The question of whether your Altecs are outdated might actually stem from over-tweaking your system. Altec—along with Klipsch—speakers have a classic, signature sound. They weren’t designed to chase specs; they were built to move you.
From my experience, a lot of what we perceive as inconsistency in performance often comes down to music selection and listening habits. If you jump from one genre to another—or from one of your go-to test tracks to something totally different—without giving your ears and system time to settle in, you won’t fully appreciate what’s in front of you.
Don’t shortchange yourself. The system you've shared with the Audiogon community is a classic—full of musicality and heritage.
FWIW, just for the hell of it: sit down and listen to La Bohème all the way through, even if you’re not an opera fan. Then, follow it up with one of your favorite vocalists. The contrast and clarity will help you realize whether you're truly listening to the music—or just to the electronics.