Giorgio AR

I can't stop and resist, I bought yet another pair of Acoustic Research: I missed them (at least in this case they are not duplicates!) And seen on the classifieds site in poor condition and in need of care, I also took this pair of AR17s. They will arrive next week delivered to my home by a son of mine who lives near the city where they are ... so I'm sure I won't discover any other damage to cabinets or speakers due to multiple handling by negligent couriers. The photos aren't pretty, but more will come later.

... The Crown is an option already taken into consideration by reading here the advice of several forumers, among other things also recommended by the Italian member Sonnar and a purchase of one of these amplifiers is planned. The second, the McIntosh Mc2300 is now a regret for me, I could have bought a nice example about ten years ago at a ridiculously low price, about 1000 $ current! I had given up then and even now I feel like crying: buying it is now impossible, the prices have gone up by several multiples and now, apart from a "stroke of luck", I always hope it is too burdensome for my finances ... in every case I have an amplifier that could be fine for this purpose, The Adcom-GFA555 currently stopped waiting for treatment, last time connected to my AR10TT "Replica" it gave out a spark inside, and one channel stopped working suddenly. But I'm not going to play the three pairs together, for the moment AR18 are just like a supermobile, they will play in another place in my house, with their own dedicated amplifier, I don't miss amps, indeed. My Adcom at rest ... in good company

Giovanni, the next recaps when I will be able to do them will be for the pair of early Ar3a and AR10TT MK2: ARra early for the first sections medium-high will be in paper / oil, perhaps also for the woofer, instead for the AR10s I have already purchased NPE Mundorf ECap for the woofer (many recommend the use of NPE capacitors) and in the case of the AR10s and others I will follow this path. .. last work today, I photograph the blister for cutting the woofer I attach it and then ... to sleep ... Thanks Giovanni

Dear Giovanni, I am attaching the photos of the AR3 capacitors to me above: old Sprague and substitute, among the thousands of photos now I do not find those of the 150 uF capacitors, but in percentage they measured better than this 50uF one that I am attaching in the picture ... I have sometimes found Sprague out of specification, but most of them are still in tolerance (among other things I have saved for this pair of ARs about 100 euros per pair of 150uF Jantzen! You see it used for a pair of my AR3a improved in the last photo.

I insert a report on the stacking of a pair of AR2 with another AR2a on the correct section; have been in this configuration for some time, but previously they were connected to a very good, old and good sounding Philips RH521 amplifier, 30 x 2 w at 4 ohm The two pairs were used alternately and to the AR2 I had paired on the top a pair of small AR1MS used as medium / high section, using only the woofer of the AR2, with the iterposition of a filter cut at 2000hz or slightly below, I don't remember exactly. I retired the old Philips that was starting to have a noticeable hum and replaced with a more recent Marantz PM78, also equipped with a remote control (an incredible convenience being placed at about 2.15 meters high!), This amp is particular because it works in " class A "(25W x 2 at 8 ohm, a little more at 4 ohm) or in" class AB "(100w x 2 at 8 ohm, but 190w x 2 at 4 ohm!). At this point I decided to remove the small AR1MS, reconnected the double mid / tw of the AR2 and so I listened to the two pairs together (switches A and B speakers of the amplifier both on and as always defeat tones ... there is a special button on the amplifier) ... I entered another world. In both modes: "class A" or "AB" a big change, the impression of the low range was not equal to the sum of the two woofers, but much higher, the remaining mid-high range perfectly integrated and slightly behind, never tiring; same sensation from volumes of tenths of a watt, up to high wattages. I was very satisfied with it, since then the system works with both pairs always connected (every now and then I only listen to the AR2a, among my favorite ARs alternating with listening to the AR2s, they sound the same, clearly the AR2a have the supertweeter that makes them feel more complete) But the magic comes when both pairs play together, why? ... I asked myself the question many times these days ... and finally I gave myself an answer: I have 2 pairs of AR2s with the super tweeter, I think the "magic" is because of him! I am convinced that I have two pairs of AR2s with one AR-ST !! Currently I do not miss a second super tweeter, the set of AR2a and AR2 seems perfect to me, but this one (I want to try) has been in the future for some time as I have all the components including the original canvas, only missing to exactly replicate the cabinet original (here the problem will be: where do I place it, above AR2 inverted or do I have to turn the speaker 180 °? At the moment I enjoy the two pairs like this. A final note for Norman Nicolai: I use three cork disks cut from bottle cork stopper under the stands and AR2a as anti-vibration material, instead a single cork disk of about 15 cm between Ar2a and AR2. in diameter and 1 cm. thick from Ikea very cheap: about 5$ for three pieces! No vibration or danger, I highly recommend this as proof. P.S. the AR18s currently not connected to any amp, with puppets are the head of my AR Totems!

I reread the first post, among my ARs, I also have a late couple from the first half of '74 taken in pitiful conditions, without a woofer and a KO tweeter, after having found the speakers I also recapitulated the crossover: in this pair i capacitors were all Sprague and the measure were perfectly in tolerance all, I however replaced the 50uF and 6uF capacitors (the used ones, of excellent quality I think they will have infinite life, so I did not use non-polarized electrolytics) leaving the original Sprague for the woofers , the deoxidized pans, adjusted as per original specification, new foam to the woofers, for about 2 years these AR3a have been with me every day in a satisfactory way! Before recapping A new crossover At work completed: AR3a European cabinet '74 In this photo, if you look closely, half of the screws of the woofers are missing, purchased and mounted later!

If you throw them in the garbage can tell me that I will immediately take a plane from Italy and fly to collect them myself !!

Kent, I have to make a little digression too ... I stacked AR2 on top of AR2a (previously on top of AR2 there was AR1MS as a mid / high section to the AR2 woofer only) and I entered another world! the bass are more than doubled, I did not expect it and the rest of the range accompanies beautifully, never heard the AR speakers with 10 "woofers sound like this, the total sound is very balanced and the speakers disappear ... I thought about it above, I concluded that I got 2 pairs of AR2s with an AR-ST added in the middle of them !! The AR18s don't play with the AR2s

According to many people, from the time they were put on sale until today they are defined as "the best two-way speaker". I noticed in the photos at least two receivers and a tuner ... I also have some receivers of several brands and I love them and several tuners, I really like listening to the radio in the background all day long (now two are switched on in two separate rooms), sometimes at high volumes when good music is playing!

Crossover of my AR58S Before replacement with that of AR92 (you got it right, AR92, then it must be modified by replacing the woofer coil and adding the capacitor and extra resistor to transform it into AR91 crossover!), under crossover of AR48B (the inscriptions of the component values do not apply!!)

Gorgeous pair of Model-1s, original and complete with all details, even the original foam grids very difficult to see in these conditions after 50 years! Giorgio

Among my finds I have a Peerless tweeter coming from a Cizek Model-3 speaker, torn and therefore useless with the coil burned out; sooner or later I will buy a new dome / coil complex for its restoration ... I took the opportunity to remove the dome and see the inside and grasp all the particulates of this Ko10DT that from "rumors" and from what I read previously came to Roy Cizek with modifications he obtained from Peerless! In the center of the magnet there is a white felt button to almost completely fill the volume inside the dome. Turning the tweeter upside down, you can see a complete round of thick glue joining the magnet to the flange and further glue on the flange itself on the long sides of the same probably to improve the seal of the flange itself on the baffle of the cabinet. Another feature of this tweeter: on the magnet in addition to n ° 5514 1780? As standard, printed in Denmark, there is an additional yellow ink stamp, probably affixed in USA n ° ?? 24 in the Cizek factory. Note under, in late photo taken laterally to the tweeter the non-resettable lifting of the dome suspension: who knows what volumes and temperatures the poor coil was subjected to by the previous owner!

Thanks Luigi !! I have already received help from dxho, useful for the quantity of drawings contained in the link indicated, but as per his statement what I was asking was missing ... you have solved it. Didn't need it to me, but for a friend with 4 woofers 200003 without the AR90 pair rings. Very, very pleased with your intervention and help. Bentornato ( welcome back) Giorgio.

Thank you very much! I can't consult and find what I need correctly, thank you also for your measurements! I have in tot. 5 pairs between 200003 and 200003-1, I have all replaced the foam but never measured the masonite ring; the measurement with the foam is difficult and imprecise. Happy listening, Giorgio.

L.T. read this listing carefully: the seller in addition to the pair of AR17s, also sells separately an ok woofer and a tweeter to be repaired (maybe it is enough just to repair a cable that runs on the cone?) https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649781582-teledyne-acoustic-research-ar-17/

We await your intervention, multiple period documents, comments and comparisons on our beloved AR3 / AR3a have been added ... the best speakers produced at the time, in subsequent moments by Acoustic Research!

Pete I add another scan of my documents of the comment published in High Fidelity Magazine in 1977 on the AR3a, containing a little "story" from the introduction of AR1, later AR3 and then AR3a, with commentary and comparison between AR3 and AR3a!

Looking today in my photographic archive I found some photos of an early 12" ceramic woofer of AR3a, this has the rubber" ring "on the cone like the previous woofers with Alnico magnet, looking carefully at the photos, luckily on the back of the magnet appears the stamp with the date! I own 2 early woofers with the three-recessed ceramic magnet (without the "ring"), but only one of them have dating stamped! 1)Dated: FEB 5 1970 2) Undated (this and the next are my woofers) 3) Dated MAR 11 1971, in original condition in the photo, now currently refoamated, like the previous undated one!

I want to find the AR drawings of the masonite ring of the 200003 woofer, I can't find them in the "library" and I don't even understand how to look for other technical drawings: I therefore need help to find something else ... Can anyone kindly help me in the steps to consult this valuable data source !! Thanks Giorgio

Gulp !!! I seem to see a record shop as they were in Italy between the 70s and 80s ... my compliments for your passion for vinyls. I think I see a small part of the store, oops of your collection, you are a big one, honestly George

Beautiful in addition to the top speakers and the Mc 2120 also the C11 preamplifier and the "grandiose" MR78 ... personally I listen to a lot of FM radio with many tuners and receivers, but my MR77 especially in the evening is comparable in sound quality to a CD player , however, the same enjoyment on the radio is also given to me by a cheap, but equal to MC, Philips RH651 (it cost me 1/20 compared to the MR77!), seeing is believing.

Beautiful matched, two pairs at the top, unusual for me to use AR3 angled at 45 ° with respect to the listener (I always listen with the speakers parallel to the wall). What difference do you find between the two options, I would like your opinion (among other things my "wall" of speakers does not allow the 45 ° angled option, except the pair of AR4xa above the AR LSTs that I will try in this configuration !). P.S. There is an intruder together with the AR speakers: on the floor, partially visible is a pair of Jensen Model6 positioned horizontally.

Hi, you should move the thread to "For sale / Wanted", at the moment we don't find the correct 200001-1 woofers for AR17, not even the specific 200014-3 tw's in common with AR18. If you have patience, frequently checking the site H... S.... these speakers appear every now and then (better if you find them in pairs or matched for uniformity of the paper of the cones and resistance values).

As noted by Adams instead of the pots your AR5s show Lpads, never mounted on AR5, these need to add resistors for a better result. The woofer you show should not be correct for the AR5, not even aesthetically: different dust cover, foam originally above the cone in AR5 instead it is below as it was done in the 200004-2 refoaming that you inserted in the photo), I am attaching the linq of a thread about a restoration of other AR5 pair that will be useful to you: We await the photos of the other woofer, it may be that this is with an Alnico magnet like most of the AR5s ... could justify the difference in volume between the 2 woofers.

We were simultaneous ... but I had to recommend your Pots. The only case of spare parts sold by enthusiast to other enthusiasts at a true friend's price !!! The ones I bought from you are still in their boxes, I have not been able to progress in the restoration of my AR3a early due to my job as a nurse in the Prevention Department causing the Covid pandemic takes me much beyond normal working hours !! All postponed until the contagion situation drops to lower values, currently Trieste and Friuli Venezia Giulia have the negative record in Italy! We also got on the front page of the "New York Times" as a negative example and high numbers of infected! I do not comment on the causes, independent of the commitment of the state and of the health workers involved in limiting an exponential increase in cases.