I couldn't resist these I just purchased for a bit higher price than I might have been willing to pay, but they look so awesome, so atomic, so cool I had to possess them! So I plopped down $220 for them, and I must say that I don't care so much about the sound (which is excellent anyway), but so much more for the build quality and the style. Everything on these is top notch; The attenuator is a solid metal face plate. The fabric for the grilles is heirloom quality. The bass driver has the accordion surround. The veneer is Teak. There are no exposed terminal connections (they are on the bottom), which may seem like a pain, but look at the back of the cabinet! Divinely proportioned to the actual legendary Stonehenge pieces in Wiltshire.

Anyway, you get the idea - I am in love with these.

The condition is excellent, spare a few nicks and a torn piece of frame strip veneer on the extreme lower left corner of one, which can be easily spliced. More warmth, more wood - give me the ancestors of sound any day!

Impressions are encouraged.

• AltecSH0.JPG 106.8 KB · Views: 546
• AltecSH1.JPG 110.9 KB · Views: 424
• AltecSH2.JPG 109.6 KB · Views: 557
• AltecSH3.JPG 106.2 KB · Views: 436

• 2

I generally dislike the looks of Altecs but those are really beautiful. How do they sound? What are their strengths/weaknesses compared to your RS-IIs?

David

• 3

By the looks of it, their not alone in the great looking speaker catagory considering who they stand next to in your pic!

• 5

Those are nice speakers. My brother had some of those. Nice cast frame woofer in those as well, model 414, I think. The Stone 1 is actually a better speaker than the Stone II IMHO. Stonehenge III though is in a class by itself!:yes:

Good that you're happy with them. Thats what it's all about.

Russ

• 7

  Those are nice speakers. My brother had some of those. Nice cast frame woofer in those as well, model 414, I think. The Stone 1 is actually a better speaker than the Stone II IMHO. Stonehenge III though is in a class by itself!:yes:

Good that you're happy with them. Thats what it's all about.

Russ

I'd like to see a picture of the Stonehenge III, and maybe it's next on my list!

• 8

Very nice looking. :thmbsp:

• 9

That seems like a great price to me. Congratulations!

• 11

  I generally dislike the looks of Altecs but those are really beautiful. How do they sound? What are their strengths/weaknesses compared to your RS-IIs?

David

As you can see, I don't have them positioned properly as of yet. I need to get them into position, and do some listening. Initially, I can say that they are best suited to rock and pop -- but that may change when I move them. I'll post my listening impressions later tonight. And a comparison to the RSII's.

• 12

I'm glad somebody snatched these up. I had been thinking about it even if I can't afford it.

• 13

I'd like to see a picture of the Stonehenge III, and maybe it's next on my list!

• 14

Stonehenge III's at 114 lbs -- Hefty!

Thanks for the spec sheet Russ.

• 15

How do they sound?

I've been listening to some AP Project, E. John and various Jazz artists for the last hour or so. I'm doing so using the Acurus A250.

I am having a hard time ascertaining the difference between the Altec's and my other speakers. In fact, all my speakers sound the same to me now. They all suck. Just kidding.

No, seriously -- I think these really have a sound similar to Infinity's. They don't quite get the high's as the RSII's do (emits), but they definitely have the same pronounced midrange and that mellow softer bass. These are not tasking to the ears, and I could listen to them endlessly.

If I were to rank these against all my other speakers for all-around-listening, I would put them in 3rd place. Carvers are 1st, Infinity RSII's are 2nd, Altecs 3rd, and the Magnepan's 4th (only because of the narrow listening area). The rest are all about equal for what they are.

Talking about Altec's, I just phoned a guy who was selling some Valencia's for 20 bucks and I just about shit when I saw the ad. I called him and he said I could come over tomorrow after 6pm.

I think he realized what he had though, because he deleted the post. I'll call him tomorrow anyway though.

• 16

  Talking about Altec's, I just phoned a guy who was selling some Valencia's for 20 bucks and I just about shit when I saw the ad. I called him and he said I could come over tomorrow after 6pm.

I think he realized what he had though, because he deleted the post. I'll call him tomorrow anyway though.

Good luck. That will be one helluva score:thmbsp:

• 17

I noticed after playing the Altec's for a while that all the screws that hold down the woofer, tweeter and attenuator faceplate were loose on both speakers! So I tightened them all down and now I'll see if that made any difference in terms of sonics. I can imagine the bass will be more resounding now.

It was late last night when I discovered it, so I haven't had the chance to put some juice behind them yet.

• 18

Very nice, congrats! :thmbsp: And good luck on the Valencias, two nice scores close together is always a good thing. :yes:

• 19

A friend of mine had the Stonehenge II's. In fact I sold them to him in the late 70's. Always enjoyed going to his house and hearing them. It was very hard to get them from Altec to sell.