Stillhouse Posted June 29, 2021 Report Share Posted June 29, 2021 Howdy folks. New guy here, directed from AudioKarma where it was stated this forum is the place to be when it comes to Acoustic Research info. This morning I picked up a pair or AR-5s from a local thrift store for peanuts. They appear to be fairly early versions, from what I have gathered about them so far. One woofer has a date of Jun 18 1969, and a rounded dust cap. The other remains a mystery as I have yet to be able to coax the grill off. Serial numbers on the cabinet labels are K08229 & K08262. All drivers read good on a continuity check, checked Ohms as well, but forget the results(horrible memory for numbers have I). Woofers need a refoam and the pots feel pretty crunchy when turned. I'll be digging into these and bringing them back to life, repairing and replacing as needed, with the information and guidance found here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aadams Posted June 29, 2021 Report Share Posted June 29, 2021 2 hours ago, Stillhouse said: . I'll be digging into these and bringing them back to life, repairing and replacing as needed, with the information and guidance found here. Welcome Stillhouse. Very nice early pair. Be sure to download and read the AR3a restoration guide, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted June 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 Thanks! One of the first things I came upon(as was recommended by AK) was the resto guide, so I downloaded the PDF of it for reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phxjohn Posted June 30, 2021 Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 Great find !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted June 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2021 Thanks again! I did some testing on both speakers today, running a function generator app off my tablet through my Pioneer SX-990 and got sound out of all drivers. It took some working the pots back and forth to find a working spot on each, and as they feel as crunchy as my bad knee does I'm not surprised at their intermittent function. 😀 They'll get pulled, checked and either refurbished or replaced as the case may be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2021 The plot thickens. Although the woofer I pulled from the one speaker tests OK(not open) it reads a low 2.1 Ohms. The pots have cleaned up well enough to function throughout their range and mid and tweeter make music. Still gingerly attempting to get the grill off the second speaker. 50+ year old glue is tenacious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 27, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2021 Can anyone point me to a source for a replacement voice coil for AR5s? I've seen this recone kit: https://reconingspeakers.com/product/ar-10-1-5-vc-aftermarket-recone-kit/ And this coil: https://reconingspeakers.com/product/1-5181-375-fh-375-ww-voice-coil-vc4720-8/ But I'm not sure it would be correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 I've decided to send the bad woofer off to Vintage AR for service, and ordered a surround kit for the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted July 29, 2021 Report Share Posted July 29, 2021 16 hours ago, Stillhouse said: I've decided to send the bad woofer off to Vintage AR for service, and ordered a surround kit for the other. I do much of Vintage_AR's work, and I know he does not have rebuild parts (other than replacement foam surrounds) for this woofer. You should clearly communicate with him before shipping. Roy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2021 I had contacted him before about the possibility of a voice coil replacement and he replied that he may not have a replacement coil for this woofer, but he could not say for certain without the woofer in hand. I wonder at this point if I shouldn't abandon my intention of keeping these speakers as original as possible and find a replacement woofer of the same type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted July 31, 2021 Report Share Posted July 31, 2021 1 hour ago, Stillhouse said: I had contacted him before about the possibility of a voice coil replacement and he replied that he may not have a replacement coil for this woofer, but he could not say for certain without the woofer in hand. I wonder at this point if I shouldn't abandon my intention of keeping these speakers as original as possible and find a replacement woofer of the same type. Any new voice coil/cone combination would be much less "original" than any other used AR-5 woofer or 2ax woofer. The woofer shown in your photo is the earliest AR-5 woofer, which will be very difficult to find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2021 I keep seeing conflicting information about the early AR 10" woofers. Some say the 2ax and 5 shared woofers, others say not and allude to a fair difference between the two. There's a pair of 2ax woofers up for sale online that need refoaming but otherwise are in working condition. They're dated to 1969, a few months later than mine are. If these were a reasonable replacement I would order them and use the refoam kit I have ordered from Vintage AR to fix them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted July 31, 2021 Report Share Posted July 31, 2021 1 hour ago, Stillhouse said: I keep seeing conflicting information about the early AR 10" woofers. Some say the 2ax and 5 shared woofers, others say not and allude to a fair difference between the two. There's a pair of 2ax woofers up for sale online that need refoaming but otherwise are in working condition. They're dated to 1969, a few months later than mine are. If these were a reasonable replacement I would order them and use the refoam kit I have ordered from Vintage AR to fix them up. There is some difference, especially compared to your early version, but any later 2ax woofer (with the same basket/frame dimensions) will work better than an attempt at a rebuild. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2021 I think I'm beginning to understand why these were donated to Goodwill. Seems finding parts or service for this model's woofers to get them back to their original design is a Sisyphean task. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted July 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2021 I started a return on the woofer service yesterday, since I had not shipped it yet and it seems parts will not be available anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted August 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 Quote In 1970, the "new" 2ax was introduced, serial numbers above around 125,000. The new 2ax used the 5's foam-surround woofer So if that is true, wouldn't a woofer of that type be at least compatible(if not identical) with/to the A5? In that case I would buy this pair of AR2ax woofers and refoam: https://www.ebay.com/itm/234048470127?hash=item367e603c6f:g:OVwAAOSwplVgWHRO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted August 1, 2021 Report Share Posted August 1, 2021 27 minutes ago, Stillhouse said: comprerei questa coppia di woofer AR2ax e refoam: These are not good, they have a large frame and 6 holes and 11 "in diameter: same size as the early woofers with Alnico magnet, aluminum frame and canvas suspension. There are no correct AR2ax woofers for sale right now, take a little patience and you will surely find the correct woofers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 On 8/1/2021 at 3:48 PM, Stillhouse said: a woofer of that type be at least compatible(if not identical) A compatible woofer has appeared, even if it is certainly subsequent to yours, with Alnico magnet, in the opinion of many you should not hear differences between the two types ... you can buy and use this and then calmly find a corresponding woofer in Alnico! https://www.ebay.it/itm/224557070962?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=724-53478-19255-0&campid=5338381872&toolid=10001&customid=b77be2e6-f417-11eb-b5e8-616462313436 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted August 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2021 This project is going to low priority for now. I managed to ruin one of the surrounds from the kit I got from Vintage AR, I'm not going to ruin the second trying to do this myself. If I find a suitable replacement for the bad woofer I will just send them both to someone more capable than I to do the refoam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 Patient waiting is the best ally! Check Hi..Sh ... often and you will find one (sometimes an identical pair is better) correct woofer to enjoy a rare pair of AR5s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 On 8/6/2021 at 8:19 PM, Stillhouse said: This project is going to low priority for now. 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakecat Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 7 hours ago, Giorgio AR said: 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 Just be careful with this seller. His feedback isn't the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio AR Posted August 18, 2021 Report Share Posted August 18, 2021 1 hour ago, lakecat said: His feedback isn't the best. Bravo Lakecat, in addition to the feedback not 100%, to say that the cutting and subsequent gluing of the dustcap is not the best, an excuse to negotiate a better price. On 8/6/2021 at 8:19 PM, Stillhouse said: I to do the refoam 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stillhouse Posted January 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2022 Back with an update. Finally have these up and making sweet sounds. I went with a pair of PRO 031 woofers from Human Speakers(and 4Ohm serial resistors). I was able to get the original pots cleaned up as well. The grills are covered by some 16 count needlepoint fabric from Michael's. Might not be an exact match, but looks good enough from across the room to me. Lefty Righty Many thanks to all the helpful folks and information here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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