Altec 9850 8A
At 58 pounds, it's an anchor for a sound that demands attention.
Overview
The Altec 9850-8A is a two-way, factory-assembled loudspeaker system from Altec Lansing. Documentation is sparse. The exact relationship between the 9850-8A and the 9850-8B is unclear from available sources, but both are listed under the broader Altec 9850 designation, which suggests a shared platform or a revision. It is not a lightweight design. At 58.0 lbs (26.3 kg), the speaker has real heft, the kind often associated with the dense cabinetry and heavy driver complement of Altec's professional output. The enclosure skips the standard rectangular box for a five-sided construction, likely meant to minimize internal standing waves and improve off-axis dispersion.
There is no detailed technical literature for the 9850-8A itself, but the 9850-8B specification sheet confirms it as a Duplex® loudspeaker system. Altec historically used that term for designs with coaxial or time-aligned multi-driver arrays meant to achieve coherent wavefronts. The 9850 series likely follows that tradition, though driver configuration, crossover topology, and frequency behavior are undocumented in the available material. Owners report these speakers in corner cabinets, sometimes finished in whitewash pine, which points to a domestic or semi-professional installation. Build quality is unconfirmed in detail, but the weight and structure suggest rigidity and acoustic control were put ahead of looks.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Altec Lansing |
| Product type | Two-way, factory assembled loudspeaker |
| Impedance | 7.0 ohms minimum. 8.0 ohms nominal. |
| Enclosure | Unique 5-Sided Enclosure. |
| Dimensions | 22.8 inches (57.9 cm) high by 21.8 inches (55.4 cm) wide by 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) deep. |
| Weight | 58.0 lbs (26.3 kg). |
Collectibility & Value
Market data for the Altec 9850-8A is extremely limited, with only anecdotal references to current pricing. One forum user asked whether a set of four Altec 9850 speakers in whitewashed pine corner cabinets at $800 was a fair deal, which suggests that configuration may sit at the lower end of collector interest. A Facebook listing indicated an owner considering a price of around $1,000, potentially for a pair or restored set, so prices vary with condition and finish. Original pricing, production years, and common mechanical failures are not documented, which makes valuation highly speculative. Some owners have restored or modified them. One user noted repainting silver over a yellowish original, though changes like that may hurt purist appeal.
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