Altec 511 Horn Family

The Altec 511 series of sectoral exponential horns gives you the Altec "Voice of the Theatre" sound in a more compact package than the larger 811 series. It has the same 90° x 40° coverage pattern. The 511B is a professional horn that is a manageable size for both commercial and home applications.

The 511 Series

Altec 511B

The compact classic. Same legendary Altec horn sound as the 811B but in a smaller, lighter package. Ideal for home horn systems and smaller commercial installations where the full-size 811B would be impractical.

90° H x 40° V coverage pattern
1.4" throat for 288-series drivers
17.75 lbs, compact design
Straight exponential throat

511 vs 811: Choosing the Right Horn

The 511 and 811 series both have the classic Altec horn character, but they were built with different applications in mind:

Feature	511B	811B
Coverage Pattern	90° x 40°	90° x 40°
Weight	17.75 lbs	~30 lbs
Dimensions	Compact	Large
Recommended Drivers	288 series	288 series
Best For	Home, small venues	Cinema, large venues

Design Characteristics

The 511B shares the same fundamental design principles as its larger 811B sibling:

Exponential Flare: Precise exponential expansion for maximum efficiency
Straight Throat: No phase-distorting bends or folds
Sectoral Pattern: Wide horizontal, controlled vertical coverage
Cast Construction: Durable, resonance-free build quality

In the Wild

As noted in Resistor Magazine's restoration profile, vintage speaker specialist Iwan Arjanto describes the 511B as his entry point into horn-loaded speakers. He built his own pair of A7-style speakers using the compact 511B horns. He eventually moved on to full-size 811B implementations for customers.

The 511B lets you get classic Altec horn sound without the space the larger 811 series needs.

Applications

The 511B works best where space is limited but horn performance is still wanted:

Home hi-fi horn systems
Small theater installations
Studio monitoring
Vintage audio projects
Horn enthusiast learning builds

Compatible Drivers

The 511 series uses the same driver mounting as the 811 series:

Altec 288 - The classic professional driver
Altec 291 series - Later variants
Compatible with standard 1.4" throat mounting

Historical Note

The 811B became the "Voice of the Theatre" horn installed in thousands of cinemas. The 511B was the more practical alternative for smaller venues and home installations.

Related Horns

Altec 811B - The larger classic sibling
811 Horn Family - The full-size alternative

Images

The following sources may have images of this equipment. Always verify license terms and provide proper attribution when required.

Source 1: HiFi Wiki

Link: HiFi Wiki
License: Varies - check individual image
Attribution Required: Yes
Commercial Use: Unknown - verify on site
Notes: User-contributed content. Attribution recommended.

Source 2: HiFi Engine

Link: HiFi Engine
License: User-contributed manuals
Attribution Required: Yes
Commercial Use: Reference only
Notes: Great for specs/manuals. Request permission for images.

Source 3: Audio Database

Link: Audio Database
License: User-contributed
Attribution Required: Yes
Commercial Use: Unknown
Notes: Verify license before use.

Source 4: Radio Museum

Link: Radio Museum
License: User-contributed
Attribution Required: Yes
Commercial Use: Unknown
Notes: Attribution required for user photos.

Attribution Notice: This page links to external image sources. When using images from these sources, ensure you comply with their license terms. CC0 images require no attribution. CC BY and CC BY-SA images require attribution.

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Documentation

Altec Datasheets - Technical specifications
511B Driver Page - Detailed information