Altec Lansing 440B Mono Preamplifiers
Archived listing from the original vintage-amplifier.com. Prices, seller details and purchase links have been removed; this page is a reference record, and nothing here is for sale. About this archive.
Altec Lansing 440 B Mono Pre-Amps with Wood Enclosure. These devices were of our engineer, 72 years old, has worked for 50 years with tubes, as in lab Engineer, technically completely restored and he found a lot of modification.( last picture shows his working place) there is no hum or any noise. the sound is fantastic….. also the condition is fantastic inside and outside. All defective electrolytic capacitors and stocks were again renewed, the tubes are measured. Original Woodcase are complete restored from an carpenter.
About this model
A pair of 440B mono preamplifiers in wooden enclosures, restored in Germany by a 72-year-old engineer who, the listing says, had worked with tubes for fifty years. He replaced the electrolytic capacitors, measured the tubes, and had a carpenter restore the wooden cases; the seller also noted that he found many earlier modifications inside.
Mono preamplifiers like these come from professional installations, where each channel had its own unit, which is why they turn up singly or in pairs rather than as stereo pieces. If you find one, check whether the modifications have been documented before you assume the circuit matches the factory schematic.
The same professional background runs through Altec's 1530T power amplifiers elsewhere in the archive, and through theatre equipment from other makers, such as RCA's wall-mounted Photophone MI-1223-A.
| Maker | Altec Lansing Corporation, USA |
|---|---|
| Type | Mono preamplifier (pair) |
| Enclosure | Wooden case, restored (listing) |
| Restoration | Electrolytic capacitors replaced, tubes measured (listing) |
| Restored in | Germany (listing) |
Questions collectors ask
Why are the Altec 440B preamps mono?
They were built for professional use, where each channel had its own preamplifier. Collectors usually look for matched pairs for stereo.
What should I check on a modified professional preamp?
Ask for documentation of the changes and compare the wiring with a factory schematic. Undocumented modifications can affect gain, noise and safety.
Sources: Wikipedia: Altec Lansing.
