Altec 340A (c. 1955–1956)
Not much is documented about the Altec 340A. What survives points to a power amplifier built to professional standards and sold for home use. It was introduced alongside the A-440A preamplifier in early 1955. Ads ran in Audio (February 1955, p.11) and Hi-Fi Music at Home (March 1955, p.11), announcing "Altec's latest developments in high fidelity control and amplification." The pair was described as "professional in concept, design, construction and flexibility," which fits Altec's broadcast and recording studio background.
In 1956 Altec ran an unusual ad campaign. High Fidelity (July 1956, p.8) carried an ad that set "Spectacular" amplifier specifications - inflated, attention-grabbing figures - against the "Engineering Facts" of the 340A as Altec actually published them. The implication was that Altec rated its gear conservatively and honestly. The same ad appeared in Audio (August 1956, p.9). A later Audio spread (October 1956, p.35) called the amplifier the "control point of your home music system," and praised its "professional quality and superior design."
The available period sources record no technical specifications for the 340A. No power output, frequency response, distortion or dimensions. The amplifier was part of Altec's home-component lineup, which at the time ran from $324 to $1,180 for complete systems. Whether the 340A was stereo or mono, what its circuit topology was, and how long it stayed in production all remain undocumented.
What is known: Altec built the 340A, it was a power amplifier intended for domestic use, and the company stood behind its ratings enough to make a marketing point of it.
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