AR 2AX Repair

[Guest baumgrenze]

Is it correct that the designation AR 2AX for Acoustic Research speakers does not completely define the product?

Is it correct that Acoustic Research made significant changes to their AR 2AX speakers during the years they were produced?

I have a pair. One of the pair has the serial number AX48757. The voice coil is rubbing. I have inspected it and find that for the woofer in this model:

1) The suspension is cloth rather than polyurethane foam. It appears to be intact.

2) There is a narrow band of foam applied to the cone near the dust cap. It is only seen from the front of the cone. It does not appear to be soft or gummy.

3) The dust cap is a flat disc of cone paper rather than a dome.

3) The spider is attached to a Masonite ring. The ring and attached spider are not attached to anything.

Was the Masonite ring attached to the frame when the woofer was made?

If the Masonite ring was originally glued to the frame, should I consider regluing it? What is the technique for centering the spider when regluing it?

If someone offers to sell me a replacement woofer with a replaced polyurethane suspension, is it a reasonable substitute for the original?

Thanks

baumgrenze

[Guest dogmeninreno]

>Is it correct that the designation AR 2AX for Acoustic

>Research speakers does not completely define the product?

>

>Is it correct that Acoustic Research made significant changes

>to their AR 2AX speakers during the years they were produced?

>

>I have a pair. One of the pair has the serial number AX48757.

>The voice coil is rubbing. I have inspected it and find that

>for the woofer in this model:

>

>1) The suspension is cloth rather than polyurethane foam. It

>appears to be intact.

>

>2) There is a narrow band of foam applied to the cone near the

>dust cap. It is only seen from the front of the cone. It does

>not appear to be soft or gummy.

>

>3) The dust cap is a flat disc of cone paper rather than a

>dome.

>

>3) The spider is attached to a Masonite ring. The ring and

>attached spider are not attached to anything.

>

>Was the Masonite ring attached to the frame when the woofer

>was made?

>

>If the Masonite ring was originally glued to the frame, should

>I consider regluing it? What is the technique for centering

>the spider when regluing it?

>

>If someone offers to sell me a replacement woofer with a

>replaced polyurethane suspension, is it a reasonable

>substitute for the original?

>

>

>Thanks

>

>baumgrenze

I have some original AR2ax woofers..Some are refoamed and some need refoaming..Dale

[RoyC]

From a repair and restoration point of view, there were significant changes along the way to all of the drivers as well as to the crossover of the AR-2ax.

In your case, if the woofer cannot be repaired it is best to try to find another of the same era to replace it with. Based on your description it sounds like it may be repairable.

Some of the 2ax foam surround woofers have the 11" frame like your cloth surround woofers, but most of the used woofers with foam surrounds (and "new replacement" woofers) have a smaller frame that will require an adapter flange to fit into your cabinet. Also, they all will likely sound somewhat different than your companion speaker which presumably contains another cloth surround woofer.

If you do go with foam surround woofers, it is best to replace both woofers at once with the same style and vintage.

Roy

[charger3834]

AX 48757 needs to be restored to its original state ! This is of course just my opinion.

Yes the woofer cone can be re-glued to the aluminum frame. I have personally had this done.

Alternatively, as Roy said you could easily find another cloth surround 2a/2ax woofer from the 60's.

Most of the new genneration 4 bolt, foam surround 2ax woofers will need an adapter plate to fit.