Here’s some news that probably doesn’t qualify as news at all:
I’m getting a little bored
Bored with my system, bored with the big Altec 604’s, bored with my amps…
Before anyone sharpens their pitchforks—no, they’re not bad. Quite the opposite. My GPA/Altec 604-8H II live in home-built JBL 4343–style cabinets, crossed with Werner Jargusch filters, and they do exactly what they’re supposed to do. They sound open, airy, controlled, predictable. Maybe a little too predictable.
And that’s the problem right now.
When “Good” Becomes Uninteresting
This isn’t really about the Altecs at all. It’s about something a little more uncomfortable: the realization that this hobby isn’t always about improving with the aim of arriving at a “best” solution—it’s about movement.
I already have wonderful pieces: Accuphase C.200/P-300 amplifier combo and a Luxman PD-444 with Fidelity Research FR-64S and Ortofon SPU.
None of those are holding me back. Or maybe yes – Realising that this hobby at least for me, has always been about trying something new. New amps. New sources. And especially new speakers.
How do I balance that need while still having something great I can rely on? I am a busy bee, and I rely on my equipment to work and perform when i need it to. If I stop experimenting, I stop learning—and honestly, I stop caring.
So I think I need to start a shift of mindset as well as a shift of gear: Start by selling some of my main pieces to light a fire to try something new. Maybe the time is to focus a bit more on finding a newer pre-amp and focus on the signal quality of the phono-signal from the Turntable. Maybe i want to try a dedicated RIAA, maybe tube amps as daily drivers, maybe something smaller than 15″ drivers.
Not Wanting to Be the Engineer
One thing I know for sure: I don’t want to invent a loudspeaker from scratch. My interest falls instantly if it doesn’t hold any specific history.
I want to trust other engineers. Preferably engineers who already did the hard work decades ago. and what they did has established a proven design.
Secondly that fuels the other aspect of this interest: want something i can dig into – understand and where someone else experienced an epiphany. I hope to chase that same feeling.
Smaller Bass, tighter bass more play-potential
That narrows things down quickly.
I want to move away from large 15″ bass driver complete enclosures and toward smaller woofers paired with larger multicell horns. First of because that combination has always fascinated me, especially when it’s done with intent rather than compromise.
The JBL’s and the Altec’s 15″ driver is amazing, but I sometimes dream back to the 10″ punch i had with the 4343. Also both of my compression driver units have been 1″ connected to pretty narrow horns. I have never tried the big heavy 2″ drivers on larger multicells…. or smitshorns.. or Bi-radials.. Tractrix?
Allowing the horn to sit outside the cabinet, means I can purpose-build a cabinet and then play around with horns on top – that tinker-feeling feels right at home here. If I don’t like the bass I can exchange it for a different driver, cabinet design etc.
Looking around for more precise, fast 12″ bass cabinets I first looked towards JBL. Something like the 2206H, but a friend of mine recommended I looked at the Onken enclosures and especially the writing of Jean Hiraga of L’Audiophile.
Searching through the writings we land first on the Original article referencing Mr. Koizumi Onken cabinet for 15″ drivers – in french. But in the same magazine, only years later came another article by Jean Hiraga – that of the Petite Onken: one with a 12″ driver from Altec.
Before Building, There’s Reading
Before cutting wood or sourcing drivers, there’s something else I can and should do: research!
That alone already scratches the itch for now: something new to study, something historical to understand, something that might eventually turn into a real system.
And if all goes well, it may soon lead to building, collecting, and—inevitably—getting bored all over again.
Which, in this hobby, is usually a good sign.
Below are links to already translated articles for the subject – more to come!
