[OLA's I Just Bought]

I am going to keep these as close to original as possible. I like to preserve the history as well as function. If I don't like how they sound I can always pass them on to someone who does.

[OLA's I Just Bought]

8 hours ago, Steve F said:

"Lots of people tell me they got rid of their vintage gear and bought a little Bose system that "sounds just as good."  Then I invite them to listen to their favorite music through my AR=91s and they're left speechless ?"

We had a friend and his wife over from out of state. She's a classical concert pianist and teacher. My friend and I were listening to jazz trio recording in my 1st floor "music room." The French doors were closed, but you could still hear in the rest of the house. My wife and his wife were in the kitchen, talking.

All of a sudden, the door bursts open. It's my friend's wife. "Where is that piano? Who's playing? What......?"

AR9's, powered by 400 distortion-free Parasound  2250 watts per side.

Me, smiling. JKent is about, oh, 100% correct. People just don't know how absolutely stunning truly great audio is. Stunning. Jaw-dropping.

What a story. I love my KLH fives and totally understand how you feel about Bose lol. I had a newer set of Focals and after a week of listening and everyone telling me how much better they where than my KLH I sold them on ebay. They couldn't even compare to the KLH in my personal opinion.  

[OLA's I Just Bought]

Well they are re-foamed. Now I just need the capacitors to get here. I hooked them up as is but they sound muddy compared to my KLH Fives. I am hoping the new Dayton caps change that. But for now I can start making them look better. I think they will clean up nicely.

[OLA's I Just Bought]

I think it is cool that the "Cheese Cloth" inside has the serial numbers on them as well.

[OLA's I Just Bought]

They are the first version with 2 16uf capacitors. Thanks to guys like Pete for the great Schematic.

[OLA's I Just Bought]

Parts are ordered and on the way. The cabinets on these have stains but I think they will clean up real nice.

[OLA's I Just Bought]

6 hours ago, Doug G. said:

Yup, get 'em fixed up so they sound new. Those are probably from 1973 or so, with those serial numbers.

Doug

Yes they have a 1973 date on the tweeter. I got them at a yard sale in a little dumpy trailer park. And it was the second day that they had the sale so everything was half price because they couldn't sell it the first day. Think about it? These sat there for a whole day at $10.00 for the pair and no one bought them. She was real happy I bought them because she didn't want to carry them yo the trash! She said she had a nice Bose system anyway ???

[OLA's I Just Bought]

I picked these up with a Sansui 1000X and all of it was REAL cheap. They are going to need some work but if they sound even close to my KLH Fives it will be worth it.

[Are these AR speakers?]

I was looking at these today and they just didn't look 29 inches tall. Every time I looked at them they just seamed shorter. So i remeasured again and guess what they are only 20" tall lol

[Are these AR speakers?]

9 hours ago, JKent said:

Definitely re-cap, then judge.

OTOH, you bought some beautiful cabinets for <2 bucks each. You could have some fun with these.

A few years ago I bought some decent-looking Japanese speakers at the Sal. They did not sound very good so I tore everything out, reinforced the cabinets and built some DIY speakers designed by Johnny Richards. Here's the thread with some photos: http://techtalk.parts-express.com/forum/speaker-project-gallery/44147-rompicollo-8-2-way/page2?225010-Rompicollo-8-quot-2-way/page2=

The drivers were Parts Express "buyouts." I don't remember what they cost but they were cheap. I can't design speakers and crossovers so I depended on Johnny's design. He was well known on PE Tech Talk for designing nice speakers around buyout drivers.

I used a linen grille and some custom "JKH" badges that look like "KLH". 

Very nice!

[Are these AR speakers?]

I pulled a woofer in one. Looks nice and has a cloth surround. Definitely not a acoustic  suspension speaker. It has a very short in and out movement. The cone (Not including the surround) measured 7 1/2" and it measures 10 3/8" total

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Are these AR speakers?]

1 hour ago, ra.ra said:

I would agree that a cap replacement is simple, inexpensive, and might make a significant improvement. Not sure if the two controls are accessible for inspection, but this might be a worthwhile exercise as well.

The cabinets look really great, but as you've already mentioned in your initial post, there's a real temptation to possibly re-construct these as acoustic suspension speakers. This, of course, would require sealing all drivers to baffle board; sealing b-board to cabinet box; closing off rear port openings; and sealing rear panel to box. A bit of work, to be sure, but that's where a lot of the mad-scientist fun might be found. I've seen plenty of three-ways that use cone mid drivers that require a separate chamber, but have never seen this chamber with its own vented port.  This chamber needs to be sealed from the main chamber, including where the wires penetrate. BTW, it appears that the stuffing is all probably fine - - the cellulose and fiberglass both appear to have maintained their original loft and are both effective fill materials.

Without having tested these speakers to establish a base line for evaluation, exactly how would you define "better"? Far be it for me to dampen enthusiasm for experimentation, but when I see vintage drivers in good shape with massive alnico magnets, I let out a sharp wolf whistle and say "Ooh-la-la". I'd love to see the front side of those drivers, but that would require some extensive disassembly, and it's hard to see how to remove that tweeter for further inspection - - it might require removal of grille cloth.

For less that $4 invested, you've already got a nice little bargain project, and my suggestion is to try to achieve a big bang for small bucks, which often leads to smug satisfaction. BTW, how do the speakers sound "as-is"?

They work fine right now and I can say the sound "Okay" So the only thing I can think of to make them sound better is a recap. Also I am comparing them to my KLH model Fives so that is not really fare ether lol. But you are correct about the large Alnico magnets, I got excited as well. Also you are correct about the removal of the mid and tweeter. After looking real hard the front grill cloth would need to be removed. I know this much I am not going to trash these, I like them to much ?

[Are these AR speakers?]

Yea they only have 2 caps in each so I might replace them and give them a listen. I got them so cheap it really doesn't matter. I still might spend the cash on some better drivers. For some reason I think they would sound great with KLH in them?

[Are these AR speakers?]

I cannot open the original thread I started for some reason. Anyway I bought the speakers that I first posted about and no they are not AR. Just wanted to let people here to know what they are. XAM 2E 3 way speakers. I got them for $3.66 for the pair. They are 14" deep 15" wide and 29" tall and the veneer is real nice. I know these are not great speakers but I am thinking with some AR or KLH drivers and sealing the cabinets they could sound real nice?