flexible. This is a harder treatment than Altec later progressed to....It is unique, but something very similar to what 1940s Stephens and Lansing used in the 1940s. The 600 B is a lower excursion driver – which means it's action will be very fast, crisp risp and detailed. They jumped to life, and filled my office with music, with only very low-power during an extensive test. .
Definitely a full range driver, still if using in a closed or ported box. ….you would be best served to use an excellent midrange driver .. perhaps a tweeter too….. They have excellent voicing, and should be great for delicate instruments from lively violin and or clean & clear, silky jazz. The edgewound aluminum voice coils and powerful alnico V magnet with a tight gap, and extremely rigid cone … ensure is that the speakers have great detail – more so than many of this era --- just like you to expect from a high-quality, heavy driver of the day.
Altec's 600 B was designed as standalone 12 inch driver, and it's capabilities lent it to vintage cinema fill in the 1940s and 50s -- and also later as dedicated auditorium sound work.
The 600/600 B /603 were made during a brief period of time in the history of USA cinema, whereas the famous Altec 604 saw production for nearly 50 years.
Philosophically speaking it's very tough to find a 12 inch driver made by Altec or JBL of the vintage era that covers so many potential applications in the homes of tube oriented, DiY & collector audiophiles. Single ended amps would do very well with these.
Give them a try, as the more collectors get to hear these and other such pretty & quite useful old drivers --- prices will continue to climb -- -and you'll find them quite useful in your HiFi pursuits.
You won't be disappointed with these and they'll be carefully boxed in a double box for super safe delivery. Will be shipped EMS express with full tracking info emailed after payment. Please see my excellent 100% five-star feedback on all vintage audio items. Fast dispatch, excellent safety & communication always.
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