Phxjohn

I guess with age and repairs, our same models can sound quite different. My 3a's are like 52 years old. It's amazing that they still work so well.

I can't imagine running the mids full on with any of the models. My 3a's are missing the 25 ohm resistors but even still, I run the mids just a bit past 'off'. They are very powerful.

Thank you both for your informative responses.

Here is a review of the AR 2a's from 1960: https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Audio/Archive-High-Fidelity/60s/High-Fidelity-1960-May.pdf Page: 49

I was not familiar with the 58s or 91. Thank you !! Great info.

I never use tone controls with any of my AR speakers. They sound fine with the bass and treble at 'flat' or defeated.

I would replace it with a genuine AR woofer. Check eBay and Vintage AR on eBay. I had AR woofers reconed and they no longer produced deep bass. So unless you can find someone who is an expert, I would just replace it.

I just purchased 6 pots for my 3a's and 6's. The 3a's have L-pads without the resistors(as far as I can tell as the volume is much too high just a hair from 'off'). I don't like the way that they sound. As far as L-pads being trouble free, I have a bad one already on one 3a.

I am interested in the 1st generation with the cloth surrounds and the orange dome tweeters like you had or have. Discounting the 2's that I had decades ago, the 2ax 1st generation would be my first cloth surround AR woofers. My 3a's will be getting rebuilt 3/4" domes so I am curious to have the orange dome tweeters of the early 2ax. Do you think your 2ax orange domes were putting out a high enough volume ? How about the midrange/tweeter(the cone speaker) ?. Sometimes a depression in the midrange will make a speaker sound dull or remote even when the highs are all there. I appreciate the comments on the sound. I see quite a selection of early 2ax's out there but the cabinets tend to be beat.

Does anyone prefer either the first or second generation 2ax to the 5 ? As popular as the 2ax's still are due to current availability due to their popularity when in production, there must be some opinions out there. I'm leaving the 3a's out of the discussion because I have a pair of those. Just for background, in the past, I have had AR 7's(new, my first AR's), 2's(given to me by a friend,) 6's(woofers reconed and essentially ruined by a speaker repair company as they no longer have any real bass) currently purchasing a pair of 6's with the original long throw woofers, just ordered pots and knobs, will get caps, already have grills with cloth and badges from Vintage AR. The experience that I am lacking is with the middle models the 2ax's and 5's. The 2's were much too dull sounding for me. I added(just placed on top) a metal horn midrange/tweeter with cap and L-pad to make them listenable. They were so dull that I don't think of them as even related to the 2ax although they are, of course.

Thank you Aadams for a very informative answer. I'm familiar with the graphs, thank you for putting them all together in one place. I have always wondered about the lower output level of the tweeter especially on the 2ax. Do the level controls allow the tweeter level on the 2ax to be brought up to the level of the midrange ?

I have read many threads here and on other sites comparing the AR 5 and AR 3a. I read the thread discussing whether there should have been a 12" AR 2ax. I am curious to get opinions on how both the 1st and 2nd generation of the 2ax compares to the 5. I am familiar with the technical aspects of all 3. I am interested in comments about the sound of all 3. I purposely did not use the word 'versus'. All 3 are great speakers in absolute terms. If there is another thread that already compares the sounds of all 3, please list it.

Great find !!

None of the speakers for sale are mine. If this voids the rules of the forums, please delete. There are a number of AR speakers for sale at great prices at this time. I wish I had the money to at least buy the 3a's, 4x' s and 6's. Maybe someone on this site lives in the Phoenix area and finds this helpful: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/d/electronics/search/ela?query=AR speakers Update, I have 3a's, I am not interested in 4's, but the 6 is burning a hole in my pocket.

I am glad that the woofers look fine because to rebuild the woofers is expensive. Kent T on here has the correct pots at great prices. I am going to get four for my AR 3a's as they were rebuilt with L-pads before I purchased them.