Altec 1631A (ca. 1986–1992)
Not much is documented about the Altec 1631A, and what exists comes from period buyer's guides. It was a single-channel, two-way active crossover for professional sound reinforcement and installation use. DB-Magazine (July 1986, p.60) listed it at $552.00 and gave the size as 1.75×19×5 inches, with a weight of 4.75 lb. Crossover frequencies were user-selectable from 100 Hz to 8 kHz, set with plug-in modules. The filters were 18 dB/octave Butterworth. It also had a low-pass delay control, a high-pass gain adjustment, and equalization controls.
DB-Magazine Buyer's Guides for September 1991 and September 1992 repeat the description - a two-way electronic crossover using plug-in modules to select frequency and configure equalization. They add no technical detail and no price updates. No schematics, production run dates, or user reviews have surfaced in the available record. The 1631A appears to have been a competent but unremarkable pro-audio tool, offered when Altec Lansing competed in the installed-sound market alongside its better-known cinema and studio monitors.
Known specifications:
- Type: Single-channel, 2-way electronic crossover
- Filter type: 18 dB/octave Butterworth (maximally flat)
- Crossover frequency range: 100 Hz to 8 kHz (via plug-in modules)
- Controls: Low-pass delay, high-pass gain, equalization
- Dimensions: 1.75 × 19 × 5 inches (1U rackmount)
- Weight: 4.75 lbs
- Price (1986): $552.00
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