VINTAGE University Altec 4401 Horn Mid - T Compression Drivers Tweeters 6201 WORK
Item History & Price
Up for sale are two vintage University 4401 horns + two University Mid-T Alnico 5 Gold Dot Magnet Compression Driver Tweeters (all Made In The U.S.A) that came from working University 6201 coaxial speakers (purchased on ebay years ago - not included in listing). These speakers are assumed to be from the late 1950's or 1960's and are true vintage audiophile products - they do not make 'em like this anymore. University products were kind of similar to Altec Lansing back in th...e day, and I believe Altec eventually bought them out as well.
NOTE: Both of these tweeters have been permanently modified through the removal of the screen filter in the compression drivers throats.
I did this after reading an old article about how:
"these 'bug' screens are responsible for the bulk of midrange and treble distortions on program peaks,
softening of treble leading edges, midrange colorations, H.F. signal attenuation, and phasey images that are hard to localize.
Altec compression drivers sound excellent with these throat restrictions removed."
The original Mallory 4 MFD oil filled capacitors used in the speakers crossover for high passing the audio are also included in the listing as shown in picture # 9. The writing on the back of one of the tweeters states 8 ohms but I have also measured the DC resistance of the tweeters using a multimeter (on R X 1 setting) and have found them both to be ~ 30 Ohms DC resistance. It should be noted that there was a short section of speaker cable still soldered to the terminals (as shown in pictures) so this may explain the discrepancy in values (or my multimeter is off, or I'm doing something wrong). I did some research back in the day and found this from a forum post online: "If you apply a + voltage to the red or + or L1 terminal it sends a forward wave out the throat", which would indicate the L1 terminal as the Positive (+) terminal, but you might want to do your own research/testing if polarity matters to you.
From the old marketing material:
"Sturdy one-piece die-cast horn using 'reciprocating-flare' principle, results in 120°
horizontal high frequency dispersion and 50° vertical dispersion. High conversion
efficiency due to use of 'driver' mechanism and light weight duralumin voice coil suspension.
Hermetically sealed construction. Response from 2000-15000 cps. 8 ohms
Handles up to 25 watts. Weight 2 lbs. (per horn speaker)"
I am going to be listing some more vintage audiophile equipment and other interesting stuff for sale in the next few weeks, so check that all out right here: https://www.ebay.ca/usr/prairieloon
NOTE: Both of these tweeters have been permanently modified through the removal of the screen filter in the compression drivers throats.
I did this after reading an old article about how:
"these 'bug' screens are responsible for the bulk of midrange and treble distortions on program peaks,
softening of treble leading edges, midrange colorations, H.F. signal attenuation, and phasey images that are hard to localize.
Altec compression drivers sound excellent with these throat restrictions removed."
The original Mallory 4 MFD oil filled capacitors used in the speakers crossover for high passing the audio are also included in the listing as shown in picture # 9. The writing on the back of one of the tweeters states 8 ohms but I have also measured the DC resistance of the tweeters using a multimeter (on R X 1 setting) and have found them both to be ~ 30 Ohms DC resistance. It should be noted that there was a short section of speaker cable still soldered to the terminals (as shown in pictures) so this may explain the discrepancy in values (or my multimeter is off, or I'm doing something wrong). I did some research back in the day and found this from a forum post online: "If you apply a + voltage to the red or + or L1 terminal it sends a forward wave out the throat", which would indicate the L1 terminal as the Positive (+) terminal, but you might want to do your own research/testing if polarity matters to you.
From the old marketing material:
"Sturdy one-piece die-cast horn using 'reciprocating-flare' principle, results in 120°
horizontal high frequency dispersion and 50° vertical dispersion. High conversion
efficiency due to use of 'driver' mechanism and light weight duralumin voice coil suspension.
Hermetically sealed construction. Response from 2000-15000 cps. 8 ohms
Handles up to 25 watts. Weight 2 lbs. (per horn speaker)"
I am going to be listing some more vintage audiophile equipment and other interesting stuff for sale in the next few weeks, so check that all out right here: https://www.ebay.ca/usr/prairieloon
