Altec Lansing 1650 (Active Equalizer)
A monaural 1/3 octave active equalizer designed for precise room and system acoustic correction.
Overview
The Altec Lansing 1650 Active Equalizer is a professional-grade audio tool built to fine-tune sound reproduction by adjusting frequency response in specific listening environments. Manufactured by Altec Lansing, it uses a 28-element active filter array with 1/3 octave bandwidth to allow detailed shaping of audio characteristics. Designed around 1977, it was priced at ¥534,000 and targeted high-end audio installations where acoustic precision was critical.
Specifications
| Format | Monaural, 1/3 octave band, 28-element active filter |
| Frequency characteristic | 20 Hz to 20 kHz ± 1 dB |
| Number of filters | 28 |
| Maximum Insertion Loss | -15dB at center frequency |
| Input level | +21dB or +1dB |
| Output level | +21 dBm or +1 dBm (600/150 Ω balanced output) |
| Input impedance | Unbalanced : 600/15k Ω; Balanced : 15/600/15k Ω |
| Noise level | -90dBm at +21 dBm; -100dBm at +1 dBm |
| Power supply voltage | 120 VAC, 50Hz/60Hz |
| Power consumption | 5W |
Design
The Altec Lansing 1650 uses a special filter design called Acousta-Voicette, featuring sharp filter shoulders to achieve a narrow 1/3 octave bandwidth, more precise than conventional graphic equalizers. This allows fine adjustment of the audio frequency band to match the acoustic characteristics of a room and the equipment in use. The active equalizer was developed specifically to improve the acoustic performance of listening environments.
Market
An original product brochure for the Altec Lansing 1650 Active Equalizer was listed for sale at USD 17.50, indicating niche collector interest in archival materials related to the unit.
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