DavidDru
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Posts posted by DavidDru
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On 10/28/2021 at 2:32 PM, ar_pro said:
Wow. The Fostex super-tweeter is like the Cadillac of these things, isn't it, David?
How about when you switch it out, do you notice the difference immediately?
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.
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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.
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12 hours ago, lakecat said:
Thanks!....lacquer runs so easily that I was forced into just doing one side at a time...laying horizontally. That meant taping the other sides from over spray. Even spraying fairly heavy, it still took eight coats to get it where I wanted it. Multiply that for two cabinets. I didn't do one side eight times...as I did the whole cab once....sanded it...tack clothed it...then went again....eight times!...sigh. Got one done....then had the pleasure of doing another!..lol. I think I went thru like ten cans at about eleven bucks each. Absolutely will never lacquer another speaker!
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.
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Wow, nice. Great work and results.
What about the lacquering was a challenge and frustration?
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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.
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8 hours ago, Norman Nicolai said:
The new veneer looks absolutely fabulous!
I’m currently working on restoring a set of EPI 100’s with wood grained vinyl. I was considering replacing the vinyl with a wood veneer, but was undecided about whether it could be done. I may use your work as inspiration and go for it!
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.
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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.
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Well, here is how they turned out! Still need to finish the grilles. Note no more peg holes on baffle.
Mahogany veneer.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Great!
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11 hours ago, JeffS said:
A couple of months ago I took my 3a's out of my 'vintage' system and put in my 58s's. I've always enjoyed the balance of the 3a's, but I certainly appreciate the additional high end of the 58s.
Along with those, I have a pair of AR-5's being driven by my flea market McIntosh MC2100. A real survivor, removing the bottom cover revealed that the amp had been run hot for a long time. All of the out-of-tolerance components were replaced, and back into service it went. It's case looks like it rolled down a flight of stairs sometime in it's previous life, and I think I'll keep it like that. Anyway, the AR-5's have a great balance and I'll continue to use them until I start downsizing.
In my more 'modern' system, I also use two pairs of speakers. My AR-303's have been there for ~20 years and if I had to choose just one pair, they would be it.
On top of those I have a pair of Allison:Fours. I really like this speaker and find that when I switch to them, I tend to listen to them for a couple of months. For a small box, they have a big and well dispersed sound and are an excellent choice for someone that wants a 'vintage' 8-inch 2-way (if you can find them).
What preamp I see in the corner there?
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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.
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24 minutes ago, ar_pro said:
Those look like they're in great shape. $40 might qualify as the buy of the year - well done!
The Acoustic Blanket is difficult to remove without damage, since the entire surface is attached to the cabinet with double-faced adhesive.
If you're feeling lucky, maybe try that heat gun?
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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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On 1/14/2020 at 2:19 PM, Drew said:
Roy Thanks.
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.
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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!
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On 1/7/2020 at 5:17 AM, Drew said:
I am new to this forum and have some AR12’s I purchased in the mid 70’s. Please some advice on tuning them up and restoring them.
Find Glenns thread on his and see above for now. Otherwise typical AR restoration principles apply.
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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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Finally got around to doing the grilles on the 12's. I've been off messing with other stuff including some ground up builds so since I have access to the CNC machine I went ahead and cut out new grille frames. Had some 3/4" baltic birch that seemed a good way to go since it was going to be painted anyway.
AR-91 & Ribbon Tweeters - Fun!
in Acoustic Research
Posted
Yes. Stephens Tru Sonics 120FR