A Voice of the Theatre series speaker system using large horn-loaded designs for high-output cinema sound.
Overview
The Altec A7-500-8 is a speaker system from Altec's legendary Voice of the Theatre (VOTT) series, widely used in cinemas and prized by collectors. While specific production years are not documented, the model carries forward the A-7 design lineage introduced in the late 1930s and refined through the 1940s. It was built to deliver clean, dynamic sound at high volumes, capable of filling large theaters. The system uses a 15" woofer in a large folded horn combined with a compression driver on a multicellular horn, characteristic of the A-7 series. The full cabinet is known as the 825 model, and the system includes components such as the 416-8C midrange driver, horn 511B, and crossover filter 1201-8A.
Specifications
| Product type | Speaker system (Voice of the Theatre series) |
| Manufacturer | Altec Lansing Corporation |
| Components | 416-8C, horn 511B, filter 1201-8A, 825 cabinet |
| Weight | Not confirmed |
| Dimensions | Not confirmed |
| Original price | Not confirmed |
Design
The A7-500-8 follows the large horn-loaded design of the Voice of the Theatre A-7 systems, using a 15" woofer in a folded horn enclosure and a compression driver mounted on a multicellular horn for high-frequency reproduction.
Context
The Voice of the Theatre series became the industry standard for cinema sound, with the A-7 system recognized as the most common cinema speaker in history. The A-7-500-8 variant continues this legacy within the same product family as the A-4 system.
Market
Vintage Altec speakers remain highly collectible; the A7-500-8 has been listed for $1,750 and sold for JPY 398,182 as a pair. Units described as "fully serviced" have appeared on the market, with some repairs involving replacement of Radian diaphragms in the 808-8A drivers, though the high-frequency driver model remains inconsistently documented.
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