Giorgio AR

That's fine anyway, you don't have to do oiling like with wood, wood affects the cost!

Aadams in the first photo which illustrates the range of speakers in a classic way, the SRT-380 in the foreground, majestic in size, seems to evoke a much later heir to the AR9... and I don't rule out that it sounds at similar levels.

From the letters of the serial numbers, the prefix E indicates the country of construction, therefore England, as also visible in its speakers also in those of RoyC's photo, could be a range, unfortunately limited perhaps due to poor sales, dedicated only to England with perhaps some couple shipped to other states? However, the visible set of SRT-380 speakers denotes valid components and a cabinet with an appearance that in some aspects recalls the past, I am convinced that the classic AR sound is largely maintained, but adapted to changed times, proof is the much more efficient performance compared to the classic 86db, I think they can play monstrously loud!

Thanks Kent... always present and great participation in the site with your contributions, help and last but not least you found me what I couldn't find (pots, labels, screws and lots of advice).

You don't need an excuse for your misunderstanding!! My English aided by Google Translate is sometimes not always understandable and can be confusing. The post was precisely to remember a beautiful person who contributed greatly to increasing our knowledge, as you also wrote; the AR7s in front of me with the polished ring as Robert aesthetically liked will remind me of a pleasant and kind person, known thanks to this splendid site. Thanks ra.ra.

Scottie thank you for your kind thoughts, dear one, Robert left us if I remember correctly a couple of years ago...it was time that he didn't speak and a member gave us the sad news. The thread was to remember a beautiful person, always ready to give advice and sincerely passionate about Acoustic Research. Thanks for the proposal on the tweeters, but I don't need spare parts... if these can be useful, keep them for those who need them in the future, unfortunately these splendid tweeters, fruit of the genius of Roy Allison, tend to interrupt the cables that run along the cone (and for this reason reason they can be repaired) and surely someone will need your spare parts, I sincerely thank you for your nice proposal. Good listening, Giorgio.

As written in the title, the problem does not only happen to the AR3a of the title, but is common to European cabinets. With these AR3a it is the fourth time that the flange of the woofers has delaminated causing the loss of the acoustic seal: all examples assembled in Europe, AR4x, AR2x and AR2ax! This is caused by the use of chipboard on the front panel which, when pressed by the sealing putty after disassembly and reassembly, causes the chipboard to delaminate laterally (where there is the minimum thickness), causing loss of air and anomalous vibrations. The break is repaired by gluing (I used simple vinyl glue) the fracture line. To avoid further problems, this time after the repair I didn't put fresh putty back but I used a pair of original AR gaskets from the most recent foam models (grey in my case, but the white one is fine too), painting the outer edge of the foam of gasket with ash black color (the same that the workers responsible for assembling the speakers did at the time). The air tightness is now perfect and the tightening of the screws can be done with less pressure without stressing the underlying chipboard, I would say good. Last two findings, the subsequent ease of working on the woofers and crossovers and the excellent final aesthetic result. the gluing area is visible after the tip of the instrument, it is translucent in the photo, then painted in ash black... ...the foams ready for assembly...... ...in position... ...final effect with woofer mounted. The thickness of the aluminum of the woofer basket hides the gasket, which can barely be seen, recessed and neutral in color.

The appearance of your AR3a is perfect and the photo shows two possibilities: the first if the domes were made of paper (as in the '90 Tonegen tws produced for the re-issue) it looks like a splendid and rare pair of "Reissue" AR3a, like second you have a splendid pair of AR3a updated with original, compatible and authorized components... the sound will be unique, with AR characteristics. Regarding the 12" Tonegen woofers, it would be important to use Polyfill as in the AR10MKII, with less weight than the AR material used previously (for this purpose, there is advice from the good Luigi Fedele on the use of sound-absorbing material with the Tonegen woofers. Your AR3a and owned sisters are beautiful!

I'm using a pair of AR7s that were a topic of discussion some time ago with Robert...they're the way he liked them, covered in wood and clearly in excellent aesthetic and functional condition. Robert was a lover of small ARs of which he owned several well-restored and documented examples here, still a help from Robert today to those who own small and well-sounding ARs. In honor of his aesthetic taste (he was a good architect) and his restorations, in this pair of AR7s of mine I wanted to polish the external frame of the woofer frame, as Robert did, it is a nice contrast between the dark panel and the woofer stands out same. Hi Robert, these AR7s of mine have applied your wonderful intuition. P.S. unlike ra.ra I don't put washers on the screws!! Overview You can see the nice light contrasting circle (simple restoration if desired, brush with carbon black and the woofer frame goes back to hiding!). Thanks Robert, you are always with us and I always remember you.

Bravo Genek!!!

JKent Is a Great Man!! Giorgio.

Hi...I have these original Pots from 1969 in surplus, they are deoxidized, completely cleaned and the solder has been desoldered from the contacts. The one marked KO is still valid for the interval in use both for the adjustment of the mids and the tws, but marked to distinguish it from the others.

Splendid... even with the valid front disc brake, much more efficient than the small drum brake of the time! I have owned about twenty motorcycles...14 at the same time, I only have a '85 BMW R80 and four mopeds left (very practical and above all with low weight and easy use). The last motorbike of mine that I sold (I could no longer ride it due to its size and tiring riding position) and which I still regret today is the BMW K1... a Teutonic marvel (sold when it was 29 years old and with 22,000 km travelled, equal to new!!). Below is a part of my former mechanical vehicles... ...and in detail a nice view of my BMW K1 At the time the Pioneer receiver worked, it had been turned on for the occasion by the owner... 14 years have passed since 2009, it is probably still working (fortunately it is multi voltage and even if I don't have a variac, I can turn it on and make it work for a few minutes at 110v with the 240v selector, and then switch to our 220v electricity). To date I still haven't managed to get the Acoustic Research photos... but they don't run away from where they are, they wait for me in rigorous silence! As soon as they arrive at my house (I will probably also get the Pioneer receiver) I will immediately provide news and photos of these splendid musical instruments.

Can you imagine...the photo above is from 2009...I've been waiting for these Acoustic Research for 14 years, I'm still waiting a few days, it's moments compared to the 14 years so far!!

After fourteen years of waiting, the longed-for AR3s will arrive at my house in a few days. They were bought at the time in Singapore by a relative of mine together with a pair of AR4/AR4x (I don't know the model as I haven't seen the back labels yet). I think I'll get both pairs...one owner and untouched for nearly 60 years!! P.S. there is also a rare Pioneer SX-9000 receiver with them, this will also arrive at my house!

Yesterday I refoamed a pair of 200003 AR11 MK1 woofers belonging to a friend of mine, these had the wrong foams in all sizes (which unfortunately is very common in Italy), these made strange noises at high volume! First thing noticed was the cable mounts on the baskets in an improper position with the cables themselves dangerously close to the baskets, easily fixed. Before after I decided to do the job using shims and then I removed the dustcaps to check if there were any problems with the coil formers and to my surprise, I expected to find them in aluminum, instead these are in Nomex, the same as the AR3a. The date imprinted on the woofers indicates 7602, therefore consistent with the other speakers of these AR11. I also add below the photos to compare the suspensions: on the left the "filthy" one removed Here the differences are better understood... none of the measurements of the previous suspensions are consistent with our beloved 12"woofers

If the one in the photo is just the replacement in your AR3 it is a modern reproduction that doesn't even come close to the performance of the original. Unfortunately, the original Alnico woofers are currently found at high prices...you could negotiate the price of this... https://www.ebay.it/itm/166205237255?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=724-53478-19255-0&campid=5338381872&toolid=10001&customid=9836d87a-1cf4-11ee-8413-613566326432 Photo of this woofer, as can be seen from the "lap" of glue between the suspension and the cone, it would be the first refoam of this woofer it's the first to arrive with the ceramic magnet and it keeps the dustcap and the synthetic ring on the cone, the performance should be almost superimposable to the original (you still need to replace the crossover coil.). Once the deteriorated foam is replaced, the final appearance is very similar to the original (as if a warranty replacement was made in late 1969). Maybe some forumer will be able to help you if he has a surplus woofer that he doesn't use.

Frank the first thing is to play your AR3 and see if you like ... then it would be good to see a photo of the replacement woofer (front and back). From what I have learned over the years, the AR woofers, even with minimal differences, are in any case interchangeable in case of need (the substitution of the woofer was likely to have been done by an Acoustic Research dealer, I myself have a pair of early AR3a which had a woofer with surround in canvas and more in foam!). Furthermore, the speaker with the woofer replaced should have had the coil on the crossover replaced. If you read the "Restoring the AR-3a" you will find all of this: the chronology (with photos to capture the visual differences) of the woofers over the years, as well as the values of the crossover coils. Insert the requested photos and you will surely get other help... perhaps you will also find a kind soul who will get you the correct woofer... In this photo you see my pair of AR3a early, just after the purchase, the woofer on the right is an original replacement from 1970, the original woofer on the left is dated 1969...they could be fine too, but in my case I have found and purchased a correct woofer (in the second photo you see them both out of the cabinet). to the right the newcomer.

Bravo Bern, a wonderful pair of "preserved" AR3s with minimal restoration where needed! The capacitors are very well fixed on the cabinet reinforcement (excellent and I will do the same with my '69 AR3a). Only note...but at least find the brass AR inc labels...(plus the "3" pins). Your AR3s are perfect, with just the "lax upgrade" of the grilles. My "pack" of capacitors is definitely bulkier than yours, but placing them together between the cabinet and the bracing will be the best solution. The dimensions of the capacitors are important, I chose oil and paper capacitors for the mid/hi section and a big Jantzen for the woofer.

I tried to enlarge the photo where you can see the tweeters, they look like Tonegen original spare parts, these should have a higher output than the originals, moreover (it's not possible to understand from the photo, but they look visually perfect) they could be the version with paper dome dedicated to the '90 AR3a Reissues, very rare and therefore sought after, they should be at 4 ohms. If Crumpets checks the domes of the tweeters he can tell us if these are made of fabric or paper, furthermore to remove any doubt, just remove a tweeter and see the code on the back, as well as a measurement with a coil resistance tester. Finally, if they are the 8 ohm version, no change in the crossover, if at 4 ohm, Roy or others can tell you how to intervene on the crossover components to adapt it to the different tweeter.

Without taking the dust cover off, you could simply seal it by making it non-air permeable. Otherwise, to remove the oversize porous dustcap and remove the minimum of the pulp from the cone, either use a correct thinner, or even better by heating (I use to bring a soldering iron tip close to the glued edge) the glued edge..., the dust cap should detach with minimal pulp residue. This is a porous dustcap, removed from an 8" 200001-1 woofer and placed on a 12" 200003 woofer, then sealed... the glue in the photo is white, it becomes colorless when it dries! If you look carefully, you can barely notice the sign of the oversize dust cap that I removed with the "heat technique" on the cone of the 200003 woofer

Hi Kent, there's something wrong in the ad, the ones in the picture are automotive speakers, derived from the AR MS1...same woofers and midrange...even your ARs can be used in car put with the brackets (optional ) on the rear window! The ones you have are the first series with US components, my next pair have Tonegen components. They sound wonderful and have unexpected bass. I am attaching the photos of my AR 1MSt, he assembly kit and the AR car speakers brochure

Your intervention is a small masterpiece of real life ... a pair of AR LSTs of mine has the rear connectors reversed (red / black) in a speaker, perhaps a tired worker made the wrong assembly. Following the color, the woofers are out of phase. I found the photo of the rear speaker with the positive and negative reversed, this is my "wrong" speaker That's correct!

Wonderful speakers, greath photos...

Roy I love them both, certainly they don't sound the same, to my ears perhaps the 3/4 tweeter is more discreet, but well defined in the high harmonics (it almost disappears when listening, but does its job excellently), the early one is more "visible" , but defines the high harmonics similarly...what can I say? They are masterpieces born from brilliant minds, innovative in the 50s and then developed without changing the original philosophy.