Altec 844A

A wall-mountable monitor speaker system for professional playback in clubs, studios, and small venues.

Overview

The Altec 844A is a monitor/playback speaker system built for professional audio work. It was marketed for nightclubs, discotheques, and small auditoriums, and post-production studios were still using it well into the 1990s. The driver is a coaxial 604 Duplex (15-inch), and an internal crossover splits the signal at 3,000 Hz. The cabinet is a compact bass-reflex box meant to hang on a wall.

Specifications

Dimensions	31" wide by 24" high by 16" deep
Cabinet type	compact bass-reflex cabinet
Cabinet feature	designed for wall-mounting
Impedance	8 ohms
Frequency Response	Approx. 50 Hz – 16 kHz
Crossover	3.000 cycles
Crossover	Internal
Driver Configuration	Coaxial (604 Duplex: 15)
High Frequency Shelving	10 db constantly
Power handling capacity	150 watts (pink noise)
Sensitivity	0.59V

Design

The 844A uses a compact but efficient bass-reflex cabinet made for wall-mounting. The coaxial 604 Duplex driver works with an internal crossover. Frequency response is wide and noise is extremely low. The system is noted for high reliability and professional-grade playback.

Context

Altec promoted the 844A for professional playback in nightclubs, discotheques, and small auditoriums. The studio-grade build kept units working in professional settings, and some were still in use in post-production as late as the mid-1990s.

Market

Because of their age, many 844A units need restoration to perform well. The usual problem is the aging crossover capacitors, especially the electrolytics, which often need replacing. Some users have built DIY crossovers or used N-1500A units in place of the original parts.