Altec 8A (Mid-1960s)

A note on the name first. The research calls this speaker the Altec 8A (sometimes written 8-A), not "A 8." No source mentions a model called exactly "A 8," so this page covers the 8A, which appears to be the intended subject.

Almost everything documented about the 8A comes from a single The Gear Page forum thread, so the record is thin and mostly anecdotal. It appears to have been a mid-1960s two-way bookshelf speaker with an 8-inch paper cone woofer and a horn-loaded phenolic ring tweeter in a sealed, acoustic suspension cabinet. One user describes them as having been used as near-field studio monitors. Nominal impedance is reported as 8 ohms. Crossover frequency, sensitivity, power handling, dimensions and original price are not documented. A period advertisement in Audio (December 1960, p.47) highlights the Altec Capistrano 831A, a larger model with a 15-inch woofer and sectoral horn, priced at $399.00.

Owner reports in that same thread are generally positive: "very smooth and detailed," "the mids are really sweet," and one long-term owner says his pair has held up for 20 years. The limitations fit a small sealed bookshelf design. They don't go deep in the bass, they need a subwoofer for real low end, and they aren't ideal for rock at high volume. One user found the tweeter "a bit harsh" when pushed. One owner reports paying $150 for a pair, though no date is attached. The known maintenance concerns are typical for the era: foam surround rot (check before buying), crossover capacitor replacement as a worthwhile upgrade, and the difficulty of finding replacement phenolic ring tweeters if one is blown.

A related model, the Altec 8C, is mentioned in the same thread, but no specifications for it are given.

Known Specs

Type: 2-way bookshelf / near-field monitor, acoustic suspension (sealed)
Woofer: 8-inch paper cone
Tweeter: horn-loaded phenolic ring
Impedance: 8 ohms (per one owner)
Era: mid-1960s

All information above comes from a single forum thread and remains unverified against manufacturer documentation or period reviews. No original price, frequency response or production figures are recorded in the available sources.