DIY Altecs

Soul Tramp

Soul Tramp

New Around These Parts
Joined
Nov 15, 2025
Messages
16
Location
Maine
I took the cabinet design from the Altec A7 and shrunk it. The drivers, horns, and x-overs are Altec Model 19. I was astonished at how well these things sound! The two stacked cabs in the middle are subs I built using Infinity Kappa 12.1 drivers. Small footprint drove the design.



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Soul Tramp said:
I took the cabinet design from the Altec A7 and shrunk it. The drivers, horns, and x-overs are Altec Model 19. I was astonished at how well these things sound! The two stacked cabs in the middle are subs I built using Infinity Kappa 12.1 drivers. Small footprint drove the design.



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Very Nice !
Really like the "Soul Tramp" badges on your amps and speakers.... nice touch.
Welcome to the Forum.
 
Vintage 700b said:
Are your Mono-Blocs Dynaco Mk III KT- 88's?
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Sort of. I bought a pair of trashed-out MK III as I wanted the transformers. The transformer leads (not the windings) were shot so I had to re-do them. I had the tranny bells gold plated. I had a cabinet design in my mind's eye and wanted the bells to match it. The tubes are KT-88. The driver and power supply boards are from Curcio Audio Electronics. I bought after-market chassis and had them powder coated gloss black so they'd reflect like black mirrors. The cap can is there just to fill a chassis hole and add to the esthetics. I spent most of the time designing and building the cabinets. I wanted a yellow/gold look to enhance the zebra wood grain. Under the chassis is a neon blue cooling fan that looks very cool with the tube glow.

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Soul Tramp said:
Sort of. I bought a pair of trashed-out MK III as I wanted the transformers. The transformer leads (not the windings) were shot so I had to re-do them. I had the tranny bells gold plated. I had a cabinet design in my mind's eye and wanted the bells to match it. The tubes are KT-88. The driver and power supply boards are from Curcio Audio Electronics. I bought after-market chassis and had them powder coated gloss black so they'd reflect like black mirrors. The cap can is there just to fill a chassis hole and add to the esthetics. I spent most of the time designing and building the cabinets. I wanted a yellow/gold look to enhance the zebra wood grain. Under the chassis is a neon blue cooling fan that looks very cool with the tube glow.

View attachment 88287
Click to expand...
Very Nice !
 
Soul Tramp said:
Sort of. I bought a pair of trashed-out MK III as I wanted the transformers. The transformer leads (not the windings) were shot so I had to re-do them. I had the tranny bells gold plated. I had a cabinet design in my mind's eye and wanted the bells to match it. The tubes are KT-88. The driver and power supply boards are from Curcio Audio Electronics. I bought after-market chassis and had them powder coated gloss black so they'd reflect like black mirrors. The cap can is there just to fill a chassis hole and add to the esthetics. I spent most of the time designing and building the cabinets. I wanted a yellow/gold look to enhance the zebra wood grain. Under the chassis is a neon blue cooling fan that looks very cool with the tube glow.

View attachment 88287
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I have a pair of MK111 sitting down here for over 15 years the same Curcio boards never a fan of his design now I'm into single ended
 
krellmk said:
I have a pair of MK111 sitting down here for over 15 years the same Curcio boards never a fan of his design now I'm into single ended
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There're several directions one can take with the basic MK III design. I originally thought about making my own boards but decided it wasn't worth the effort. For now, I'm not using the mono-blocks. I'm using a Nakamichi PA-7. The Nak has more power and punch. The mono-blocks sound spectacular and are pretty to look at, but I'm forever building new things and experimenting. I have more fun with the design and development, than actually listening. Most of the time I'm listening to my computer setup.
 
Elite-ist said:
Welcome to our forum @Soul Tramp. Nice custom set-up! And appreciate that you are not confined to the ordinary in components and speakers.

I have been offered a combo-deal on a Marantz 2270 receiver and Marantz 1060 integrated amplifier. I've learned lots of positive opinions on them.

Nando.
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Thank you for the welcome, Nando! Love the avatar! I have a lot of fun playing with this stuff. The Marantz 1060 is an excellent piece of gear that's not on most people's radar. I only use the preamp section which is as good as anything Marantz put out. I use separate power amps to make things loud. Last year I did a major overhaul on the 1060, ended up replacing round 70 components. It had lost quite a bit of band width but now sounds spectacular.

If I can figure out how to change the "new around these parts", I'll forever be known as "Speaker Snob". :D
 
mlucitt said:
You forgot to mention your Phase Linear 400. Come on, man!
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I love my PL400. I've had several over the years. This one drives the subs. I added soft-start/DC protection and big filter caps. I use an Ashly active x-over to split things between the Nak PA-7 and the PL400. I was tri-amping with my JBL L-100s but switched to bi-amp with the new Altecs. The JBL ring-radiators on top of the Altecs are not in use.
 
Soul Tramp said:
Thank you for the welcome, Nando! Love the avatar! I have a lot of fun playing with this stuff. The Marantz 1060 is an excellent piece of gear that's not on most people's radar. I only use the preamp section which is as good as anything Marantz put out. I use separate power amps to make things loud. Last year I did a major overhaul on the 1060, ended up replacing round 70 components. It had lost quite a bit of band width but now sounds spectacular.

If I can figure out how to change the "new around these parts", I'll forever be known as "Speaker Snob". :D
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Yes, welcome if I didn't say so earlier! And yes, a 1060 Marantz was my dream integrated back when I couldn't afford anything and settled for building a Dynaoco SCA-80Q. Would still like to have one (among several other pieces of electronics) but in the small house, I've got room for only one system and it's at the limit of the space I have.

Glad to hear the 1060 can be made to sound as good as it looks - I always wondered about that compared to more recent amps and designs.
 
mr_rye89 said:
Another Altec fanatic! Excellent!

I'm working on Stonehenge-esque cabinets to put my 604-8Ks in. I also have some 811 horns and some 416 and 422 woofs around just in case......
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Big Altec/JBL fan. I also have Altecs in my 2X12 guitar cab. The problem with the 811 horns is they're mind-numbing unless you're 300' away! I put diffusers in mine.
 
Bob Boyer said:
Yes, welcome if I didn't say so earlier! And yes, a 1060 Marantz was my dream integrated back when I couldn't afford anything and settled for building a Dynaoco SCA-80Q. Would still like to have one (among several other pieces of electronics) but in the small house, I've got room for only one system and it's at the limit of the space I have.

Glad to hear the 1060 can be made to sound as good as it looks - I always wondered about that compared to more recent amps and designs.
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The 1060 is WAY under powered for any big speakers, but the preamp is excellent. I've heard some impressive (crazy expensive) "audiophile" systems that I don't think sound any better than what I'm doing with the 1060 and a bunch of stuff I've thrown together.
 
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