JamesF Posted July 20, 2022 Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 Hi 🙂 I have recently acquired my late father's AR-5 speakers. They have been in my mums spare room for at least 20 years but they bought them new back in the 70s. I can see the woofers need work on the surrounds, and reading the threads here is telling me much of the other stuff there will need work too. Bit daunting, especially as I think getting spares over here in the UK may be tricky. Would I be best cutting my losses and just sell and buy new modern pair of speakers? James Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 Are there any reputable repair places in the UK? I've been in touch with a couple of places, one quoted £360 but sounded like wanted to replace much of the original drivers The other wanted to repair existing and use secondhand muds, but couldn't find replacement tweeters so didn't want to proceed with any works. Which was fair to hear, sounds like semi decent if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2022 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Or is there a complete kit of bits I could buy from the US to have a go myself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike tarelli Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Have you contacted Wilmslow Audio? They could re-foam the woofers and replace the caps. For the tweeters I would bite the bullet and send them to Chris on this site. Worth the effort and the cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 The other speaker. Photos for some reason didn't load yesterday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 4 minutes ago, mike tarelli said: Have you contacted Wilmslow Audio? They could re-foam the woofers and replace the caps. For the tweeters I would bite the bullet and send them to Chris on this site. Worth the effort and the cost. Hi Mike Yes, they were the first people I contacted, mainly because I was thrown by the name. Wilmslow is right near my mums! However they're now located quite a bit further away. I could quote their response, would that be appropriate here? Are they recognised AR people in the UK? Thank you for replying! 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reza Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Hi I'm in the UK (Dorset) I can refoam your woofers for free if needed , obv you will need refoam kit, cheapest for us are from a company in Holland, are the mids and tweeters working ? are the adjustable pots on the back movable or corroded stuck , new grille covers are easy enough to do message me if needed Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reza Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 On 7/20/2022 at 11:22 AM, JamesF said: Are there any reputable repair places in the UK? None who will have any idea about AR's specifically Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Your mids and tweets are probably good—it’s the pots and maybe the caps that are bad. Take reza up on his generous offer to re-foam. Try spinning the level controls several times to scrape off any corrosion and see what happens with the mids and tweets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Take a look at the AR-3a restoration guide. The 5 is essentially a slightly smaller 8 ohm version of the 3a. One of the authors, RoyC can also rebuild tweeters if needed. Mids are a bit trickier but I bet they are ok. Don’t let anyone put modern drivers in those! You’d be better off selling them as is to an AR enthusiast and buying newer speakers. No shortage of excellent speakers in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 3 hours ago, reza said: Hi I'm in the UK (Dorset) I can refoam your woofers for free if needed , obv you will need refoam kit, cheapest for us are from a company in Holland, are the mids and tweeters working ? are the adjustable pots on the back movable or corroded stuck , new grille covers are easy enough to do message me if needed Gary Wow, thank you so much. I'll be in touch by pm. I am up in North Yorkshire though so it'll be a while before I'm back south. But I'll def take you up on your kind offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 2 hours ago, JKent said: Your mids and tweets are probably good—it’s the pots and maybe the caps that are bad. Take reza up on his generous offer to re-foam. Try spinning the level controls several times to scrape off any corrosion and see what happens with the mids and tweets When I turn the knobs on the back they are a bit crunchy, in feel. I need my wife to go out for the day so I cab run a couple of leads and see if they work at all. I will go easy as I know they will be fragile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 2 hours ago, JKent said: Take a look at the AR-3a restoration guide. The 5 is essentially a slightly smaller 8 ohm version of the 3a. One of the authors, RoyC can also rebuild tweeters if needed. Mids are a bit trickier but I bet they are ok. Don’t let anyone put modern drivers in those! You’d be better off selling them as is to an AR enthusiast and buying newer speakers. No shortage of excellent speakers in the UK Oh I have! 😁 Although I've yet to find the actual article itself, just long thread about various aspects. I'll look harder tomorrow when I can. Thank you for your reply though. Much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted July 21, 2022 Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 3 minutes ago, JamesF said: Oh I have! 😁 Although I've yet to find the actual article itself, just long thread about various aspects. I'll look harder tomorrow when I can. Thank you for your reply though. Much appreciated The 2nd pinned post at the beginning of th AR section has a link to the document in our Library Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2022 Thank you. I'll look tomorrow... When my wife isn't looking over my shoulder! 🙄😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_C Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 Reza may already be aware that Falcon Acoustics is a good place in the UK to order capacitors. ClarityCap Solen & Alcap capacitors, audio components for loudspeaker crossovers. (falconacoustics.co.uk) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AR surround Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 19 hours ago, JamesF said: Thank you. I'll look tomorrow... When my wife isn't looking over my shoulder! 🙄😬 James, if you wife is picking on you, simply show her @briodo's photo of this lineup of AR speakers. Then tell her that you plan to dispense with the AR5's and are going directly to AR9's. 😇 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted July 22, 2022 Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 MGC-1. You need a pair of these. Two pairs for home theater. Then you can use the AR-5s for center channel, one above the screen and the other below it so the sound images from the center of the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesF Posted July 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2022 4 hours ago, genek said: MGC-1. You need a pair of these. Two pairs for home theater. Then you can use the AR-5s for center channel, one above the screen and the other below it so the sound images from the center of the screen. On 7/21/2022 at 3:47 PM, JKent said: OMG you guys. 😳😳😳😳😳😳 (But also. 😍😍😍😎😎😎) Mine currently like this... Hoping she just gets used to being there... (We don't use the fire now as she made us install central heating last year) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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