Aadams

The only thing I would ad to JKent's post is you must be logged in to see the message button when you click on @RoyC

"Looks like what you called spider is loose,not sure how to shim it,and glue it, any exacting instructions available " There are plenty of examples of hinged back dust covers and shimmed voice coils on this site but not detailed instructions for reattaching fiber spacers on the cloth surround woofers. It is not difficult if you have the patience, materials and tools but if you have never done any woofer repairs this is not the driver to start on, mainly because replacements are scarce. Recommend you message @RoyC .

Based on your description, this thread, below, explains and illustrates how to repair your most likely problem. If you are new to this, read the entire thread and understand it is important that you shim the voice coil without ruining the dust cover as mentioned in the final post. If you prefer professional repair contact @RoyCusing the forum private message function. If you want to DIY with forum help, be ready to supply images of your speakers. Good luck. Adams

The short answer is yes. If the wire is disconnected at the tweeter dome contact @RoyCor @Chris1this1 for repair. If the break is between the dome and the terminal post you could try it yourself. Personally I would have Roy or Chris do a complete rebuild. Those particular tweeters have a serious drop off in performance after 50 years but they are the correct and best tweeters for the Classic ARs when restored. Adams

I have been trying to find a better or perhaps best recording/performance of Saint Saens 3 (Organ Symphony) and came full circle to my previous favorite in a different form. Out of four different orchestra recordings I have a new top 2.

DMAC Congrats. Those appear to be nice, slightly worn but uncorrupted examples. You are probably aware there are several very good 2ax restoration threads on this site. If you have specific questions you should ask. Adams

CR 7 vs CR 75 Tweeter swap doesn't look practical

I have CR 65s and 75s. The 75s are a CR7 with the Kortec tweeter and a bit better cabinet. For the money any of the CR series in good working order will be very hard to outclass with a modern two way ported speaker using comparable woofer size. The CR 8x, 9x are pretty rare these days.

Did you put a battery or a test signal on the removed woofer terminals? Unless it is irreparably damaged I would not send an AR woofer to Simply Speakers or Speaker Exchange for repair if they want to replace the woofer cone. @RoyC could possibly repair it without replacing the cone. Send him a private message on this site. For AR9 use the Simply Speakers replacement AR 12 inch might be an OK substitute until you can get another original woofer. woo

No. The original black fabric was stretched and stapled around the entire perimeter of the large grill. Same with the woofer grills. But glue would work as well if you are careful and patient. Regarding placement. You have plenty of room and enough options. You don't need spikes but you could use adhesive felt pads to ease movement on the wooden floor. Those baseboard heaters being so close would concern me but others may know better. Above is a link to an AR 9 ref manual download. Read the section on speaker placement. Adams

NIMA welcome Here is a recent discussion on the subwoofer topic but with the AR4. The answers would be the same for an AR7.

Read the later posts in this thread to learn about swapping Polyfil for Fiberglass in old AR cabs.

I looked around the forum. All of the ADD project photos I saw had fiberglass. Wear rubber gloves in a well ventilated area to install 500 to 550 grams of fiberglass in large chunks, loosely throughout the cabinet, then cover the woofer hole with a sheet of crinolin fabric or thin polyfil quilt batting as a barrier. Put a slit in the barrier sheet to run the woofer wires through. The ARs after the ADDs were designed to use polyfil.

Maybe English ADDs came with polyfil but I am pretty sure US ADD series had fiberglass. My AR14s had yellow fiberglass. The damping properties are very different for an equal weight of material.

Did you use the correct weight in fiberglass stuffing not polyfil? Are you sure the woofers are connected in phase? Just reveiw questions.

The woofer chamber has a hard packed mass of the same material in the upper half of the chamber.

YES. That is the correct stuffing for the AR9 series. That cavity was stuffed very densely, specifically for the original 8" midrange driver.

Assuming your signal wires are connected to the 1 & 2 posts on the speaker, disconnect the jumper that connects post 2 to post T and play your speakers. I you still hear the sound the problem is related to the woofer. If not, then the mid. In the 2ax almost all human voice originates through the woofer, with mostly harmonics in the mid. It might be wires touching the woofer cone. Just a guess.

Reference Recordings makes a high quality product. Recording quality is always excellent. Their recording of Saint Saens 3 performed by the Kansas City SO is maybe the current best available and is also on half speed vinyl.

I like it. How many amplifiers are you using for this setup?

Ray K Very nice AR3s The instructions you reference apply to grills that were glued and stapled. Don't do this to your AR3 grills unless someone with AR3 grill removal experience says it is OK. AR3 grills were slightly oversized and force fitted into grooves without glue and staples. They are tricky to remove without breaking. @JKent, whom you can private message, may still have some fairly priced, new replacement Pots for sale or you can use Lpads with resistors as described in the AR3a restoration guide. There are other issues specific to AR3 mid range and tweeter drivers that you should be aware of as well. Be patient and wait for help before you open your speakers. Adams

Nice find with pristine grill cloth. JIC you have not already done so, be sure to read the AR3a restoration guide before you pull the grills from the speakers.

Are you referring to a 9 or 9ls?

From Stereo Review August 1976 If you can't place your Classic AR 3ways centered and recessed in a wall, this is a good article for working out alternate placements. Discussion applies to any full range box speaker. The Speaker and the Listener Roy Allison.pdf

Thanks for the reply. I thought you were speaking of circuitry differences. The following statement is what caught my attention: The cabinets were identical dimensions. I was wondering what change in the late 3a are you referring to? Adams