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DavidDru

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Everything posted by DavidDru

  1. It's ben some time since I used the AR3's with them so I can't recall the specifics, but yes, night and day. I have moved towards horns and higher efficiency speakers in recent years and the Fostex get used quite a bit there like now with this set up. The soundstage really rises when you introduce these things.
  2. Cool. I'm sure most of the older model AR's cold use this help. I've used a pair of Fostex super tweeters with my AR3's along the way with good results. Also have some very good Arum Cantus G3ST-D super ribbon tweeters that I could give a try but may be overkill.
  3. Yeah that gets difficult. Having an actual spray set-up etc is almost a must to do lacquer at any scale. Got to be able to pull overspray away and out with a fan vent system and lay down the correct amount. But once that's all in place, lacquer is very forgiving. Even though I have all that system, I still will use rattle cans on small things. Cubes like speakers are tough though.
  4. Wow, nice. Great work and results. What about the lacquering was a challenge and frustration?
  5. So yes, I was able to get the blanket off in-tact. All I did was pry under it with a firm putty type knife slowly and surely. Maybe even a wide chisel and hammer along the way when encountering resistance. The bottom was a mess as AR used some pretty aggressive adhesion (I think it was some sort of sticky back on the back of the blanket as opposed to glue). But since it was going back on, it wasn't that big of a deal. I simply tried to get the blanket off as much in-tact as possible and I'd say it was about 98%. To re-attach it, I used contact cement on both surfaces and applied a board over it with some weight for the night. Just need to be very careful with the foam pieces around the tweeter and mid. Those are held on with velcro pads. I removed the sticker on the plastic piece to get to the screws that held it on. It's a thick plastic sticker so I applied a little heat and once it started coming off, it came off pretty easily. The acoustic blanket is slightly tucked under the plastic piece. Filled the old grill peg holes once I removed the plastic cups with epoxy to hold a magnet in and then bondo. If going with magnet to magnet contact you gotta make sure you get the magnet installed in the correct direct in both the speaker and grill. Didn't take a ton of photos but here are a few.
  6. Go for it. The easy part of veneering these 92's is that it is just the 2 sides and top. no edges. It is a process though to go through on terms of painting the back bottom and face, veneer and spray lacquer that is mapped out. I probably could have veneered the fronts as well but the acoustic blanket, while it did come off mostly in-tact, did leave behind considerable gunk that was just easier to cover back over when I reglued the blanket back on. It looks like you will have some edges to contend with and maybe even an inner lip on the EPI's.
  7. Thanks folks. I've got them hooked up right now to a Marantz Model 250 amp and the combo has a lot of authority. Sounding and performing great thus far. The front I painted a dark burgundy to compliment the mahogany. The backs are black as are the bottoms. Need to shop a bit for grill cloth as I'd like something more than the usual black, brown, grey or white.
  8. Well, here is how they turned out! Still need to finish the grilles. Note no more peg holes on baffle. Mahogany veneer.
  9. Some time has passed and I no longer have the 9's unfortunately. I had a few audiophile buddies that were just jonesing for them and my room just isn't big enough so I let them have them. Since then I have come into a pair of big Marantz Reference monoblocks and I wish I had the 9's to try with them.
  10. It'd been a while since this thread but I thought I would post a youtube channel review of these AR12's for your enjoyment. AR12 Revisited - 2Channel Audio In addition, I am listening to them right now with a Rotel RC2000/RB2000 combo and it's a great match. If you ever see this preamp/amp combo aailable, act quick. Good stuff.
  11. I have a few of these here if anybody is of need. 200035 (4 in total available) 200036 (2 available) AR7 woofer 561 7441 Needs new surround $40 shipped each. Shipping gets combined of course on multiples for a better deal. The surrounds were replaced on these and some were put on the rear of the cone for whatever reason. Not my doing.
  12. briodo, if you ever get the notion to do so, it wouldn't be difficult to re-veneer the top on the 58's. Id did my 3's and they look original.
  13. Since I sold my AR9's I really haven't listened to my various AR's other than the AR12's that are readily available and a nice format/size. This question got me thinking a little and I have a pair of custom 60w tube monoblock amps sitting here I should try with the 3's. It's stupid I don't listen to the 3's more after I put all the time and money into them, but that lacking upper range kinda kills it for me when I do. I might need to get those serviced. These AR92 I am working on will be a nice size/format too when done.
  14. Yeah, that' was my impression too. How about the plastic piece? I don't feel any screws on the inside. The large 80uF caps tested at 86 and 89. I nee to test them with my computer to see about ESR etc.
  15. Removed the woofers. They appear to have been refoamed at some point. One less thing to do! The vinyl came right off after heating it up a little with the heat gun. The edges here and there need to be cleaned up. As of now I'm thinking the fronts will stay the dark brown, unless I have get a new creative idea along the way. It would be best to not to have to work around the felt and the plastic piece. Anybody have any experience with successfully removing either?
  16. Picked up a fairly clean set of AR92 last month. All drivers work and they sound good. Even the acoustic blanket is fully in-tact. Grills too. I got these for only $40 so I have some room in them to put a little into them so I am going to put some respectable real wood veneer on them. Of course a recap as well.
  17. Let's see some photos of the cabinets once sanded. There may be reason to re-veneer the tops or bottoms at this point with what I am seeing. Hard to tell though. I think sometimes we all dink around with patches and filling when in the bigger picture it may be better to just cut to the chase and get some new veneer on there.
  18. Yeah, take Roy's lead on this point. I would. Hunt down a used one I guess. Sorry I did not get back to you.
  19. I've only dropped in on this board a few times in the past year so I unfortunately missed this. All I can say is Roy is the man!
  20. Find Glenns thread on his and see above for now. Otherwise typical AR restoration principles apply.
  21. Yikes, those woofers. Not sure they can be salvaged. Just gotta hope the glue isn't as strong is it is ugly. I would start by separating the surrounds at the edge of the cone and removing all of that through the frame first to make it at least seem manageable. May want to make sure you have operation tweeters first though, and if you don't, I'd be calling it a day with those and maybe the remaining tweeter and badges being of help to someone else. I've got an AR7 woofer sitting here doing nothing but taking up shelf space that I could send you, but shipping would just make that prohibitive.
  22. thanks guys. glenn did his grilles which inspired me to maintain the bevel on mine. It was difficult at best until I got access to just use the CNC. Glenn I believe went with 1" wood pieces but I went with the 3/4" BB ply to give it a bit more strength with consideration to those narrow pieces over MDF. With the velcro they end up nearly 1" out of course. Since these were CNC cut, I suppose I could easily cue up more if anyone is in need of frames. I can ship pretty inexpensively too. Let me know. Again, I miss 10" and 12" woofers.
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