Altec Lansing - Meastro M-500 Speaker

High-End Vintage-Highlight: Altec Lansing Maestro M500

An exceptionally rare high-end vintage speaker that brings the authentic sound of the golden era to life. Altec Lansing has built an iconic reputation in live performance and theater sound—and you hear it immediately. The Maestro M500 delivers the original vintage sound to perfection. This set has been technically refurbished with new aluminum diaphragms (ready for the next 40 years) and the tone is absolutely high-end!

Specifications & Features
Power & Impedance: Altec Lansing Maestro M500, 500 watts music power (250 watts sine) at 8 ohms. This also makes them suitable for even the heaviest amplifiers.

Sensitivity: High efficiency of 96.5 dB (1W / 1m).

History & Heritage of the Maestro M500:
It is the legendary evolution of the famous Altec Model 19 (the Altec Lansing No. 19 was praised as “the best speaker ever heard!”). Famous for the typical Altec live sound, enormous dynamics and audiophile precision. The Maestro M500 is an evolution stemming from the improved Mantarray horn.

Altec Lansing and JBL share the same family roots; you cannot tell the story of the American West Coast sound without placing James Bullough Lansing (J.B.L.) at the center. Altec Lansing is known for The Voice of the Theatre and after the war became the gold standard for cinema sound in Hollywood. The A7 model is its most famous, has cult status, and commands five-figure sums in exchanges.
Altec Lansing was also present at the great legendary festivals, such as Woodstock in 1969. In addition, Altec Lansing was a household name as a studio monitor in recording studios.

Extremely rare (collector’s status)
Globally there are only an estimated 150–200 pairs of the Maestro M500. Altec Lansing filed for bankruptcy shortly after production, causing this model to be built in extremely small quantities. It is a true collector’s item in an imposing “fridge-sized” cabinet—lovingly nicknamed The Fridge.

Unique provenance: This set comes from a cinema in the former East Germany and has been in my possession for decades; this year it has been fitted with new aluminum diaphragms for even more accurate high-end reproduction and maximum durability.

Upgrade: Radio Shack Super Tweeter + Mundorf (1 µF): Extends the high-frequency range to 40 kHz for finer detail resolution and audiophile transparency. It adds that “soft satin sheen” to the air range, without disturbing the midrange. Full level from 20 kHz. Individually mounted, so the speaker cabinets themselves remain 100% original.

Efficiency & Sound Character
Because the Altec Lansing Maestros are so incredibly power-efficient, an amplifier only needs a few real watts to fill a room with sound. Where modern, compact speakers effectively drain the amp (causing that sibilant, tiring “Hi-Fi pain”), the Altecs remain perfectly relaxed. They breathe the music, rather than squeeze it out. This also makes them ideally suited for tube amplifiers or amplifiers with modest power.

Includes heavy-duty stands & mounting option
The speakers are sold with very sturdy, custom aluminum/wood stands on wheels (about 25 kg each). These bring the cabinets to the ideal listening height and make moving them surprisingly easy. In addition, the enclosures feature integrated thread holes, so they can be professionally hung if desired.

Condition, shipping & legal information
Condition: All fully functional. The speakers play powerfully, cleanly and tightly.
Photos: the first and last photos are digital renderings; all others are true-to-life.

Listening test: A listening session in my “man cave” is explicitly preferred!

Shipping: Pallet shipping is possible by arrangement.

Important note: Due to the high transport risk and the weight of 48 kg per speaker (plus 25 kg per stand), the sale is formally conducted as defective, with exclusion of warranty or liability for defects.

This High-End Vintage-Sound from Altec Lansing creates:

“The closest approach with the biggest Woodstock bang!”