Altec 811B Horn + Big Woofer DIY System

So, I'm going to start working on an altec 811B system. I have acquired 4 altec 811B horns for a total of $120, now I just need to find suitable drivers, woofers, and built a cabinet.

Any specific recommendations for drivers or woofers?

I found a pair of JBL D130 woofers on craigslist, listed at $400, ill see if I can get them cheaper.
Looks like the don't go too low, nvm

Any other suggestions?

 

Any important constrains you have, like space for cabinets, woodworking skills or lack thereof, budget, etc?

 

Space I am not to concerned about. If it sounds good, I can fit it. Provided its not completely huge, like JBL paragon sized.
Woodworking, I have not done too much, but I like to learn, and am pretty intuitive with that kind of stuff.
Budget, that's kind of up in the air. To get both woofers and both compression drivers, I would want to keep it under $500.

For the cabinets, I was thinking I could make a floorstander that is the width of the 811B's, with the 811B's mounted on top. Then just make it a good height to get the horn at sitting ear level, and it doesn't need to be too deep to get a decent internal volume.

 

Parts Express has plenty of compression drivers. I'd shop there along with pro woofers

https://www.parts-express.com/cat/horn-drivers/33

 

I am not really sure what exactly is good though, and if the horn I'm using changes what driver I would want.

 

I'm not speaking from direct experience here and I won't be able to offer specific driver options, but in general...

With a budget of $500 for drivers, you're going to have to go with a budget option for _something_. I'd go budget on the woofers and not budget on the compression drivers. With the right woofer, you could get a budget option now and upgrade it later without having to build a new cabinet, but upgrading compression drivers is a much bigger leap in terms of price. Just something to consider.

 

You probably need to choose a woofer and decide where you want to crossover before you pick a driver for the horn.

 

Why not do the other way around?
Would it matter?

 

I guess not really, but it's a lot harder to find a 1" driver that will do 800hz to 16Khz that it would to find one that will do do 1.5khz to 20khz.

 

Ok, well either way, I am still a bit unsure where to start, whats good, ect.
I found a pair of peavey black widow 15" drivers on craiglist for $50 or less, but I am not sure if they are any good. I usually don't think of Peavey as great audio.

 

For compression horns your FR extension is limited more by the horn itself then the driver. Try to find what the recommended crossover is for the Altecs. (Probably 800hz)

 

From what I saw, the lowest recommended for the 811B was somewhere around 800Hz.

EDIT:
Yes, on the Altec spec sheet, recommends 800Hz at the lowest
http://alteclansingunofficial.nlenet.net/proloudspeakers/sectoralhorns/511B&811B-Data.pdf

EDIT 2:
That's why its called the 811B. They recommend 811B to crossover at 800hz, 511B at 500hz. Make sense,

 

That FaitalPRO HF10AK I recommened yesterday will cross that low.

 

These here?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Faital-Pro...538382?hash=item25e323680e:g:~G4AAMXQ1d1TJLbj

 

Yes, that's a pretty good deal. They're $212 normally at Parts Express.

 

OK, I might order them. After that, I just need woofers.

 

Plus those drivers are made Europe, and in particular Italy, where real instruments are played in every home.