I have a pair of AR 5s and much prefer them to the 3a but as you can tell by the various comments this is a very personal decision. If at all possible, you should listen to both with your type of music in a room similar in size to your listening area. I personally find the bass too dominate in the AR 3a. I may be the only person you will ever hear say this but back in the dark ages of 1957 or 1958 when I bought my first AR speaker i chose an AR 2 over the AR 3 for the same reason. Go with what sounds best to you.