Altec Voice of The Theatre A1 (1945)
A professional cinema loudspeaker system introduced in 1945, with a multicell horn and six 15-inch bass drivers.
Overview
The Altec Voice of The Theatre A1 is a professional loudspeaker system for cinema and theatre installations. Altec Lansing introduced it by 1945 to replace older Western Electric systems, and it quickly became the de facto industry standard for large venues. It was the flagship of the Voice of the Theatre series and suited auditoriums with up to 2,800 seats. The layout is two-way. A multicellular horn handles the highs, and a large folded-horn cabinet holds six 15-inch bass drivers. It was built for high efficiency, so it could produce strong sound pressure levels from the limited amplifier power of the day.
Specifications
| Configuration | 2 x 288C 2.8" compression drivers feeding a single 1505B exponential multi-cell horn, and six 515B 15" bass drivers |
| High-frequency driver | 288C compression drivers with a 2.8-inch voice coil |
| High-frequency driver impedance | 24 ohms |
| High-frequency driver frequency response | 500 Hz – 16,000 Hz |
| High-frequency driver sensitivity | 115 dB |
| Bass driver | Six 515B 15" bass drivers |
| Bass driver frequency response | 20 Hz – 1 kHz |
| Bass driver impedance | 16 Ω |
| Bass driver rated input | 35W |
| Bass driver allowable input | 50W |
| Bass driver sensitivity | 105 dB/W/m |
| Crossover frequency | Factory set at 500 Hz or 800 Hz |
| Retail price | $1,570 |
Design
The A1 combines multiple 15-inch woofers in a large folded-horn cabinet with high-frequency compression drivers mounted on a 1505B exponential multi-cell horn. The two-way design goes after efficiency and high output. The horn and the bass section work together to cover the full audio range.
Context
The Voice of the Theatre series was introduced in the late 1930s and refined through the 1940s. The A1, A2, A4, and A5 models were launched for the theatre market by 1945. The A1 was the flagship, developed to meet the demand for powerful, reliable sound reinforcement in cinemas. Hilliard led the conceptualization, and Lansing oversaw the design of the drive units. The efficiency suited the low-power amplification of the era.
Market
The Altec Voice of The Theatre A1 developed a cult-like following among audiophiles and is still revered in high-fidelity circles. It has a lasting reputation as a benchmark cinema speaker, and that keeps it collectible.
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