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frankmarsi

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All right everyone, I've got them! From Missouri what appears to be in pretty good condition 3a's. They have the original surrounds and all. They must have been in a very clean smoke free home cause the grill cloths are almost new, maybe replaced, I'm not sure.My originals are smoke stained cause I smoke. Do they work? Good question, my back is out this weekend and I'm in no condition to move these blocks of stone just yet. At some point I may simply coat the surrounds with heavy doses of rubber cement and hope I may be able to try them that way, even though I know it'll probably come down to refoaming them anyway. I intend to get some big guy amp and run two sets as I have done with my LST's, although my LST's have an easy life of using a separate PL400 for each set running stacked. I may buy some used PL700B or maybe try some other lower priced amp, I haven't decided yet.

I would really like everyone to know that I'm not Mr.Money Bags here, I'm doing this with minimal fundage and just had to have another set to go with my original 3a's I purchased in 1972 with my GI school funds I got from being in the NAVY in '69 and '70. I truly believe the AR-3a is such a great speaker, they can come in the ground with me when that occurs, along with my 1973 Riviera's and LST's. I actually lead a simple life and enjoy old things that I believe were some of the great material objects produced in the last century. There's no real greed factor here, just my appreciation of these wonderful sound reproducers and my love of music, be it rock, classical, jazz, fusion, etc.,etc. I feel the likelihood of finding good condition items such as these is running out, and they're certainly less costly compared to certain classic cars that I love but can't afford. Besides that's a whole other hobby.

 

 

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>All right everyone, I've got them! From Missouri what appears

>to be in pretty good condition 3a's. They have the original

>surrounds and all. They must have been in a very clean smoke

>free home cause the grill cloths are almost new, maybe

>replaced, I'm not sure.My originals are smoke stained cause I

>smoke. Do they work? Good question, my back is out this

>weekend and I'm in no condition to move these blocks of stone

>just yet. At some point I may simply coat the surrounds with

>heavy doses of rubber cement and hope I may be able to try

>them that way, even though I know it'll probably come down to

>refoaming them anyway. I intend to get some big guy amp and

>run two sets as I have done with my LST's, although my LST's

>have an easy life of using a separate PL400 for each set

>running stacked. I may buy some used PL700B or maybe try some

>other lower priced amp, I haven't decided yet.

>I would really like everyone to know that I'm not Mr.Money

>Bags here, I'm doing this with minimal fundage and just had to

>have another set to go with my original 3a's I purchased in

>1972 with my GI school funds I got from being in the NAVY in

>'69 and '70. I truly believe the AR-3a is such a great

>speaker, they can come in the ground with me when that occurs,

>along with my 1973 Riviera's and LST's. I actually lead a

>simple life and enjoy old things that I believe were some of

>the great material objects produced in the last century.

>There's no real greed factor here, just my appreciation of

>these wonderful sound reproduces and my love of music, be it

>rock, classical, jazz, fusion,etc.,etc. I feel ther likelihood

>of finding good condition items such as these is running out,

>and they're certainly less costly compared to certain classic

>cars that I love but can't afford. Besides that's a whole

>other hobby.

Hi there;

Nice looking pair of 3A's.

Hope your back is getting better.

I would suggest not applying anything to the surrounds.

Use caution with these as I will relate a short story to you.

I picked up a pair of larger Advents locally a few years ago for my museum.

There were abused as far as the vinyl enclosure goes but I can't hear that.

Amazingly, the drivers were in appearance, flawless.

By chance they also worked as they should.

Not bad for $40.00.

I brought them home and connected them up for an in home demo.

After a few minutes the surrounds started blowing holes and that was all she wrote.

There wasn't any obvious signs before the demo.

I wasn't disappointed as I've done re-foams before.

My advice is because you maybe tempted to open up the amp volume for a test drive and possibly have the same incident.

Nice choice and good luck.

Fusing your speakers may be an option to consider.

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>>All right everyone, I've got them! From Missouri what

>appears

>>to be in pretty good condition 3a's. They have the original

>>surrounds and all. They must have been in a very clean smoke

>>free home cause the grill cloths are almost new, maybe

>>replaced, I'm not sure.My originals are smoke stained cause

>I

>>smoke. Do they work? Good question, my back is out this

>>weekend and I'm in no condition to move these blocks of

>stone

>>just yet. At some point I may simply coat the surrounds with

>>heavy doses of rubber cement and hope I may be able to try

>>them that way, even though I know it'll probably come down

>to

>>refoaming them anyway. I intend to get some big guy amp and

>>run two sets as I have done with my LST's, although my LST's

>>have an easy life of using a separate PL400 for each set

>>running stacked. I may buy some used PL700B or maybe try

>some

>>other lower priced amp, I haven't decided yet.

>>I would really like everyone to know that I'm not Mr.Money

>>Bags here, I'm doing this with minimal fundage and just had

>to

>>have another set to go with my original 3a's I purchased in

>>1972 with my GI school funds I got from being in the NAVY in

>>'69 and '70. I truly believe the AR-3a is such a great

>>speaker, they can come in the ground with me when that

>occurs,

>>along with my 1973 Riviera's and LST's. I actually lead a

>>simple life and enjoy old things that I believe were some of

>>the great material objects produced in the last century.

>>There's no real greed factor here, just my appreciation of

>>these wonderful sound reproduces and my love of music, be it

>>rock, classical, jazz, fusion,etc.,etc. I feel ther

>likelihood

>>of finding good condition items such as these is running

>out,

>>and they're certainly less costly compared to certain

>classic

>>cars that I love but can't afford. Besides that's a whole

>>other hobby.

>

>

>Hi there;

>

>Nice looking pair of 3A's.

>

>Hope your back is getting better.

>

>I would suggest not applying anything to the surrounds.

>

>Use caution with these as I will relate a short story to you.

>

>I picked up a pair of larger Advents locally a few years ago

>for my museum.

>

>There were abused as far as the vinyl enclosure goes but I

>can't hear that.

>

>Amazingly, the drivers were in appearance, flawless.

>

>By chance they also worked as they should.

>

>Not bad for $40.00.

>

>I brought them home and connected them up for an in home

>demo.

>

>After a few minutes the surrounds started blowing holes and

>that was all she wrote.

>

>There wasn't any obvious signs before the demo.

>

>I wasn't disappointed as I've done re-foams before.

>

>My advice is because you maybe tempted to open up the amp

>volume for a test drive and possibly have the same incident.

>

>Nice choice and good luck.

>

>Fusing your speakers may be an option to consider.

Vern

Dear Vern and others, Today I took a better look at my new acquisition off of EBay and I am pleased to say that they're almost mint. One has a foam surround that’s in great shape and is still factory original, the other is all mushy and weak looking. I gave the mushy one 2 coats of rubber cement just to preserve it till I have a chance to do further investigating. The person who sold them to me for a $170.00 for both didn't do such good packing, a couple of corners have some very slight damage, nothing the layman would notice at a listening distance position. For anyone's interest, when I bought my first pair originally in 1972 I couldn't help but shine a flash light thru the grill to see these drivers I found so attractive. I got a pretty good look and noticed some saw dust in various corners and some even on the foam surrounds, which had a shiny appearance. For years I couldn’t figure what they were coated with. When they first needed repairs for blown tweeters AR sent them back to me with Velcro removable grills, whereas they were originally glued in and un-removable. I was able to get a good look once the grills were off and still couldn’t figure out what the coating was on the surrounds. By 1974 I went into the photography business. Hanging around studios and fotogs and layout people led me to discover rubber cement. At last this had to be AR’s secret substance for coating their surrounds, what else could it be. Thru the years I tried, silicone, and other coatings, but none of them behaved like the rubber cement. To this day I believe I am correct in my findings.

Getting back to my new acquisitions, I see the registration stickers on the back say Oct. ’73, these ones have Velcro and removable grills though. Funny thing they also had some saw dust present which leads me to believe they haven’t been moved around too much and are completely original. The grills are not covered with replacement fabric as far as I can tell and I’ve been staring at AR fabric for years now. But the one interesting thing is that one woofer has almost brand new looking foam surround, and the other is ready for replacement, odd if they were both in someone’s same room. Which I’ve deduced had to be with neither cigarette smoke, nor cooking smoke or grease present. Another amazing find is the texture and feel of the cabinets wood, it seems almost like it’s brand new.

Except for the seller’s lack of care which is evident by some scuffs and very slight marring on the bottoms, and the ever so slight damage to one or two corners, I'm happy.

My conclusion is; these AR-3a’s might have been in the original owner’s home in a room that was seldom used and certainly closed off from air born pollution.

Although I haven’t listened to them yet, hey they may be blown for all I know, I feel I got a great deal for $170. plus $65, for shipping. Even if I have to replace a tweeter or two, do one surround, I actually ‘scored’ big here.

Dealing on EBay is unpredictable at best, yet somehow I may have come out ahead. And to think, I was all kinds of worried.

Sincerely, Frank Marsi

P.S. #4 foto is mushy surround and #3 is nearly new.

 

 

 

 

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>>>All right everyone, I've got them! From Missouri what

>>appears

>>>to be in pretty good condition 3a's. They have the original

>>>surrounds and all. They must have been in a very clean

>smoke

>>>free home cause the grill cloths are almost new, maybe

>>>replaced, I'm not sure.My originals are smoke stained cause

>>I

>>>smoke. Do they work? Good question, my back is out this

>>>weekend and I'm in no condition to move these blocks of

>>stone

>>>just yet. At some point I may simply coat the surrounds

>with

>>>heavy doses of rubber cement and hope I may be able to try

>>>them that way, even though I know it'll probably come down

>>to

>>>refoaming them anyway. I intend to get some big guy amp and

>>>run two sets as I have done with my LST's, although my

>LST's

>>>have an easy life of using a separate PL400 for each set

>>>running stacked. I may buy some used PL700B or maybe try

>>some

>>>other lower priced amp, I haven't decided yet.

>>>I would really like everyone to know that I'm not Mr.Money

>>>Bags here, I'm doing this with minimal fundage and just had

>>to

>>>have another set to go with my original 3a's I purchased in

>>>1972 with my GI school funds I got from being in the NAVY

>in

>>>'69 and '70. I truly believe the AR-3a is such a great

>>>speaker, they can come in the ground with me when that

>>occurs,

>>>along with my 1973 Riviera's and LST's. I actually lead a

>>>simple life and enjoy old things that I believe were some

>of

>>>the great material objects produced in the last century.

>>>There's no real greed factor here, just my appreciation of

>>>these wonderful sound reproduces and my love of music, be

>it

>>>rock, classical, jazz, fusion,etc.,etc. I feel ther

>>likelihood

>>>of finding good condition items such as these is running

>>out,

>>>and they're certainly less costly compared to certain

>>classic

>>>cars that I love but can't afford. Besides that's a whole

>>>other hobby.

>>

>>

>>Hi there;

>>

>>Nice looking pair of 3A's.

>>

>>Hope your back is getting better.

>>

>>I would suggest not applying anything to the surrounds.

>>

>>Use caution with these as I will relate a short story to

>you.

>>

>>I picked up a pair of larger Advents locally a few years ago

>>for my museum.

>>

>>There were abused as far as the vinyl enclosure goes but I

>>can't hear that.

>>

>>Amazingly, the drivers were in appearance, flawless.

>>

>>By chance they also worked as they should.

>>

>>Not bad for $40.00.

>>

>>I brought them home and connected them up for an in home

>>demo.

>>

>>After a few minutes the surrounds started blowing holes and

>>that was all she wrote.

>>

>>There wasn't any obvious signs before the demo.

>>

>>I wasn't disappointed as I've done re-foams before.

>>

>>My advice is because you maybe tempted to open up the amp

>>volume for a test drive and possibly have the same incident.

>>

>>Nice choice and good luck.

>>

>>Fusing your speakers may be an option to consider.

>

>Vern

>

>Dear Vern and others, Today I took a better look at my new

>acquisition off of EBay and I am pleased to say that they're

>almost mint. One has a foam surround that’s in great shape and

>is still factory original, the other is all mushy and weak

>looking. I gave the mushy one 2 coats of rubber cement just to

>preserve it till I have a chance to do further investigating.

>The person who sold them to me for a $170.00 for both didn't

>do such good packing, a couple of corners have some very

>slight damage, nothing the layman would notice at a listening

>distance position. For anyone's interest, when I bought my

>first pair originally in 1972 I couldn't help but shine a

>flash light thru the grill to see these drivers I found so

>attractive. I got a pretty good look and noticed some saw dust

>in various corners and some even on the foam surrounds, which

>had a shiny appearance. For years I couldn’t figure what they

>were coated with. When they first needed repairs for blown

>tweeters AR sent them back to me with Velcro removable grills,

>whereas they were originally glued in and un-removable. I was

>able to get a good look once the grills were off and still

>couldn’t figure out what the coating was on the surrounds. By

>1974 I went into the photography business. Hanging around

>studios and fotogs and layout people led me to discover rubber

>cement. At last this had to be AR’s secret substance for

>coating their surrounds, what else could it be. Thru the years

>I tried, silicone, and other coatings, but none of them

>behaved like the rubber cement. To this day I believe I am

>correct in my findings.

>Getting back to my new acquisitions, I see the registration

>stickers on the back say Oct. ’73, these ones have Velcro and

>removable grills though. Funny thing they also had some saw

>dust present which leads me to believe they haven’t been moved

>around too much and are completely original. The grills are

>not covered with replacement fabric as far as I can tell and

>I’ve been staring at AR fabric for years now. But the one

>interesting thing is that one woofer has almost brand new

>looking foam surround, and the other is ready for replacement,

>odd if they were both in someone’s same room. Which I’ve

>deduced had to be with neither cigarette smoke, nor cooking

>smoke or grease present. Another amazing find is the texture

>and feel of the cabinets wood, it seems almost like it’s brand

>new.

>Except for the seller’s lack of care which is evident by some

>scuffs and very slight marring on the bottoms, and the ever so

>slight damage to one or two corners, I'm happy.

>My conclusion is; these AR-3a’s might have been in the

>original owner’s home in a room that was seldom used and

>certainly closed off from air born pollution.

>Although I haven’t listened to them yet, hey they may be blown

>for all I know, I feel I got a great deal for $170. plus $65,

>for shipping. Even if I have to replace a tweeter or two, do

>one surround, I actually ‘scored’ big here.

>Dealing on EBay is unpredictable at best, yet somehow I may

>have come out ahead. And to think, I was all kinds of

>worried.

>Sincerely, Frank Marsi

>P.S. #4 foto is mushy surround and #3 is nearly new.

>

Hi Frank;

They look real nice.

I don't know if you ever saw the original AR-3A packing cartons and fillers.

I don't know if AR started their heavy packing process from day one or not.

Their amp was bolted to a sheet of plywood which sat on a slight recess so that it sat on a border of heavy cardboard.

The turntable carton again was very well thought out.

I'm just guessing for a minute about the 3A carton.

There was a 3" thick piece of cardboard top and bottom, at least 1" corner pieces top to bottom, wrapped in brown paper with 1 piece of cardboard to protect the grill cloths.

The outer carton was of substantial quality cardboard as well.

I wish we could list some of our positive ebay sellers that do know how to really pack dome tweeters and cone tweeters to name but two items.

I lost several purchases because of, lack of experience, in knowing how to properly pack those particular items.

I underline properly and I am not saying careless at all.

I have seen great effort in packing dome tweeters, they were not expecting any kind of movement in shipping.

I have had several smaller speaker enclosures sent to me and they were double boxed with 1" spacers.

The fact is that overall, you have made a great purchase and from your photos you should have many decades of enjoyment from them.

Thank you for sharing your ebay story with us, Frank.

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11-20-05

Vern, yeah, I lucked-out, but like I’ve said in other posts, I feel I deserve it! I’ve been a

AR fan since early on, and I used to recommend buying them to all and everyone I knew. I sat back from 1972 to 1979 with solely my first 3a’s when I bought a pair of AR-2ax’s from my best friend who bought them in Thailand in 1971 as I highly endorsed any AR full size speaker to him whenever we were both on leave at home here in NYC. He brought them home with him when he was discharged in 1972. We enjoyed his speakers from ’72 to ’78, as with a group of friends we listened to a lot of music . My 3a’s were usually only enjoyed by me alone at my parents home. I approach him in ’79 and suggested he sell them to me, he did for $100. for both. I used them in my photo studio as rear channels with my PL4000, PL400, Dynaco 120 and my AR-3a’s as front channels. Only certain records sounded good with Phase Linear ‘s rear channel circuitry. In 1990 I used the 2ax’s again as rear channels with the LST’s. Once more the Bob Carver rear channel set-up was ‘un-eventful’ and nearly indistinguishable in terms of effect. Those AR-2a’s are probably in need of surrounds and sitting safely in a relative’s house not being used. But you’re right about the AR-3a’s carton’s. I would know I sent them back enough times for tweeter repairs and always asked for new cartons, and they always sent them, kindly enough.

I would’ve kept most, but my father cut them up for garbage. To this day I only have one carton left, it was a later one, not from the original purchase and is in bad condition. “AR” took much pride in their repair service, shipping quality and customer relations and certainly in discount pricing. I’ve read that some feel this service may have partly contributed to their demise, I could see how. But nonetheless I remember being so impressed when I first brought mine home in ’72. Such heavy boxes with all extra thick cardboard top and bottom as you described earlier. Fact is, when I finally broke down and went to buy them, the outlet only had one, I had to go back two weeks later and pick-up the second one. I remember being so worried that they wouldn’t match. After many years of looking at samples, I believe no AR speaker matches it’s mate, simply look at the wood tones, and serial numbers. It may have been intentional by AR to somehow distribute in this way. I can’t fathom any reason why other than avoiding wood grain matching , which may have been impossible and quality control.

I must say no matter how great AR speakers truly are , and having some of the best wood working traits I’ve ever seen for speakers, I was often baffled by the black electrical tape used in front for hiding wires and the ‘passing’ of a fast sloppy coat of matte black paint to hide the tape and bare metal rims on their woofers, this was odd to me. I mean to see their tweeter construction was kind’a ‘back-yard’ in it’s engineering. I have to admit this kind of tweeter was obviously new technology and there were no affordable alternatives for them. Quite an interesting method in any event, and certainly successful. Here we are more than 30 years later and they’re still working, well shut my mouth!

Please forgive my fanaticism, but I love everything about them! Compared to some people, I must be a low number owner. I ‘only’ own; 4 LST’s, 4 - 3a’s, and 2 ,2ax’s, with another pair of 2ax’s coming from a relative soon who has no use for them. Am I a crazy person? Maybe, but this is as far as I think I’ll go in terms of numbers at this point. I have enough to keep me busy in terms of repairs, much less setting this stuff up. Obviously they all need amps and pre-amps, CD players and or turntables, tape and tuners. After a while that’s a lot of expense for me. I gotta watch myself, cause this hobby is addictive and EBay is a ‘dealer’ for my habit.

P.S. The Ar-3a ‘sat’ in that thick 2 inch layer of cardboard top and bottom with room to spare as a cabinet ‘corner’ protector. They also used thick, multi layered cardboard running vertically at each corner to isolate the unit from all side impacts. I really wish I had my original cartons, just for sentimental reasons.

P.S.2 I have been fusing my speakers since I blew my first set of tweeters in 1972. In my first photo studio which was a very large place, I was averaging about 11/2 boxes a week of 11/4 amp Fustron little guys, driving with a PL400, and believe me it wasn’t from clipping.

Sincerely, Frank Marsi

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>11-20-05

>Vern, yeah, I lucked-out, but like I’ve said in other posts, I

>feel I deserve it! I’ve been a

>AR fan since early on, and I used to recommend buying them to

>all and everyone I knew. I sat back from 1972 to 1979 with

>solely my first 3a’s when I bought a pair of AR-2ax’s from my

>best friend who bought them in Thailand in 1971 as I highly

>endorsed any AR full size speaker to him whenever we were both

>on leave at home here in NYC. He brought them home with him

>when he was discharged in 1972. We enjoyed his speakers from

>’72 to ’78, as with a group of friends we listened to a lot of

>music . My 3a’s were usually only enjoyed by me alone at my

>parents home. I approach him in ’79 and suggested he sell them

>to me, he did for $100. for both. I used them in my photo

>studio as rear channels with my PL4000, PL400, Dynaco 120 and

>my AR-3a’s as front channels. Only certain records sounded

>good with Phase Linear ‘s rear channel circuitry. In 1990 I

>used the 2ax’s again as rear channels with the LST’s. Once

>more the Bob Carver rear channel set-up was ‘un-eventful’ and

>nearly indistinguishable in terms of effect. Those AR-2a’s

>are probably in need of surrounds and sitting safely in a

>relative’s house not being used. But you’re right about the

>AR-3a’s carton’s. I would know I sent them back enough times

>for tweeter repairs and always asked for new cartons, and they

>always sent them, kindly enough.

>I would’ve kept most, but my father cut them up for garbage.

>To this day I only have one carton left, it was a later one,

>not from the original purchase and is in bad condition. “AR”

>took much pride in their repair service, shipping quality and

>customer relations and certainly in discount pricing. I’ve

>read that some feel this service may have partly contributed

>to their demise, I could see how. But nonetheless I remember

>being so impressed when I first brought mine home in ’72. Such

>heavy boxes with all extra thick cardboard top and bottom as

>you described earlier. Fact is, when I finally broke down and

>went to buy them, the outlet only had one, I had to go back

>two weeks later and pick-up the second one. I remember being

>so worried that they wouldn’t match. After many years of

>looking at samples, I believe no AR speaker matches it’s mate,

>simply look at the wood tones, and serial numbers. It may have

>been intentional by AR to somehow distribute in this way. I

>can’t fathom any reason why other than avoiding wood grain

>matching , which may have been impossible and quality

>control.

>I must say no matter how great AR speakers truly are , and

>having some of the best wood working traits I’ve ever seen for

>speakers, I was often baffled by the black electrical tape

>used in front for hiding wires and the ‘passing’ of a fast

>sloppy coat of matte black paint to hide the tape and bare

>metal rims on their woofers, this was odd to me. I mean to see

>their tweeter construction was kind’a ‘back-yard’ in it’s

>engineering. I have to admit this kind of tweeter was

>obviously new technology and there were no affordable

>alternatives for them. Quite an interesting method in any

>event, and certainly successful. Here we are more than 30

>years later and they’re still working, well shut my mouth!

>Please forgive my fanaticism, but I love everything about

>them! Compared to some people, I must be a low number owner.

>I ‘only’ own; 4 LST’s, 4 - 3a’s, and 2 ,2ax’s, with another

>pair of 2ax’s coming from a relative soon who has no use for

>them. Am I a crazy person? Maybe, but this is as far as I

>think I’ll go in terms of numbers at this point. I have enough

>to keep me busy in terms of repairs, much less setting this

>stuff up. Obviously they all need amps and pre-amps, CD

>players and or turntables, tape and tuners. After a while

>that’s a lot of expense for me. I gotta watch myself, cause

>this hobby is addictive and EBay is a ‘dealer’ for my habit.

>P.S. The Ar-3a ‘sat’ in that thick 2 inch layer of cardboard

>top and bottom with room to spare as a cabinet ‘corner’

>protector. They also used thick, multi layered cardboard

>running vertically at each corner to isolate the unit from all

>side impacts. I really wish I had my original cartons, just

>for sentimental reasons.

>P.S.2 I have been fusing my speakers since I blew my first set

>of tweeters in 1972. In my first photo studio which was a very

>large place, I was averaging about 11/2 boxes a week of 11/4

>amp Fustron little guys, driving with a PL400, and believe me

>it wasn’t from clipping.

>Sincerely, Frank Marsi

>

Hi Frank;

No wonder there isn't many AR speakers around any more. lol

You are starting your own museum as well. lol

I think we all should re-evaluate our fuse sizes and rather than just fall back on AR original slow blow recommended sizes.

Crownaudio.com has an interesting and well worthwhile reading perspective regarding slow blow fuses for the woofers and fast blow for the uppers.

I'm not suggesting getting into our cabinets and ripping apart the crossovers but maybe an externally mounted fast blow fuse?

I wish AR was here to recommend an appropriate fast blow fuse size today.

I have been using 1 @ fast blow fuses even with my LST's for added protection.

The tweeters are becoming too rare and expensive to need replaced often.

If there was only one model 3/4" tweeter it might be an easier task locating them but, front wired, back wired, with foam, and without foam.

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