Altec Lansing

Altec Lansing was a legendary American loudspeaker manufacturer founded in 1941 through the acquisition of the Lansing Manufacturing Company. From the iconic Voice of the Theatre cinema speakers to the revolutionary Duplex coaxial drivers, Altec defined professional and high-fidelity sound for decades.

Company History

Altec was formed when the All Technical Products Company acquired the Lansing Manufacturing Company (LMCO) in 1941, bringing James B. Lansing's loudspeaker manufacturing expertise into the fold. The company pioneered numerous innovations including Alnico V magnets, multicellular horns, and the coaxial "Duplex" speaker design. Altec speakers were used in theaters, recording studios, and homes worldwide, becoming the standard by which other speakers were measured.

Voice of the Theatre (VOTT)

Introduced in 1947, the Voice of the Theatre series became the definitive cinema sound system for decades. These large-format horn-loaded systems were designed to fill theaters with powerful, clear sound.

• VOTT A7 (1947-1970s) - The classic combination horn/bass-reflex 2-way system
• VOTT A4 - Compact version for smaller venues
• VOTT A5 - Medium-sized cinema system

Duplex Coaxial Speakers

The Duplex line revolutionized speaker design by mounting a compression driver coaxially behind a large woofer, creating a true point-source loudspeaker. The 604 became the most widely used studio monitor in history.

• 604 Duplex Series (1944-1990s) - The legendary 15" coaxial studio monitor
• 604-8G Super Duplex (1973-1979) - Final and most refined 604 version
• 604E Super Duplex (1964-1970s) - Evolution of the classic design
• 605A Duplex (1959-1960s) - Alternative to the 604 with modified magnet structure
• 601 Duplex (1943, 1950s) - The original coaxial and the later 12" version

Home & Hi-Fi Speakers

Altec brought their professional expertise to home audio with a range of high-fidelity speakers prized for their efficiency and natural sound.

• Model 19 (1977-1980s) - Studio monitor quality for the home, "The Nineteen"
• Model 83 (1970s) - Compact 2-way with 8" woofer
• Model 14 (1970s) - Floorstanding 3-way system
• Model 15 (1970s) - Large floorstanding system
• Model One (1970s-1980s) - Compact bookshelf speaker
• Model Seven (1970s) - Premium bookshelf design

Professional & Studio Monitors

Altec professional monitors were found in virtually every major recording studio and broadcast facility.

• 9844 Studio Monitor - Compact professional monitor
• 9850 Studio Monitor - Full-range studio reference
• 811B Horn - Iconic sectoral horn used in many systems
• 511B Horn - Compact sectoral horn

Drivers & Components

Altec manufactured individual drivers that powered their speakers and became industry standards.

• View All Altec Drivers - Woofers, compression drivers, and horns

Documentation

• Altec Datasheets - Original specifications and technical data
• Altec Manuals - Owner manuals and service information

External Resources

• Lansing Heritage - Altec - Comprehensive Altec history and specifications
• AudioKarma Altec Forum - Community discussions
• Altec Lansing Unofficial - Historical documentation and datasheets
• Technical Audio - Duplex Reference - Complete 604 series documentation