Altec A7 "Voice of the Theatre"

Name: Altec A7
Brand: Altec

The Altec A7 started out as a cinema speaker, and recording studios picked it up as a monitor. HiFI-Stereo (September 1964, p.102) noted that Capitol Recording Studios in Hollywood used more than 70 Altec speaker systems for monitoring, and United Recording Studios used a three-channel A7 array. The design is a two-way bass reflex system built around a 15″ Altec 515B woofer and a 1″ compression driver on a multi-cellular horn, crossed over at 1200Hz. It is a development of the earlier Altec 604 Duplex studio monitor philosophy, in a larger, higher-output format.

The specs are impressive even by modern standards: 99dB sensitivity at 1W/1m, 50Hz–20kHz response within ±5dB, 8 ohms nominal impedance, and a peak SPL of 126dB. Power handling is rated at 50W program / 100W peak. Dispersion is 90° horizontal and 40° vertical — and that narrow vertical pattern is worth noting. A SoundOnSound review observed that the horn dispersion is narrow enough that moving your head produces large tonal changes, and that the A7 is not an easy listen at close range, with some harshness in the upper mids. The same review nonetheless called it an excellent performer, which is about as honest a summary as you'll find for a speaker designed to throw sound across a theater, not a living room.

By the mid-1960s, Altec was marketing the A7 to home users. A 1966 ad in Audio (February 1966, p.11) showed the A7-500 "Voice of the Theatre" system and described it as "designed for wives and husbands who won't settle for less than the best speaker system anywhere." A 1968 HiFI-Stereo ad (May 1968, p.34) pitched a complete package with Altec's 100-watt 711 receiver for $1,422.50.

- 15″ Altec 515B woofer, 1″ compression driver on multi-cellular horn

- Two-way, bass reflex cabinet

- Crossover: 1200Hz

- 99dB sensitivity @ 1W/1m; 8 ohms nominal

- 50Hz–20kHz ±5dB; 126dB peak SPL

- 23.6″ H × 29.5″ W × 18″ D; ~85 lbs each

Production years and original pricing for the A7 itself aren't documented in the sources available here. The $1,422.50 figure above was for a complete system with receiver, not the speaker alone. The A7 was made in several variants over its long life (A7-500 and others), but those specific models aren't covered by the documentation at hand.