Altec Lansing Model 4 (1981)

A bookshelf speaker system from 1981 featuring a horn tweeter and bass reflex enclosure, designed by Altec's lead engineer Paul Supran Gar.

Overview

The Altec Lansing Model 4 is a 2-way, 2-speaker bookshelf system released in 1981. It was designed by Paul Supran Gar, Altec Lansing’s top engineer at the time. The system uses a 25 cm cone woofer for low frequencies and a horn-type tweeter for high frequencies, combining Altec’s original semiconductor tweeter LZT with a Mantare horn. It features a bass reflex design and includes a level control for the high-frequency band, allowing users to adjust brightness to room or preference.

Specifications

Frequency characteristic	60 Hz to 20 kHz
Impedance	8 Ω
Output sound pressure level	88dB
Allowable input	200W (continuous program)
Crossover frequency	2kHz
External dimensions	Width 370x Height 590x Depth 310 mm
Weight	14kg

Design

The Model 4 uses a 25 cm cone woofer for low-frequency reproduction and a horn-type tweeter for highs, incorporating Altec’s semiconductor tweeter LZT and a Mantare horn with a Tangerine phase plug. The enclosure employs a bass reflex system, and the front baffle features an anechoic dump design to reduce diffraction. Other surfaces are finished in natural wood. The system includes automatic power control and an overload indicator to protect against damage, along with a high-frequency level control for tonal adjustment.