Anthonyv62

After being unable to save the original tweeters from a pair of AR4X or find a decent pair of original replacements, I gave up and settled on Parts Express replacements. Except for my son recently telling me that they sometimes sounded overly bright (introducing him to the rear adjustment knob helped tame that problem) I actually like the Parts Express replacements. Still wish I could find a nice pair of original 4X tweeters though...😉

The XAM's were obviously not in the same league compared to the classic brands that get mentioned on this forum, but they weren't much different than other inexpensive audio products in the 'late 60s and '70s. I heard a lot of those Korvette systems in a lot of home basements and bedrooms throughout the 70s. My impression was that most XAM speakers (at least the ones I heard) tended to sound mostly bright and thin. I also remember those "cut rate" brands usually found in stores like Korvette's were very similar. They seemed like they were meant to be basic, entry-level, and affordable - nowhere close to the stuff I'd see at Stuarts Audio in Westfield. I learned that brands like XAM could serve a simple yet important purpose for customers who bought them. No, of course they weren't high-end, and nobody in their right mind should have expected them to perform at that level. But they could become a first step moving up to bigger and better audio. In that regard, regardless of where they were sold, who made them, or how much they cost, I'm sure they succeeded on many basic yet important levels. As my father often told me, "Regardless of the name is on your stereo, what's most important is enjoying the music."

Yes. XAM was the correct name. Not sure if XAM included other Korvette's stereo merchandise or if it was limited to just speakers...I do remember that the speaker cabinets and grills did resemble KLHs. Supposedly the cabinets were fitted with Electro-Voice speakers (which was more than possible) but stories like that were common in the world of inexpensive more "affordable" audio.

Jersey Greetings to you too JKent! I think there may have been Korvette's around the Millburn area. I think there was one on Rt 22 near Blue Star in Watchung. I remember the Korvette's in Woodbridge sold their own audio line. I think it was called "MAX" but I'm not sure. Around 1972-75 a lot of kids in my school received stereos for the holidays... a lot of them came from Korvette's. I knew I was fortunate (actually "spoiled") being able to listen to my father's system, but the Korvette's stuff (considering the cost) was NOT necessarily bad for what is was. In December 1966 I was almost five years young when my father took me with him to pick-up his new AR speakers from Sound Reproductions in Newark, a block behind Hahne's. Years later he said he originally decided on KLH speakers, but after visiting the AR room at Grand Central Station (according to what he told me, the structure that AR would eventually use for their demonstration room was originally called "Hi Fi House") he knew the 4X was what he wanted. A few days after he brought the ARs home I remember watching him hook them up to his receiver. The first music he played with the new ARs were albums he let me pick out...Frank Sinatra's "A Jolly Christmas" and "Music of Christmas" by Percy Faith.

JKent, I'm actually pretty satisfied with the PE phenolic replacements - but then again I don't have original 4X tweeters to remind me of how the speakers originally sounded. I also don't feel like opening up the cabinets and touching the crossovers since the speakers sound excellent as they are. Removing the tweeter to experiment with a resistor is about as far as I'm willing to go - for now. I was just wondering how I might "tame" any tweeter brightness (even slightly) if it becomes a major distraction and keeps my son from really enjoying them. Funny you bring up Avid as I was unaware that there is an added section on this site specifically reserved for Avid speaker. I owned a pair of Avid's when I was younger, back around 1975. I think they were 100 Series with the round corner, grey-brown Advent looking grills set in a square utility cabinet, about the size of AR-4X or Dynaco 25. Not much to look at, but they could easily handle endless hours of listening to WNEW-FM and albums by Frampton, Clapton, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin (especially "Houses of the Holy") at peak levels connected to a Marantz receiver. They were purchased as discount demo models either at Korvettes or S.Kleins in Woodbridge NJ. I also remember how remarkably good they sounded - not necessarily AR, Dynaco, or Advent level "good," but still pretty impressive sounding. I never bothered to check the availability of old Avids or Avid drivers before. And in all honesty, until you just mentioned them today, I haven't thought about them in a very long time.

RoyC, Thanks for letting me know I was at least on the right track in my approach. Including a resistor is a simple, easily reversable "tweak" if I decide to experiment a little bit with the replacement tweeters. My son has been listening to these speakers for hours on end every day since late November. He's pushed his ARs pretty hard playing a lot of different recordings and has warmed up to the vintage sound with each passing day. At first, he told me not to pack away his old Bose speakers just yet, and today he boxed them up himself. He's also asked about possibly finding some larger model ARs to restore. Needless to say, he's put the resistor experiment on hold for now. I noticed that the phenolic tweeters from Vintage AR are sold with a slight treatment added to them - which is interesting. I know you can treat cloth surrounds with a specific application (I've considered doing it to my original AR woofers) but what does this treatment do specifically for phenolic replacement tweeters?

Thanks. I appreciate you both for offering your excellent input. Everything you've added makes sense. RoyC: I've come across a few original AR tweeters for the 4X, but not many. The ones I've found were almost always listed as "not working." Since I don't expect to find an original pair of original 4X tweeters (in decent working condition) any time soon, the replacements (as I've said) have worked out nicely. It might be worth at least giving the added resistor a try since it's a simple addition and easy to undo. As I said, personally, the speakers sound impressive even with the PE replacement tweeters. I've heard only a few instances of the tweeter sounding a little bright - but not enough to be a distraction. I rebuilt these old ARs for my 20-year old son, not fully considering the fact that he has extremely sensitive hearing and can often detect "things" in sound reproduction (almost always treble sounds) that I can't fully detect. Before I "rebuilt" these ARs, he grew up listening to a pair of decent 1990s Bose speakers, which are obviously different sounding than classic ARs. I've told him to try listening to a few versions of whatever particular song that he's hearing too much brightness on and see what happens - which has made a difference for the most part. I've also explained experimenting with a resistor to the tweeter idea so he could decide for himself if it makes enough of a difference to him. I'll wait and see what happens.

I used phenolic ring replacement tweeters from PE in my AR-4X restoration since used original tweeters were unavailable at the time. Everything is wired exactly like they were when they left the AR factory. The woofers are original and in excellent working order, but the original pots were replaced with L-pads and the caps were replaced with Dayton's. Overall, they sound more than impressive even with the phenolic replacements. Although I was only 4 or 5 years old when my father bought them back in 1966 or 67, I don't recall what they originally sounded. I do recall everyone who heard them commenting how - compared to their big combination turntable/tuner console stereos, which was more like furniture - the ARs were very balanced and extremely clear sounding. My question is this: If I used a 25 ohm 10 watt resistor across the phenolic replacement tweeter terminals what would the audible changes be to the tweeters (when adjusting the knob from "decrease, normal, and increase on the L-pad) compared to not using resistors? The main reason I'm asking is because the phenolic tweeters can sometimes sound a little bright depending on the recording. If possible, I'd like to tame the highs a little more than what the L-pads with no resistor allows for.

Maybe a layer or two of cheesecloth placed over the pots would keep the pots ventilated while helping to keep a good deal of fibers from getting inside.

Go to this websites Library section and find Original Models (1954-1974) for AR. Under "Original Model Brochures" look for "AR High Fidelity Components". There's a B&W photo of the inside of the AR demonstration room (NYC) on Pg 16 Also, in the "AR-3 Series Brochure" there's another interior photo of the same demonstration room on Pg 12.

Scottie, Photographs really don't do the new KLH's justice. I think their "average" look is true to their understated but attractive New England lineage. I've seen and heard them up close and they have that familiar, simple, classic look to them (more so the English Walnut/Stonewash linen grill version than the African Mahogony/Old World linen grill versions). IMO the new Model Five could have easily carried the AR or Advent emblem (if either of those two legendary brands were resurrected) as it does KLH without insult to the Kloss legacy. When I first saw an actual pair of Mahogany Model Five's I thought they resembled a larger version of the early 1990s Cambridge Soundworks Model Six with the "greyish" grill fabric. Soundwise, I've spent a fair amount of time with the "new" Model Fives last November, listening to everything I wanted to hear on both CD and vinyl, using both tube and solid-state amps. Regardless of what was played and how it was played, these speakers could never be mistaken for anything but acoustic suspension. Overall, in my opinion, they were impressive - maybe better than impressive. There's something very familiar sounding to the "new" Model Five that's very reminiscent of its classic Kloss "predecessors."

"Shittalk" seems pretty common - especially in the world of audio. 😉 Other than his time with Klipsch I know little about Mr. Kelley, except that his new line of KLH acoustic suspension design speakers continue to be well received and seem worthy of the famous KLH name.

The new KLH Model Five, recently introduced Model Three, soon to be released Model Seven, and planned Model Six and Model Seventeen speakers are all acoustic suspension designs. When the Model Five was first introduced last year, KLH President David Kelley (with Klipsch before purchasing KLH) publicly stated that "The past and future of KLH lies with acoustic suspension."

My father also had a pair of the AR shelves after he bought his new 4X speakers in 1966. The had the same walnut finish used on most AR speakers, were extremely sturdy, with the speakers always placed horizontally. They were kept in our basement after moving into a house with built-in bookshelves. My mother eventually sold them at a garage sale for around $5 each.

Thanks for the information and suggestion Kent. I think I've read almost everything posted on this great website and discussion forum about the subject, so I appreciate any help that make things easier to understand. Like I said, I've considered reducing the amount of FG to around 12 or 13 oz so hopefully taking out 6-8 oz (as you suggested) might be a better option regardless of the recommended 17-18 oz used on early 4X's (# 4 inductors) like mine. 18 oz of stuffing in a 4X cabinet just seems like too much.