Altec 9848a
The Altec Lansing 9848A is a two-way loudspeaker system introduced in the late 1950s. It sits between professional sound reinforcement and high-fidelity home audio. It has a sturdy build, high efficiency and clear sound, and it was part of Altec Lansing's "Voice of the Theatre" series, a line originally designed for cinema sound that audiophiles and sound professionals picked up quickly.
Design and Components
The 9848A is a passive, two-way speaker in a large, trapezoidal plywood enclosure. Internal bracing keeps panel resonance down, and the crossover network is carefully engineered. The cabinet is typically finished in textured black paint or vinyl wrap, with a perforated metal grille over the drivers. The shape of the enclosure helps reduce internal standing waves, which makes for a cleaner soundstage.
Two Altec Lansing drivers do the work in the 9848A:
- 515-8G Compression Driver: This high-frequency unit features a 2-inch titanium diaphragm and a 1.4-inch throat, coupled to a large-format exponential horn. The horn is integrated into the front baffle and is designed to provide wide dispersion and high sensitivity—typically around 110 dB at 1 watt/1 meter. This driver is renowned for its dynamic clarity, low distortion, and ability to handle high sound pressure levels, making it ideal for both music and speech reproduction.
- 518A-8 15-inch Bass Driver: This large-diameter, low-frequency unit is built with a heavy-duty cast aluminum frame, a 4-inch voice coil, and a large paper cone with a cloth surround. It is designed for high excursion and excellent transient response, capable of producing deep, articulate bass despite the limitations of the era's materials. The 518A-8 is notable for its high efficiency and power handling, contributing significantly to the system’s overall sensitivity.
The crossover sits inside the cabinet. It is a passive design with inductors, capacitors and resistors that split the signal between the high- and low-frequency drivers. The crossover point is typically set around 1,200 Hz, chosen to optimize the overlap between the horn-loaded tweeter and the woofer while keeping phase coherence. The original components were high quality for the time, though many modern restorers replace them to improve reliability and performance.
Technical Specifications
- Type: Two-way, bass-reflex (vented) loudspeaker system
- Frequency Response: 45 Hz – 16 kHz (±3 dB)
- Sensitivity: 109 dB @ 1W/1m
- Nominal Impedance: 16 ohms
- Power Handling: 25 watts continuous, 50 watts peak
- Crossover Frequency: 1,200 Hz
- Cabinet Type: Trapezoidal, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and plywood with internal bracing
- Dimensions: 32 inches (H) × 15 inches (W) × 15 inches (D)
- Weight: Approximately 65 lbs (29.5 kg) per cabinet
- Terminals: Single binding post pair (original), often upgraded to modern dual or bi-wire terminals in restored units
Applications and Historical Context
Altec first marketed the 9848A for professional work: movie theatres, public address systems and recording studios. Its high sensitivity suited the low-powered vacuum tube amplifiers common at the time. A single 10-watt tube amp could drive it to surprisingly loud levels, which was a major selling point in the 1950s and 1960s.
Despite those professional roots, the 9848A gained a strong following among audiophiles for its dynamic range, transparency and ability to reproduce live music with startling realism. At home, the speakers were often paired with tube amplifiers from brands like McIntosh, Fisher and Marantz. The open, natural midrange and crisp highs suited jazz, classical and vocal recordings.
The 9848A was also used in broadcast studios and early rock and roll venues. Some notable recording engineers and studios of the era used Altec Lansing monitors - including variants of the 9848 - for mixing and mastering, which added to the brand's reputation for accuracy.
Performance Characteristics
The 9848A is often described as "lively," "immediate," and "uncompressed." Its high efficiency keeps dynamics intact even at low listening levels, a trait vintage audio enthusiasts prize. The horn-loaded tweeter gives exceptional clarity in the upper mids and highs, with a slight forwardness that helps vocal presence. The 15-inch woofer delivers tight, punchy bass with good extension for its era, though modern listeners may find the low end less deep than a contemporary subwoofer.
One of the most admired qualities of the 9848A is that it projects sound into large rooms without strain. That suits open-plan living spaces or dedicated listening rooms. The high sensitivity has a downside, though. The speaker can be demanding on amplifiers, and poorly matched or low-damped solid-state amps may cause harshness in the highs.
Restoration and Modern Use
The Altec Lansing 9848A is sought after today, especially by collectors and restorers. Original units can still be found, but many need refurbishment because of aging components. Common restoration steps include:
- Replacing the foam or cloth surround on the 518A-8 woofer
- Re-coning or re-foaming the bass driver if damaged
- Upgrading the crossover components with modern film capacitors and air-core inductors
- Replacing deteriorated wiring and terminals
- Repairing or refinishing the cabinet
When properly restored, the 9848A can outperform many modern speakers in dynamic expression and musical engagement. It pairs well with high-quality tube amplifiers or high-damping-factor solid-state amps that can control the bass driver.
Legacy
The Altec Lansing 9848A is a product of mid-20th-century American audio engineering. It combines industrial durability with strong sound, and it marks the shift from public address systems to high-fidelity home audio. Newer technologies have surpassed it in frequency extension and power handling.
For vintage audio enthusiasts, the 9848A is more than just a speaker—it's a piece of audio history. Whether used in a restored hi-fi system, a retro recording studio, or as a centerpiece in a classic audio collection, the 9848A continues to deliver a listening experience that is both powerful and deeply authentic.
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