Giorgio AR

I don't know if there are technical differences between 200040-0 and 200040-2 woofers, but the magnets are the same, even cone paper will be the same, probably different color shades, just wanted to add that the 200004-2 round magnet woofer is a replacement probably after the second half of '84 made by Tonegen for AR: tipical TNG the anti-rust treatment in yellow nickel of frame and magnet, moreover the identification plate on the magnet covers the original TNG code and the red label on the sides of the frame indicates that this speaker is a replacement (this will probably sound the same as the others, as per AR tradition).

To help you, I am attaching photos of a pair of my original AR48B woofers (I own all the AR48B kit except the cabinets!), these have the foam glued to the rear of the cone. They are numbered 200040-0, 84/32 dated. Finally woofer always 200040-0, dated 82/01 replacement AR intended for AR38s

Here I open a new discussion on the little known AR3a Limited, built under license from Acoustic Research in the early 90's due to the market demand at the time. These replicas were produced in a few examples mainly for the Asian market, but from various finds in Italy of these specimens, by now certain also the production in Italy for enthusiasts who at the time wanted a new pair of AR3a (also produced in Italy and rarer, replicas of AR10TT of which I own a couple already illustrated here). From what I have read and found over the years, the various AR3a replicas had the speakers and the crossover in common (this differs from the original AR3a due to the presence of L-pad instead of original 15 ohm pots and the possibility of bi-amplification). The differences between the various specimens were in the veneers (vinyl or wood) and in the face frame in 2 versions: narrow frame and large frame. The specimens that I found for sale in Italy have large frames and wood veneers and are in my opinion the best aesthetically of this production: At the front and side view they are indistinguishable from the original construction, the walnut, however, being of Italian origin, has different grain and veins from other sources of wood. I hope to have opinions, stories and specimens to learn more about these replicas, I hope that the Asian forumers will write and illustrate their specimens and maybe we will get to know these speakers better. Under a topic on AR3a Limited And here what I recently inserted in the "For sale / wanted" section: Other interesting topic We have a good start and already 4 pair of "replicas", I hope more AR3a Limited copies and more information about them will be added. Giorgio

Yes Roy, the surround is probably not the correct one (personally I have always bought the foams from Larry, who you know well and they are the best ones for our 12" woofers), the upholstery covering the frame around the foam is not the correct one either. As you know I also own a pair of AR10TT "Replica" made in the same years as the AR3a "Reissue" or "Limited" in Italy, I think these AR3a Limited were also built in Italy, so the cabinets will have been made by the same furniture maker as mine cabinet: the walnut looks exactly like the Italian national one and the back side covered entirely on the entire surface is identical to my AR10TTs. I found another pair of AR3a Limited for sale in the USA which, unlike, have a vinyl veneer and a differently coated back side; face frames are also thin ones, while the front baffle is in chipboard (large face frames and plywood front baffle in the probably Italian ones), in addition, the woofers of this second pair appear to be subsequent non-Tonegen replacements: long tinsel and greater angle from the dustcap, different cone pulp. In this photo, on the right the TNG 12" woofer of AR10TT Replica, with the original aesthetic ring covering the frame, on the left an original 200003 woofer of the AR10TT MK2 with a ring that differs from the original foam. Finally another 200003 AR10 MK2 which preserves what remains of the aesthetic ring around the suspension. As always, I insert as many photos as I can to document our beloved AR speakers to help those who need documentation!

A pair of rare AR3a Limited has popped up, sold on an auction site! It is in impeccable condition and with real walnut veneer: perfect speakers as well as the cabinets (these look like new), the only flaw I see: the linen of the canvases is a little stained and discolored. This couple is in Italy, I have no interest or connection with the seller.

Just see a beautiful pair of AR11 for sale on famous auction site Eb.. 300 dollars is cost!

Great find, as RickB already said, the speakers are easily restorable: correct new foam, check value of the condenser (if Sprague should be in place), cleaning of the teak veneer, subsequent treatment with Linseed oil (or other favorites) and you will have a magnificent pair of AR7s.

Robert you and your passion for AR will remain in my memories.

Thanks Giovanni, I have owned these AR10TT Replicas for a long time, but little have I found and is known as documentation of these speakers. I consider the mid / high section in these TNG component Replicas superior to the US originals, but (I tested the speakers with a pair of 200003 original AR10TT woofers for a few months) I prefer the US woofer over the TNG: it is certainly more present and "harder" ".

And under the individual speakers removed from the cabinet: certainly the Tonegen production for the woofer and the midrange, the tweeter seems to be of AR production, even if it has a custom-made label above what looks like an AR label: the identification number is also canceled and corrected in pen! corrected the 3.8 ohm value found that equates the tweeter to the previous 200001-1 series. I forgot the midrange resistance measurement. AR10TT Replica, Tonegen woofer AR10TT Replica TNG midrange AR10TT Replica Tweeter AR10TT Replica Tweeter, the 1200011-1 label covers what appears to be the label that distinguished US production. This is the AR10TT Replica to which the speakers in the picture have been removed. It is still the crossover to be documented, the replacement of the capacitors is already planned, on this occasion the contents of the cabinet will also be photographically documented!

Rereading I found your measurement on the AR / TNG mid, it is further news to learn more about the components of my AR10TT Replica! You also have the measurements of the AR / TNG 1210003-1A woofers and tweeters (I have to remove it for identification n °) As soon as it is removed, I insert photos of the back.

From what I see I seem to see the aftermarket woofer reproduced now and also sold on well-known auction sites, the mids should be 200044-0 and the tweeters probably 12000840 (spare parts for AR from the 90s). I think everyone is curious about the sound judgment of these splendid AR11 specimens, by the way the cabinets have an incredible look, congratulations for your work on the wood.

They can be fine, but as he wrote Adams if you insert photos (front, side, top, bottom, back and details) you can understand if the single speakers are OK (and compatible for listening in pairs, in my opinion possible)

Just the ugly dustcap suggests to me that with patience you can remove the hemispherical one of the AR5 woofer not working, helping you with the application in a ventilated environment of "anti-fog" diluent therefore delicate, applied several times with a brush for a time of about twenty minutes up to remove it intact, then glued on the 200004 woofer, so aesthetically it will be similar to the early AR5 woofers! Below is an example of a removed dustcap and the atraumatic tools that help me for this and other jobs 200001-1 woofer with double original dustcap. Removed the upper dustcap (aesthetic as AR says), it is now on a 200003 woofer. Obsolete surgical and dental instruments, very useful to us enthusiasts

Here you will find compatible woofers for your AR5 (there are 2), they have a high price, see if you can negotiate! https://www.ebay.it/itm/313641822724?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=724-53478-19255-0&campid=5338381872&toolid=10001&customid=6a022b92-ffe3-11eb-9370-393333333365

Thanks, of the Pots that I have 2 are perfect and another 2 are small missing, with the tester I will find the operating position closest to the recommended ... then I do not move this setting, I stick to the specifications suggested by AR, in my opinion the best setting .

Thanks for the update, my AR2ax have 8 ohm L-Pads that I have to replace (at least in the mid's) with a couple of original Aetna Pots, after the change and proper adjustment I will finally enjoy the original sound (without intrusive mid's) of my AR2ax , unlistenable in my opinion with L-Pad.

From the "bible" of the AR3a Restoration we know the original adjustment of the balance of the mid and high pots, respectively 3.25 ohm and 1.75 ohm but I have been trying for years to find the right 0 dot to adjust as per AR project pots of my AR2axs which are notoriously difficult to balance precisely in the emission of their mid cone. Does anyone know the right values to correctly position the 0 dot position as originally? This discovery would please me and the many AR2ax owners who do not find the right balance in the too intrusive mid emission compared to the remaining range. It would be nice to also know the 0 dot of AR2, AR2a, AR4x, AR5 and Ar6. Up are the knobs of a pair of my AR3a screwed on the axis of the pots at 0 dot, the pots were previously set at 3.25 ohm (mid) and at 1.75 ohm (tw). To my ears the sound is perfect, never move the knobs from this position!

Technically I am a neophyte, but as a listener, with the AR3a and their dome paper tweeter I hear the music with all the nuances and harmonics in a fluid and perfect way, I do not listen to the tweeter as happens in these modern components: the AR tweeter performs the its task without "emerging", but accompanying the rest of the range, the same in the following models, where it intervenes a little more evident. I am probably not suitable for today's market and products or those of a few years ago, where a more evident and intrusive tweeter has established itself: it must not be the protagonist, but participant and finisher of the sound ... Great, great AR and Men who developed the AR Sound. Of course my compliments also go to the splendid and unsurpassed Woofer and to the factotum, essential, indispensable Midrange.

Correct, there was a dent on the dome that I fixed and as you can see from the photo the soft vinyl glue that I used to isolate the three fixing dots from the environment is still drying, now and for about two years this tweeter has been working well in this AR3a. Tweeter dent If I do not disturb, I will send you a message because I would entrust you with the repair of the tweeter (perhaps better to be a couple? To match the 2 tweeters?) Thank you for your patience, Giorgio.

Dear Giovanni, I take this opportunity to ask if you can repair my precious AR3a tweeter which gives a value of 1 ohm when the instrument is read and does not emit a sound? I thought of entrusting it to Chris1this1, who has a proprietary technique and brings these tweeters back to perfect efficiency! Do you think it is better to make a pair, even if the other tweeter is OK? Under the offending tweeter! The non-working tweeter is on the right in the photo Resistance value: 1.1 ohm (last photo, left tweeter with 3.2 ohm value replaced the non-working one)

Great work Giovanni, up to now in addition to the USA repairers, you are the only one to correctly reconstruct these precious tweeters. Gorgeous thread and great photo shoot !!

In English: There is only one label next to the connection terminals, there are no labels in the door. Inside the cases there are two spartan labels bearing the same serial numbers as the external ones. 1089 1293 This particular in the circle is what I have only seen in cabinets built in England and from your photos I seem to see exactly the same construction!

legopart, in addition to the good RoyC, there is also the member Chris1this1 who reconstructs the AR3a tweeters with a final result that is both functional and aesthetic as originally while preserving the original paper domes!

giovanni56 They are simply gorgeous, they are early AR10TT, but given the little veneer triangles at the top front corners, I assume they are built in England - can you take pictures of the serial number and initials on the label?