Altec A4X
The A4X stands 52 inches tall. It's a massive, purpose-built cabinet from the days of cinema sound, made to fill a theater.
Overview
The Altec A4X is a stage speaker system developed for professional cinema use. Details are sparse, but the size says a lot. This is not a cabinet for a living room or a studio corner. It stands 52 inches high, 36 inches wide and 24 inches deep, and it was likely a main array component in large movie theater installations. Owners report it was deployed as a stage speaker, meaning it sat behind the screen or along the proscenium and carried dialogue, music and effects at the volume and clarity pre-digital cinema demanded.
The A4X shares naming conventions with Altec's Voice of the Theatre (VOTT) series, which was known for horn-loaded designs and dominated theater sound from the late 1930s onward. The documentation does not confirm whether the A4X is a direct descendant or a later adaptation. Its role is clear, though. It was part of a working sound system, not a consumer item. At the Century Plaza Cinemas, five A4X units were installed in the "big house," which suggests a multi-cabinet setup for even coverage across a large auditorium. It operated with the N-500 C network, which likely served as a crossover or passive equalization unit, a common pairing in professional Altec systems of the era.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Altec |
| Product type | Stage speaker / speaker system |
| Dimensions | Height 52" Width 36" Depth 24" |
Historical Context
The Altec A4X came along when theaters wanted high-efficiency, high-output speaker systems that could handle the dynamic range of optical soundtracks and early magnetic stereo. It was used specifically as a stage speaker in movie theaters, which points to front-of-house sound reinforcement. Documentation confirms its deployment at the Century Plaza Cinemas, where five units equipped the main auditorium. It was paired with the N-500 C network, suggesting a larger, professionally tuned audio installation. Altec's Voice of the Theatre series set the standard for cinema sound from the late 1930s onward, but the exact relationship between the A-4 and the A4X remains undocumented.
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