Altec Lansing 605B (1967)

A 2-way 38 cm coaxial speaker unit released in 1967, used in professional recording studios worldwide.

Overview

The Altec Lansing 605B is a 2-way 38 cm coaxial speaker unit introduced in 1967. Designed for professional audio applications, it was adopted in recording studios around the world. The unit combines a 38 cm cone-type woofer with a coaxial high-frequency horn and driver, offering a wide frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. It was offered with 8 Ω and 16 Ω impedance options and rated for 35W input, with a peak handling of 50W.

Specifications

Type	2-way 38 cm coaxial speaker unit
Units used	For low band: 38 cm cone type; For High Frequency: Horn Type
Frequency characteristic	20 Hz to 20 kHz
Lowest resonance frequency	25Hz
Impedance	8 Ω, 16 Ω
Rated input	35W
Allowable input	50W
Magnetic flux density	Low band: 11,000 gauss; High pass: 14,000 gauss
Crossover frequency	1.6kHz
External dimensions	Diameter 389x Depth 254 mm
Weight	12.7kg

Design

The 605B uses a 38 cm cone-type woofer for the low range and a coaxial configuration with a multi-seller horn and driver for the high range. Its magnetic circuit differs from the 604E, resulting in slightly different start-up characteristics, though the overall unit layout is similar.

Context

The Altec Lansing 605B served as a hybrid speaker unit in recording studios globally, reflecting its role in professional audio monitoring during the late 20th century.