VINTAGE TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVE / AUDIO / ALTEC

Altec

The Voice of the Theatre — and every stadium that mattered

Altec Driver & Speaker Cross-Reference →
Which drivers are in any Altec speaker, and which speakers used any given driver — looked up both ways.

History

Altec Lansing traces its origins to 1927 when All-Technical Services Company was founded in Oklahoma City by E. S. Pridham and George Carrington. The company manufactured audio equipment for motion picture theaters, developing the first practical theater sound systems as "talkies" revolutionized cinema.

In 1941, the company acquired Lansing Manufacturing Company from James B. Lansing (who would go on to found JBL). The merged entity became Altec Lansing Corporation, combining Altec's theater expertise with Lansing's driver technology.

The Voice of the Theatre (VOTT) series, introduced in the late 1930s and refined through the 1940s, became the industry standard for cinema sound. The A-4 and A-7 systems used large horn-loaded designs capable of filling massive theaters with clear, dynamic sound.

The Duplex drivers, introduced in 1943, combined high-frequency and low-frequency units in a coaxial arrangement. Models like the 604 and 605 became legendary in recording studios, offering point-source accuracy that defined "the Altec sound."

The 1950s and 1960s saw Altec expand into home hi-fi with models like the Valencia, Flamenco, and Model 19. These brought professional-quality drivers to consumer cabinets, earning a devoted following among audiophiles.

In 1984, Altec was acquired by Telex, and the brand went through various ownership changes. While new products continued under the Altec Lansing name, vintage Altec drivers and speakers remain highly prized by collectors.

Key Facts

FactDetail
Founded1927, Oklahoma City
FoundersE. S. Pridham and George Carrington
Key AcquisitionLansing Manufacturing (1941)
Cinema StandardVoice of the Theatre series
Studio Legend604 Duplex driver
StatusVintage drivers highly collectible

Legendary Products

Altec 604 Duplex (1943-1990s)

The legendary studio monitor that defined "the Altec sound." This coaxial driver combined a 15" woofer with a high-frequency compression driver on a multi-cell horn, all in a single point source. Versions like the 604B, 604C, 604E, and 604-8G served in countless recording studios worldwide.

Voice of the Theatre A-7 (1940s-1970s)

The most common cinema speaker in history. The A-7 used a 15" woofer in a large folded horn combined with a compression driver on a multicellular horn, capable of filling massive theaters with clean, dynamic sound at high volumes.

Altec Model 19 (1970s)

A consumer speaker that brought Altec's professional heritage home. Using the 605A Duplex driver in a compact ported enclosure, the Model 19 offered studio-monitor accuracy in a living-room-friendly package.

Altec Lansing Valencia (1960s-1970s)

A consumer speaker using the 15" 416 woofer and 806 compression driver on an 811B horn. The Valencia brought theater dynamics to home listening and remains highly collectible.

Sound Signature

Altec speakers do something that most modern speakers simply cannot: they make music feel physically present in the room. The combination of high-efficiency 15" woofers and horn-loaded compression drivers creates a dynamic range that's startling the first time you hear it. A snare drum crack through a pair of Voice of the Theatre A-7s doesn't just sound loud — it has the snap and air pressure of a live performance. This is what 98+ dB sensitivity sounds like, and once you've experienced it, conventional sealed-box speakers can feel sluggish by comparison.

The legendary 604 Duplex coaxial driver has a different magic. Because the high-frequency and low-frequency elements share a single axis, the imaging is remarkably coherent — there's a "point source" precision that lets you place every instrument in the mix. Studios used 604s for decades precisely because they tell the truth about a recording while remaining musically engaging. Altec's home speakers — the Valencia, Flamenco, and Model 19 — bring this same professional DNA to the living room. Pair any of them with a modest tube amplifier (even 8-10 watts will do) and you'll understand why the horn-speaker community is so passionate.

Collecting Altec

The Model 19 is the collector's favorite for home use — a complete speaker system with the 605A Duplex driver in a practical enclosure, typically running $2,000-4,000 per pair. The 604 Duplex drivers themselves are the real treasure: a matched pair of 604E or 604-8G drivers in proper cabinets can command $3,000-6,000. The Valencia and Flamenco models offer the Altec horn experience at more accessible prices, usually $1,500-3,000 per pair. Individual professional drivers — the 515 woofer, 806 compression driver, and 811B horn — are actively sought by DIY builders assembling custom systems.

Voice of the Theatre A-7 systems are the ultimate conversation piece, but they demand serious room space. Original cinema pulls surface regularly and can be surprisingly affordable ($500-1,500 per pair) given their historical significance — the catch is that they're enormous. When evaluating any vintage Altec, listen for compression driver diaphragm issues (crackling or distortion at higher frequencies) and check woofer surrounds carefully. The good news is that Altec drivers are well-supported by the aftermarket, with quality recone kits and replacement diaphragms readily available from specialists like Great Plains Audio.

Competitors & Comparisons

Altec vs JBL: Sister companies; similar heritage; JBL more refined

Altec vs Klipsch: Both horn designs; Altec more professional cinema

Altec vs EV: Similar pro cinema focus; Altec warmer sound

Models

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Horns

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Other Models

VINTAGE TECHNOLOGY ARCHIVE / 03-16-2026 / FEEDBACK