Altec Valencia 846B

Name: Altec Valencia 846B
Brand: Altec

At 60 pounds and 41 inches tall, these speakers take up a lot of room, physically and sonically.

Overview

The Altec Valencia 846B is not a subtle speaker. It stands 41 inches high and weighs 60 pounds per cabinet. One owner noted that his wife complained about the size, then came around to loving the sound. These are full-range, two-way loudspeakers from Altec's push into the home hi-fi market during the 1950s and 1960s, when professional audio know-how started showing up in living rooms. The Valencia line never reached the status of the Voice of the Theatre A-7 or the 604 Duplex. It was still a serious design for audiophiles who wanted pro-grade components at home.

The 846Bs weren't perfect out of the box. Owners and forum discussions consistently call the original system "lacking" in high-frequency extension. Response above 10 kHz reportedly dips below 90 dB, which rolls off the top end. That's a design trade-off. The 806-8A compression driver is less efficient than the 802 or 902 units, and it operates more like a 12 ohm load even though it's paired with an 8 ohm woofer. Some owners find the resulting sound tonally rich, others find it strained. Many who've lived with them long-term, like one owner who's had his 846A variant for 30 years, swear by them. He describes them as sounding "really, really nice in that space."

The 846B is easy to modify. Enthusiasts routinely rebuild the crossovers with modern capacitors, either reinforcing the original N-800 8K design or replacing it entirely. One builder reported a custom crossover with a 1.2 kHz crossover point, which changes the balance of the system. Cabinet restoration is another common job: repairing veneer, reinforcing panels, and replacing foam grilles to restore both appearance and acoustic integrity.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Altec Lansing
Product type	Loudspeaker
Woofer	416-8Z 15"
Low-frequency transducer	416-8Z 15”
Woofer Impedance	8 ohm
Crossover	Reportedly original N-800 8K
Crossover frequency	Approximately 1.2K (custom crossover mentioned)
Horn	811 B
Horn	Altec 811-B
Compression driver	806-8A
High-frequency driver	808-8A
System efficiency	97.5db
Dimensions (per speaker)	41"H x 11"W x 11"D
Weight (per speaker)	60 lbs

Key Features

416-8Z 15” Woofer with 8 Ohm Impedance

For the bottom end, the 846B uses the 416 series 15-inch woofer, specifically the 416-8Z variant according to owner reports. It descends from Altec's professional monitor line and was designed for durability and high output. With an 8 ohm impedance rating, it's a fairly standard load for tube or solid-state amplifiers of the era, though the high-frequency section's impedance quirks complicate the overall system. The woofer fires into a sealed or semi-vented enclosure. The exact cabinet type remains undocumented. Its performance is described as authoritative, if not always tightly controlled. Some owners note a pronounced midbass character that shows up clearly in frequency response measurements, a deliberate emphasis in the lower mids that can color vocals and instruments.

806-8A Compression Driver on 811-B Horn

The heart of the 846B’s character lies in the combination of the 806-8A compression driver and the Altec 811-B horn. This pairing delivers the system’s 97 dB efficiency, making it extremely sensitive and well-suited to low-powered tube amps. But the 806-8A is a compromise. Described as “less efficient than an 802 or 902,” and functioning “more or less as a 12 ohm driver working against an 8 ohm woofer,” it introduces an electrical asymmetry that affects crossover behavior and tonal balance. It’s responsible for the “shouty horn sound” and “aggressive upper midrange and lower treble” that some owners report—qualities that can be thrilling with rock or jazz, fatiguing with prolonged listening.

Upgrade Path: 902 Drivers and GPA Diaphragms

Upgrades are one of the most discussed parts of owning a Valencia 846B. The original high-frequency response above 10 kHz is said to fall below 90 dB, so many owners look for improvements. The most recommended fix is swapping in pancake-style 902 drivers from Altec or Great Plains Audio (GPA). These offer better high-frequency extension and lower distortion, but physical fitment is tight and some modifications may be required. A cheaper route is replacing the 806-8A's diaphragm with a modern unit from GPA. Forum opinions are divided. Some believe it's a worthwhile sonic improvement at low cost, while others doubt it's worth the effort. Peerless compression drivers are also mentioned as an alternative, though the documentation gives no specific model references.

Collectibility & Value

The Altec Valencia 846B remains highly collectible, particularly among vintage audio enthusiasts who value modularity and hands-on restoration. Original pricing and production years are undocumented. A used pair was listed for $1,550 in 2021-2022, which points to strong market demand. Complete units are often sold alongside original drivers, though some owners report selling drivers separately when cabinets are damaged beyond repair. Restoration is common: replacing foam grilles (available from vendors like Aural HiFi), refinishing veneer, reinforcing cabinet walls for rigidity, and rebuilding crossovers with new capacitors.