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bjmsam

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    AR & BA

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  1. That review states, "Crossover Frequencies: 400 Hz and 3 kHz." This summary states, "crossover points 250 Hz and 2,500 Hz." Which is correct? Thanks for the schematic! The upper section and lower section appear to be independent (like the AR9's crossover); would the upper section behave differently with the lower section removed? Do the two sections work together like parallel resistors? Req=R1×R2 / (R1+R2)
  2. Welcome to the forum! Anyone logged in should be able to download the copy attached to this post (click the black arrow at right to view): The forum index includes this link:
  3. That's a fine choice. To be clear, I used M.D.L. NPEs for both my AR9C and my AR-3a projects, not Solens. If your AR-3a speakers sound dull with new NPE caps, then rebuilding the 50+ year old tweeters (an option missing from page 11) might be more prudent than altering the xover with MKP (PP) caps to run them "hot" (see page 16). The goal of my AR-3a recap was to restore / maintain performance and protect drivers by ensuring that the xover operates as originally designed. When it comes to upgrading sound quality, I strive to prioritize investments that objectively make a measurable improvement, and in my experience, room treatment tends to offer the most significant return. Good luck!
  4. Yes, I did (more info here), and yes, I am!
  5. Thanks! The AR9 pair is driven by an Adcom GFA-585 while the "AR9C" center speaker is equivalent to the top section of an AR9 mounted flush in the treated front wall behind a 120" acoustically transparent screen driven by the bridged channel of an Adcom GFA-2535 crossed over at 200Hz. A Denon AVR-X4000 configured for 7.0 surround (no need for separate subs!) also feeds Definitive Technology in-ceiling sides and KSI in-ceiling rears. Though some room challenges remain to be addressed, the setup measures extremely well and sounds fantastic.
  6. It seems realistic to expect people to become enthusiasts about products that best achieve the primary objective(s). Relatively few today are enthusiastic about cylinder players or tube radios because every alternative performs better and is more convenient. During the classic speaker era, performance was valued most, and those products still deliver, but are not particularly convenient. During whatever era this is, it seems convenience is valued most, often at the expense of performance. LPs are a curious exception from the perspectives of both performance (IMHO) and convenience (adding that distortion electronically is easier).
  7. That is wild. Nicely done! How far out of spec were the original BA caps you replaced?
  8. I spotted this on eBay and don't know if it is authentic but figure someone might be interested or have insight to offer. Emile Berliner Award presented to Edgar Villchur acoustic research founder 1974
  9. About lossless audio in Apple Music Samplerates: the higher the better, right?
  10. Wow! Have you posted details and photos of this setup anywhere? That vintage "classic speaker" approach surely rivals high-end "modern" designs. My seven channel HT employs AR9 as front left/right and my custom "AR9C" as center with DefTech UIW BP/A sides and KSI 8081-CSD rears; I have imagined including my AR90 pair and other AR (3a, 3a-Improved, 94) and BA (T830 and A60) pairs so am interested in your experience. What I can't imagine is being satisfied with earbuds, "mono bluetooth speakers and Sound Bars..." 😞
  11. bjmsam

    AR-9

    In case you're still looking, I found something close: It's available in different thicknesses.
  12. Sometimes a room will not work well regardless of speaker or placement. For the MLP, equalization (preferably more granular than 12 bands, such as a PEQ or Audyssey, Dirac, MiniDSP, etc.) may help attenuate peaks but cannot eliminate nulls as those frequencies cancel regardless of amplitude. Using something like REW to simulate and measure the room would be most revealing (I am happy to help if you live nearby - can't tell from your profile). Guessing is expensive; I certainly would not divest from the AR9 before confirming that an alternative sounds better! Other important aspects include height, construction, and any acoustic treatment to relieve bass pressure, which can be overwhelming. Example: In my home theater (much larger than your room and treated, though far from perfect), my AR9 sound a bit better than my AR90. In my game room (slightly larger than your room with little treatment), my AR90 sound a bit better than my AR9. In my living room (about the size of my home theater with no treatment) where WAF is more important, my AR-3a sound better in some parts of the room than in others. Anecdote: I drove to Long Island to buy my AR9 from the original owner about 15 years ago. I auditioned them in the untreated living room of his tiny cape-style house and was disappointed by the lack of bass. They had been recapped, all four woofers had significant extension, and he had "audiophile equipment" (fancy turntable, glowing tube amp, "articulate" (i.e.- overly bright) replacement speakers, etc.), so I figured the room was highly modal. Upon returning home, I placed them against the wall, connected them to my GFA-585, and was rewarded with terrific sound.
  13. Thank you for your service and significant sacrifice. I hope you recover soon and continue cultivating your son's interest. I chimed in on your thread. 😉
  14. Thanks! Being happy is all that matters. 😉 Your speakers look great! My woofer surrounds (and dust caps) were bone dry and felt like fragile paper. Now they feel much more robust, and the cone returns much more slowly after being displaced. One coat seemed adequate. Any difference in sound is too subtle for me to hear. Here is a graph of the woofer section measured on-axis in my room before and after sealing: Since a 100Hz HPF was inadvertently engaged on the AVR channel used for the measurements I posted earlier comparing before/after capacitor replacement (inconsequential but annoying), here is a final graph of measurements on-axis in my room with everything done and dialed in: The speakers are well aligned and not responsible for deviations from the red AR tech data trace as acoustic treatment of my room remains a work in progress... 🤔 Thanks again for the outstanding guide and support!
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