The question comes at the end if you don't want to read through the first bit, but I thought a bit of context might be useful.
First post here, stumbled on the forum while searching for all I could find about AR25s. I'm in the UK.
Almost 40 years ago I bought a Pioneer PL512 deck, a Trio Receiver and a pair of AR25's, the best I could afford a the time. The AR25s are labelled AR25EP, the label has a UK and US address and serial numbers 16399 and 16400. Looking at price lists on here, it looks like they were the "value option", priced well below some similar models. About 20 years ago the Trio began to die, and what I now know to be the foams on the speakers began to disintegrate. I did a quick fix using rings I cut myself from thin closed cell foam, and soon after I got a Sony FA3 amplifier and at the same time some Tannoy Mercury M2 bookshelf speakers. That suited us with young children crawling round the house. The Trio went to recycling, the speakers (fortunately) to the loft. The PL512 still works well, a CD player and FM tuner joined in along the way.
This week, with a bit of time on my hands, I went up into the loft and brought down the old AR25s. The cabinets cleaned up nicely, the grille foam is missing, I might find it but meanwhile have used some acoustically transparent speaker cloth that I had left over from a job on my car many years ago. They look pretty good, and sound very good to my ears - I listen to all kinds of music - the top end is excellent with orchestral music, glock, triangle and suchlike very clear. I have new foams and dust caps for the combined woofer/mids on order so will do a proper job on those using the advice I found in this forum.
The question: a very long time ago I remember adding some stuffing, they were in a small room with odd resonances and I was trying to kill that off. Trouble is, I don't remember what they were like originally. They are of course sealed cabinets, so in a range none - loose packed - tight packed, what should be in there?
A secondary question: there is a very small dent in the dust cap of one of the tweeters. My instinct is to leave it well alone, what does anyone think?
Hi Richard. I know this reply is 4 years later!! I also have AR25's also in the UK. Inherited (23 years ago) from my late uncle. They have been in use every day since. The foam surrounds were perished when I got them and I had Wembley Loudspeakers professionally redo them. A few years later one if the tweeters got damaged (Cat Attack!) Also trashed the foam grills. I tracked down what I think was the last pair of New replacement tweeters on the planet from a HiFi shop somewhere in the US. And like you have fabricated new, acoustically transparent grill. Since the cat incident they have become wall mounted using Martin Audio / Powerdrive, mounts. I am a professional sound engineer, for the past two decades they have been my reference, incredibly flat sound, very natural. I have periodically looked to replace them, but to get something as good would be £1000+. I have other speakers RCF reference monitors in my office and a warehouse full of Pro-Audio Concert systems but to chill at home and just enjoy music they are the business. Hope yiubarevsill enjoying yours. If you ever want to connect just give me a shout. Google MG Event & Sound & you will find contact details. Mike Godden. UK
AR25 "stuffing" question
in Acoustic Research
Posted
Hi Richard. I know this reply is 4 years later!! I also have AR25's also in the UK. Inherited (23 years ago) from my late uncle. They have been in use every day since. The foam surrounds were perished when I got them and I had Wembley Loudspeakers professionally redo them. A few years later one if the tweeters got damaged (Cat Attack!) Also trashed the foam grills. I tracked down what I think was the last pair of New replacement tweeters on the planet from a HiFi shop somewhere in the US. And like you have fabricated new, acoustically transparent grill. Since the cat incident they have become wall mounted using Martin Audio / Powerdrive, mounts. I am a professional sound engineer, for the past two decades they have been my reference, incredibly flat sound, very natural. I have periodically looked to replace them, but to get something as good would be £1000+. I have other speakers RCF reference monitors in my office and a warehouse full of Pro-Audio Concert systems but to chill at home and just enjoy music they are the business. Hope yiubarevsill enjoying yours. If you ever want to connect just give me a shout. Google MG Event & Sound & you will find contact details. Mike Godden. UK