simonsounds

Regarding serial numbers: At the factory in the UK we would batch-build one model at a time. Each speakers came down a production line at the end of which they were close-mic measured in a small sound-treated box (similar to our full-size anechoic chamber), the frequency response had to be withing 2dB of the reference curve for that model. If the speaker passed, the serial number was applied and the speakers were boxed. Smaller speakers were boxed in pairs and always had sequential serial numbers. Larger speakers like the 12's and 11's were boxed individually and could find themselves separated during shipping etc. The reference curve was checked each day against the 'golden' sample to ensure variations in humidity etc., had not changed the response. We believed that every speaker we made was matched and was within the reference measurements.

Hey Lonnie, you're welcome. Sorry it took me so long to find this forum thread. I'll keep an eye on it in future. Production was 88 and 89, I think we launched the 112's in early 1990

I just stumbled across this post and wanted to shed some light on the AR Red Box speakers. I worked for Acoustic Research in the UK at the time and was involved in the Red Box project. At the time - late 1980's the band Simply Red were using AR 18's as near-field monitors and loved them. I met with the band and asked if we could make a speaker in collaboration with them, based on the out-going AR18's. They agreed and approved the design. We choose Red Box as the name because of the song of their first album Picture Book - track 8 (Open-up) The Red Box. The collaboration only continued for a short time after which the speaker was superseded by the AR Spirit 112 - same drivers newly designed cabinet, launched in 1990. Sadly, at the end of 1990 AR was acquired by International Jensen, the UK factory was closed down and all things AR turned in the wrong direction. Now they are a minor subsidiary of AudioVox and make crap cables and cheap powered speakers.