Altec Lansing 401
Almost everything known about the Altec Lansing 401 comes from a single test report in HiFI-Stereo (February 1987, pp.55-56). That review describes a three-way floor-standing speaker with 93 dB sensitivity, 8-ohm nominal impedance, and a rated continuous power handling of 125 watts (250 watts maximum). The original price was $960 per pair.
The reviewer measured good phase linearity, with group-delay variation under 0.2 ms from 1,500 Hz to 23,000 Hz, and very good horizontal dispersion. Frequency response extended beyond 25,000 Hz. In peak power testing, the woofer cone bottomed audibly at 100 Hz with an input of 790 watts into the system’s 7-ohm impedance. The speaker was described as having a “somewhat warm character, very good deep bass, and an extended and smooth” top end. The review called the 401 “next to largest of the group,” which suggests it sat near the top of a mid-1980s Altec Lansing lineup. No sibling model names survive in the available record.
Owner reports, mostly from forums, say the foam surrounds tend to deteriorate and that refoaming is a routine service job. One user picked up a pair for $20 in 2008, needing a first refoam, and described the cabinets as “really nice.” No production years, driver complement details, crossover frequencies, or cabinet dimensions have been confirmed in any documented source. The name “401” also shows up on variants such as the 401-XH and 401-17, which may be different products entirely. The standard 401 covered here is the 1987 three-way system reviewed by HiFI-Stereo.
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