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.

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• 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.

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?

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.

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.