Altec Voice of the Theatre A5
1947 - 1970s
The VOTT A5 occupied the middle ground in the Voice of the Theatre lineup, offering a balance between the compact A4 and the full-scale A7. It was widely used in medium-sized theaters and found favor with audio enthusiasts seeking high-efficiency speakers for home use.
Specifications
| Type | 2-way, combination horn/bass-reflex cinema loudspeaker |
|---|---|
| Low Frequency Driver | Altec 515 15" woofer |
| High Frequency Driver | Altec 288 or 291 compression driver |
| Horn | 811B sectoral horn |
| Crossover Frequency | 800 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 Ω or 16 Ω |
| Power Handling | 50W continuous |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/W/m |
| Frequency Response | 42 Hz - 16 kHz |
| Dimensions | 40" H x 24" W x 20" D (approximate) |
| Weight | Approximately 120 lbs |
Design Characteristics
The A5 shared the same 15" 515 woofer as the larger A7 but in a slightly more compact cabinet. This made it suitable for:
- Medium-sized theaters (300-600 seats)
- Drive-in movie theaters (as secondary speakers)
- Large home listening rooms
- Professional monitoring applications
Similarities to A7
The A5 and A7 were quite similar in design:
- Both used the same 515 series 15" woofer
- Both used 288/291 compression drivers
- Both employed the 811B sectoral horn
- Both had combination horn/vented designs
The primary difference was cabinet size and tuning, with the A7 offering slightly deeper bass extension.
Home Use Adaptations
Like other VOTT systems, the A5 found a second life in home audio. The A5-8 (home version without side wings) was particularly popular among enthusiasts who wanted A7 performance in a slightly more manageable size.
Variants
- A5-500: Original cinema version with side baffles
- A5-8: Home version without side wings
- A5-500-8: Updated 8-ohm version
Historical Significance
The A5 represents the versatility of the Voice of the Theatre concept - a scalable design that could be adapted to different venue sizes while maintaining the Altec cinema sound signature. Many A5s remain in service today in restored cinema installations and private collections.