[Acoustic Research AR M3 Holographic Imaging ???]

I am attaching the AR Holographic Imaging Speaker Brochure for you. It is no longer available on this website.

However they did not include the specs on the MC1 Holographic Imaging Center speaker in it, though.

I read somewhere that it was 90hz to 22Khz, though. I would definitely set it for "Small" with your receiver.

When I listen to them up close, they sound like the bass is at least that low, maybe lower. They've got 3 5" Mid Woofers.

To my ears, all three of them are active radiators, though.

If you need to replace one of them, there are at least two OEM type acoustic research raw speaker websites listed in e-bay. The speaker itself would not be very expensive.

But be careful to seal it completely upon replacement. These are acoustic suspension speakers that depend on an air-tight seal to perform at their best.

There is a more expensive and very large AR center channel speaker that has two 8" radiators, though, if you're tending towards the HTS mode more than just music. It has very powerful bass! You can find several owner reviews on it at the "Epinions" website.

Your fronts should at least be Acoustic Research speakers in order to be "voiced" right.

One of the things that makes my new HTS set-up work so well is the seamless integration of the AR M5's, M4's, MC1 and M3's.

Any of the AR9(#) series should work very well.

These also have dual woofers with outstanding no-holds-barred bass. The narrow front cabinet dimensions also reduce diffraction effects and give an airy, wide-dispersion character very similar to the Holographic imaging series.

Julian Hirsch in Stereo Review back in the early 90's compared them very favorably to speakers costing 5-10 times the price:)!!!!!!!!!!

Haven't heard the MC.5's, but I am not surprised at your description of how good they sound. Acoustic Research pioneered dome speakers.

The brightness you observed might very well be a characteristic of your amplifier (rising high-end or lower than needed power capability).

So many other professional and owner reviews I have read about the Holographic imaging speaker series describe how the "hot high-end" frequency response leveled out when these speakers were later hooked up to very high-quality and/or more powerful amps.

Acoustic suspension speakers are notoriously inefficient. And so any power deficiencies would manifest themselves in a response pattern that would favor the high end over the low-end.

I am currently running my system through a low-end JVC 5.1 100-watt (RMS) per channel HTS receiver.

All that extra power has the high end sounding very well-balanced and smooth even on loud cymbal crashes; never hot or fizzy.

I would even characterize the tweeter balance as being somewhat subdued except, as it always is with Acoustic Research speakers in the case of low-bass and high end, when there really is prominent high-end sound.

I was watching a hybrid Hollywood/Bollywood movie, "Marigold" shot in India with Ali Larter in it.

Indian music has a surprisingly American quality when it comes to wide-range frequency response and dynamic range. Cymbals and bells are featured prominently and loudly. The M series speakers in my set-up reproduced them as a smooth high frequency shimmer with no "hotness" at all.

Since I am bidding on a 7.2 Sony HTS receiver, I am definitely keeping the M3's. But since the whole Holographic Imaging series is suddenly getting so popular, there are a number of M3 pairs for sale in the $150-200 range that are in "excellent" condition.

At this point, I would consider them worth it.

I am prepared to pay as much as twice that for the M6's I covet so much.

Have fun with your new set-up.

Make sure to let us know what front speakers you finally acquire and how the whole thing winds up sounding!!

Thanks, already seen the AR Holographic Imaging Speaker Brochure many times. Still never seen "any MC1 info. I listened again, all there are playing in the MC1.

Do you know the Model of the Larger AR 8" Center speaker? And was it before the change over to Audioxvox ?

My HT Receiver is the Yamaha RX-V2500, its 150wpc, 7.1. Yamaha's are very netural sounding.

Thanks for all the info.

[Acoustic Research AR M3 Holographic Imaging ???]

Congratulations on getting the MC1 along with the M.5's. Any M speaker pair provides very spacious sound.

But the MC! does "tighten up" the imaging/sound stage considerably.

I'm amazed at how often, especially in "Movie Mode", my HTS receiver is pumping at least 90% of the dialogue through the MC-1.

It's freed up the M-5's and M4's to create some really magical ambiance effects, especially in outdoor scenes of movies.

My personal recommendation for front M speakers:

- The M-3's are the only book shelf variety of the M series that are 3-ways. See brochure at

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/library/acoustic_research/holographic_series_1990/holographic_series_brochure/

- They also possess a much larger acoustic suspension 8" woofer.

- That would provide you with very adequate clean, well-balanced bass output.

The much healthier power-handling of the M-3's would provide a substantial increase in dynamic range (softest, quietest sounds to loudest most powerful sounds) for your system, thus adding to the realism of your audio experience.

The M.5's would then not be asked to do something they can't, provide a realistic semblance of deep, powerful bass.

Within their limits, the M-3's are very surprising in their bass capabilities.

I had only the M-3's for approximately 3 weeks before I picked up the M-5's.

They constantly and pleasantly surprised me with their response.

They are well-balanced enough to be the only speakers in a truly Hifi "stereo" system.

Hey Thanks for all the input. You are right about a few things. First, I've had much larger center channels, but the small drivers in the MC1 reproduce Voice sound so clear and tight. The other night I was watching something that had auto fire gun shot scene with diffrent fire arms. Boy did it sound so accurate. Question for you about the MC1. Do you know a link that has any info at all about it??? I'm trying to get the freq range so that I can set my Yamaha RX-V2500 receiver to the correct range of the speakers for the MC1 center channel. I cannnot find anything any where about it. Also I can't hear sound comming from the 1 single speaker on the left side of the MC1 center speaker. Should all 3 woofers be playing the same, or it that a passive radiator?? I have not have it that long, or maybe a wire came loose behing it in the cabinet. I hope its not blown.

Second I kinda already found out that the M3's would be the best for fronts better than the M.5's I now have as fronts. I plan to move them to rear duty as I am now AB ing a additional set tof 3 ways fronts with them and thats fills the bass. I relly want to stay away from tower speaker because of room looks right now and only found 1 set of M3's but the shipping cost is to high. Do you still have your M3's and would you want to sell them if you do??

BTW I was shocked at the ability of the sound performance for music that the m.5 can play. I mean really shocked I had heard the the M.5 was the latest version of the M-1 and that the M-1 was almost to bright with highs. I think they may have tammed that down in the M.5. Or it may be that Yamaha RX-V2500 reciver I use is very netural along with the profession grade Yamaha GQ2015A Dual-Channel 2/3-Octave Graphic Equalizer allows me to dial them in to my likeing. The M.5 can hold is own when it comes to playing music. I don't worry about Bass to much because I use a M&K Volkswoofer for sub duty and it plays music like no others do.

[Acoustic Research AR M3 Holographic Imaging ???]

I just purchased a MC.1 Center and a set of nice M.5's. I was asking about the difference of the M.5 later series. I think the poster is very accurate about the diffrence of the M.5 and M1 being ported. They are very, very impressive, especialy in the midrange, and for a 4 inch woofer, not bad at all. I had heard that the M1 had a tendency to be too bright, but I think the M.5 was a improvement over the M1 with more midrange, more bass and a little less highs.

I am now running them in a HT set up and I love it. Someone else where said when you play movies they give you that "right there" effect, and they do. They also fill the room with sound. I could'nt be happier.

I'm debating the M2 or M3 for fronts. Not if, but which one to get and then move the M.5 to the rear.

BTW - michiganpat, this is all your fault for bring this up, at the AK forum. LOL !

[Acoustic Research AR M3 Holographic Imaging ???]

Hey appreciate all the info posted here. I still am looking for info on the last series of these. 1 was called the M.5, not M5 but M.5.

Also looking to see if the M3 was much better than the M1 and M2. The M3 is a three way with a mid driver.

Also if anyone has any of these speaker that they want to SELL, please let me know. I am interested in buying a few now.

[Acoustic Research AR M3 Holographic Imaging ???]

Hi,

I have read here off and on for a year or so, but never posted before. This is my 1st post.

I have a few questions about the Acoustic Research \ Holographic Imaging Speakers. I mainly want to ask about the M1, M2, M3, and M.5 or any others that are Not towers.

1. The M3 seems to be a little different in that it is a 3 way, with a smaller tweeter, but also has a midrange driver. Does anyone know if it was actully the best sounding, NON tower M Speaker ?

2. I'm trying to get 2 pair that would sound the best ? I do want some mid bass, but I do already have a M&K sub. I also already have the AR MC.1 center channel and will be using these for a nice HT setup. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.