Altec TK 1 (1961–1963)
The Altec TK-1 came out in 1961 as a kit version of the company's 843A floor-standing speaker. It was discontinued in 1963. It was a two-way bookshelf system with a 12-inch 414A woofer and a 3000A horn tweeter, crossed over at 4,000 Hz by an N-4000 network. The network is just a single 5 µF capacitor and an L-pad for the tweeter. The drivers were mounted on a 1-inch-thick baffle, with the tweeter on the outer surface under a perforated metal screen. The rear of the baffle was lined with damping material, and the cavity behind the driver was packed with fiberglass. The cabinet was sealed - described variously as infinite baffle and acoustic suspension - and measured 23½″ H × 15½″ W × 11½″ D. It weighed 40 lbs. Efficiency was rated at 92 dB SPL at 4 feet with a 1-watt input, and impedance at 8 ohms.
It sold for $216 per pair in kit form, or $279 per pair factory-assembled. Beyond the home hobbyist market, the TK-1 found use in recording studios as a near-field monitor, and broadcasters used it too. Altec's period advertising pitched the TK-1 as the high-frequency part of a multi-speaker car system. HiFI-Stereo (May 1980, p.14) carried Altec's claim that the TK-1's 3-inch drivers would "add brilliance and clarity to your car sound" and fix lackluster installed systems. High Fidelity (April 1980, p.25) ran Altec's "Auto Sound Just Got Serious" campaign, which grouped the TK-1 with the SK1 extended-range speakers and the SW1 Power Bass woofer.
Collectors still seek out the TK-1, though spare parts are scarce. The 414A woofer is known to develop foam rot over time, and the 3000A tweeter can develop voice coil problems. No current market prices are documented, and little is recorded about the TK-1's power handling.
- Two-way bookshelf system: 12″ 414A woofer + 3000A horn tweeter
- N-4000 crossover at 4,000 Hz (single 5 µF cap + L-pad)
- Sealed cabinet, 23½″ H × 15½″ W × 11½″ D, 40 lbs
- 92 dB SPL at 4 ft / 1 W; 8 ohms
- Kit version of the Altec 843A; $216/pair kit, $279/pair assembled
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