Altec A5 (1950s–1970s)

Name: Altec A5
Brand: Altec

The Altec A5 is one of the company's most enduring professional loudspeaker systems — a two-way, horn-loaded design built around the 825A cabinet. It was introduced in the 1950s and saw decades of service in movie theaters, concert venues, and recording studios, which is where most of its reputation was earned. The system pairs an Altec 515 woofer loaded by a front-mounted horn in the bass enclosure with a 288 high-frequency compression driver on an 811B horn, crossed over at 1200 Hz. The result is a big, efficient, dynamic speaker: sensitivity is rated at 101 dB @ 1 W / 1 m, with power handling of 60 watts continuous program and 120 watts peak. Frequency response is spec'd at 60 Hz–16 kHz (±5 dB), with the system's range extending from 30 Hz to 20 kHz. Each cabinet measures 118 cm high by 55 cm wide by 50 cm deep and weighs a substantial 90 kg.

Horn enthusiasts widely regard the A5 as one of the best-sounding designs of its kind. Owner reports generally praise its depth and dynamics - the classic "go deep and loud and sound very dynamic" verdict. Some note the top end can turn harsh with certain amplifiers. The foam surrounds on the 515 woofer are known to degrade with age, and recone kits are readily available. Replacement diaphragms for the 288 driver are also easy to source from aftermarket suppliers. Original pricing was $685 per cabinet in 1978, and used pairs today typically trade in the $2,000-$4,000 range depending on condition.