There's nothing quite like the VOT with the BIG,BIG multicellular horns.
It was a tube lover's dream; 845, 300B, 45, SET, push pull triode, etc. I liked the ease of the VOT best, but I think more of the guys liked the 604s in the big bass reflex box. I had a great time and it was fun to meet some of the new guys. We even got Gavin out for a listen; glad you're back in action. Chris (MerRev) we have to get those Advents together with mine. Could be lots of fun!! Thanks to Willie for hosting a great get together!
One more thought. Even though each Altec was in a different cabinet and was of different eras, the chance to hear three different applications of Altec 15" and horns was very instructive. The Valencia upstairs was far more "horn-ish" than either Altec in the basement. It uses the 800 Hz horn in a smallish lowboy cabinet. The 604 with the 1.2 Khz horn in a 6 cu. ft tower was so different than the 500 Hz multi-cellular horn in the VOT (of course it should sound different). It was a real education on the characteristics of each horn and the way its cross-over point modifies the 15" response before it hands off to the horn. That alone was worth the trip in to Willies. Willie mentioned that as soon as the 604 cabinets get living room pretty, they're headed upstairs to replace the Valencias. That will be some parlour system driven by the locomotive amp and a Squeezebox. Can't wait to hear that combo upstairs.
