3a-"Improved" ??

[Guest speedracer]

On e-bay, someone has a pair of 3a-improved ? anybody ever heard or seen anything like this ?? check them out, looks cool !

[dynaco_dan]

Hi there;

I was looking at that auction.

It gave me a headache reading the write-up.

Bouncing back and forth with the AR-3A Limited information.

Even seemed to like quoting this site and Minh, the, "AR-3A Limited", site resident expert.

Super salesman, that is for sure.

[Guest speedracer]

have you ever heard of these or the other he was talking about ?

[RoyC]

Much has been written about the AR-3a Improved in this forum.

Do a search of subject lines using the word "Improved" in the search feature.

That Ebay seller has lots of BS in his listing, and obviously has no clue regarding those (very common and likely worn out) "supersized" capacitors.

Roy

[dynaco_dan]

>Much has been written about the AR-3a Improved in this forum.

>

>

>Do a search of subject lines using the word

>"Improved" in the search feature.

>

>That Ebay seller has lots of

BS in his listing,

Thank you, Roy, that was my polite way of saying a headache.

and obviously

>has no clue regarding those (very common and likely worn out)

>"supersized" capacitors.

>

>Roy

[Guest speedracer]

OK, thanks, I'm still new here, thanks for setting me straight on these. (thought it was something special)

[dynaco_dan]

Hi there;

Seriously, the AR-3A Improved is a notch above the original AR-3A.

I had a very brief in home demo many years ago, only the once, and do not have enough to comment on sound difference between two models.

The price is attractive, if all is minty.

[Guest speedracer]

hey guys, I'm just passing along "info and stuff" I see. just trying to help..................

[RoyC]

No problem, speedracer, it is appreciated. It is always fun to examine interesting AR offerings on Ebay.

The 3a Improved is special to collectors, as it is rare, and it was not offered for sale in the US. It was an update to the standard European 3a. Externally the badge was changed, but the cabinet style remained the same.

The AR-11, another 3a variant (this one sporting a new tweeter) came along in the US at about the time the 3a Improved was being evaluated in Europe in the mid '70's. It seems to have been a transitional model between the standard 3a and the AR-11.

Although there were some crossover modifications, the most appreciated "improvement" was probably the elimination of the dreaded potentiometer level controls:-).

Roy

[Guest speedracer]

finally, ......nice to hear something positive about what I found and shared with the folks @ CSP. (maybe next time I'll just wait till i'm called on)

[RoyC]

Many new members ask questions that have been answered in detail many times before. The most helpful response is to point out the forum's Search function and/or Library.

Ebay listings are always fair game:-).

Roy

[Guest speedracer]

I guess you "CSP" people are just "too cool" to share your info to a regular guy like me, it's just easier to try and make me feel inferior. guess what..... it didn't work !

[dynaco_dan]

>I guess you "CSP" people are just "too

>cool" to share your info to a regular guy like me, it's

>just easier to try and make me feel inferior. guess what.....

> it didn't work !

Hi Martin;

As was previously mentioned, a lot has been written about the AR-3A Improved already.

Unfortunately it is not necessarily easy to find it sometimes.

If there was a topic, "AR-3A Improved", and that was all everyone would add to, we would have an easier time looking for that information.

The various tidbits come up here and there with no regularity.

You should not feel that, we as members, do not want to share information with you or anyone else.

We are all regular guys, and gals, and you should not feel that you were not treated with respect.

In hindsight, I guess if we had a spec sheet in the library and someone had pointed it out to you, you may feel differently.

We do not have it.

Sorry you were offended by our casual behaviour.

[Guest speedracer]

That's not "casual" behavior Vern, it's "snotty" behavior and I won't tolerate it! I collect old muscle cars, and see this same type of crap at car shows, I happen to be fortunate enough to own some "top of line" autos,and see when someone comes in with 6 cyl., 4-door how people snicker and ignore them when they come around inquiring about "this and that", and see some of the same in this hobby, on this web site and others, please, don't defend these people, unless you're one of "them". ( and I thought better of you, am I wrong ?)

[JKent]

Hi Speedracer

I think you either got the wrong impression or else have extremely thin skin. I'm a relative newbie here and have found the members extremely helpful and eager to share their (our) hobby. If someone says "do a search" it's because volumes have already been written on the subject and you can brouse at your leisure. If there was ANY smugness or hostility it was directed toward the bozo who's hyping speakers inaccurately, hoping to sucker people in. He also usd the name of a respected forum member, trying to lend credibility to his hype--a major infraction of acceptable behavior.

I, too, found the listing interesting because these are rarely seen. So thanks for brining it ot the attention of CSP readers. I think some of the more vigilant members just wanted to warn off the unsuspecting from swallowing that guy's snake oil.

Kent

[RoyC]

Speedracer,

...not sure who has the attitude here...

Even after suggesting the search function, Vern and I attempted to provide insight into the 3a Improved model.

I do have a problem with the Ebay seller's over the top hype about the "supersized" caps...but that was NOT pointed at you...unless YOU are the seller. There are potential buyers who may get sucked in by that crap. By the way, much can also be found here about the "other" model mentioned in the listing, the AR-3a Limited.

There has been much effort to provide thorough and accurate info in this forum, and typing it over and over is really not necessary, nor easy to do. There are some of us who are trying to put together documents for the Library that should be helpful in the future.

Nothing written here has been meant to make you feel unwelcome.

Roy

[Guest speedracer]

and that's all I was asking for, to respect that ALL of us don't know everything ! I thought that AR people might like to see this, I don't need to be put down and made to feel like a "schmuck", it's been debated before, guess what, I've been here for 10 days, 2 weeks maybe, I know "alittle" about "alot" about AR speakers, and just wanted to share what I found...... but maybe you're right, I could be too "thin skinned", but that's how I was made to feel here !

[Guest speedracer]

I'm not the seller, just someone likes AR speakers, and have NO CLUE about the "caps" or other tech stuff, just a "fan of the brand" and sorry it's gone this far. Good Night ..................

[roundhome]

Gee this sounds fun I not only collect these speakers but have a 61 chevy impala want to race or show it 84 corvett frame 383 stroker fuel injection 2005 GTO seats Auto boat spead show 1976 . shucks in 74 was building sneava's motors for him. but never had a problem at a race or a show with any thing like this grow up

but if you want to have a foot race well I will have to give that to you my legs don't work so well after the first gulf war but I don't care we can arm wrestle ok. how about a spelling contest I can't do that ither. have fun life is to short I know mine has ended twice thanks to good docs still here to have fun.

[JLM2230]

I have only been associated with the group as a member for about 2 months. In that time having read many hundreds of Posts, let me assure you that you are among friendly and patient folks.

My first computor interaction over 15 years ago, resulted in a bunch of flaming comments exchanged between myself and another party. It angered and then terrified me, when I realized that it was very likely, just a misunderstanding. A result of dealing with the written, rather than spoken word. When you type something with a smile on your face, or a wink in your eye, that expression is not conveyed with the sentance. To this day I am VERY carefull in my wording of every sentance ever writen in a post. And I have a profound appreciation of how much skill is required to be an author, columnist, or such.

This group is filled with good and well intentioned people. You may have had an unfortunate introduction to the group, but if you give it 1/2 a chance, you will enjoy and learn from the encounter.

Best Wishes and Good Listening

JLM2230

Jeff

[fred]

On e-bay, someone has a pair of 3a-improved ? anybody ever heard or seen anything like this ?? check them out, looks cool !

i have owned a pair of improved's since 1975 and they are a slightly different version of the 3a's made in the uk for the european market, without the pots and a somewhat more elegant cabinet.

an ar fan from holland!

[oldguide]

I don't think this group is at all snotty to newbies, speaking as a week old one. My thread on AR Tweeters dredged up a subject that is all over this board, and yes, I had done my searches, but even when I got a bit testy people were still willing to help. The knowledge and generosity here of people is truly a credit to the site. Several posters are/were in the speaker business and have freely given of their time and knowledge. You don't find that too often in these days when everyone wants to be paid. And the guide--you could sell that for $20 or more and have lots of takers, but I was amazed it was FREE. There are idiots on eBay who sell computer building info that isn't worth the postage.

[mluong303]

Would you post pictures of your AR-3a Improved speakers(front and back) so we can see what other version of AR-3a speakers was availabled within the timeline...

Thanks,

Minh Luong

I still waiting for someone in the United States or over sea to post pictures of the AR-3ax speaker so to find out if this model really exist?

[Mexicomike]

As a rabid AR person from the mid 60's to mid 70's, I never heard of an AR3ax but that doesn't mean they didn't make one since I had never heard of an "AR3a Improved" either (what did they "improve?)

I found a consderable number of posts on the internet where people claim to have owned (or still own) AR3ax speakers but I couldn't find any pictures - there's even a new post on this site from a person who claims to own them: http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Boar...amp;#entry72994

[johnieo]

... since I had never heard of an "AR3a Improved" either (what did they "improve?)

I

Mike: In the 70's the AR-3a cabinet front was was modified to suit European tastes for sale in Europe. The picture frame was replaced by a narrow edge, however the crossover and potentiometers remained the same. In late 1975 the crossover was redesigned to use the new ferrofluid tweeter (A.20 in the restore document). One can see that the then new crossover used an inductor across the tweeter in precisely the same manner as Kantor has used for the AB Tech tweeter. This later European version is called the AR-3a Improved, and sported a logo to that effect. A couple of years ago Minh Luong traced the crossover and here is what we drew.

Cheers,