Altec 816A
A low-frequency horn enclosure combining front-loaded short horn and bass reflex design.
Overview
The Altec 816A is a low-frequency horn enclosure built to boost bass output with a hybrid acoustic system. Altec made it as a speaker cabinet that combines a front-loaded short horn with a bass reflex system. It was set up to mount a single speaker driver. The available sources don't document which driver model fits. The design aims to balance compact size with acoustic efficiency, using mutual coupling and cluster density principles, though exact implementation details are limited.
Specifications
| Weight | 43kg |
| External dimensions | Width 760x Height 550x Depth 660 mm |
| Number of mounted speakers | 1 |
| Frequency response | 50-1000 Hz |
Design
The enclosure pairs a front-loaded short horn with a bass reflex system. The horn sits in front of the driver and increases output in the upper bass and lower midrange. It is described as a combination horn-vented box, meant for compact deployment while keeping acoustic coupling efficiency.
Market
The Altec 816A had an original price of ¥85,000 per unit around 1975.
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