Are Zim's 1957 Altec 604Cs in ONKEN cabinets, Markwart xovers and 46 1.25W SET amp sonic nirvana?

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August 2025 is ALTEC LANSING DUPLEX Loudspeaker Month!

This episode is really 3 episodes in ONE. We cover the Altec 890C Boleros system, followed by the 604Cs and then a discussion on custom SET amps.

In this episode. the Chicago Horn Loudspeakers Guys visit with Chicago's tube maven Zim Bida to audition his rare matched pair of ALTEC LANSING 604C drivers in DIY Jensen Ultraflex cabinets. These cabinets inspired the current ONKEN cabinets used in many custom systems utilizing Altec Lansing , JBL and TAD components.

Zim's 604Cs use Jeff Markwart custom crossover with a crossover frequency of 1600Hz and built in CD horn compensation. The drivers features paper surrounds and the then new but smaller "multi-cell" horn. He drives them with a custom made Oliver Sayes 1.25W 46 tube based SET stereo tube amplifier and a stock Supratek Syrah preamplifier and SW1X DAC III. This is one smooth, relax sounding system with "presence and immediacy" galore. Qualities that are extremely rare to find in modern day hifi. Really makes one wonder if speaker technology has really progress in the last 70 years or so and whether you really need more than a single watt. this sounds ridiculous but in a good way.
If you run across a pair, buy them or at the very least, audition them.