MichaelW Posted March 22, 2023 Report Share Posted March 22, 2023 I just acquired these beautiful speakers by auction. There is no name plate on grille or label on cabinet. Most puzzling…the cabinet is solid with nowhere external to attach speaker wire??? Neither the grille or back panel seem “easily” removal. Searching online they “look” like some AR or Pioneer pax?? If anyone could send me in the right direction I would appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxho Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 Looks like an AR-2a grill. If it is a 2a, the back has been veneered, and nicely so, it would appear. Have you looked on the bottom to see if the terminals are down there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted March 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 Yes….I expected to find connections on bottom but the whole thing is solid??? Getting grille cloth off won’t reveal connections but should I remove for ID? Is it stapled on? I’m thinking try to remove back piece but wonder what damage might be done? Safe to say from bunch of pics I’ve looked at that the wire connections would be backside somewhere?? Safe to say no Bluetooth buttons anywhere😂. This is weird right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted March 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 I’ll tap around backside to see if there might be a hollow spot to try to cutout??? Maybe they veneered over and never cut out the cable port?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 Yes, it does look like an AR2a grill. Maybe they were converted to ship 'contraband' in the '70s and just look like real speakers. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted March 23, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 It does make me wonder what’s inside? Are those stapled on grille? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted March 23, 2023 Report Share Posted March 23, 2023 3 hours ago, MichaelW said: It does make me wonder what’s inside? Are those stapled on grille? This link might be of some help. https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/how-to-remove-grills-from-ar-2ax-speakers-without-destroying-them.540051/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted March 27, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2023 Found staples in grille and thanks for the link for removal. Does anyone have a set that can measure from top, bottom and both sides to find center of the speaker cable port. I don’t think I have much choice but to use a small hole saw to access the port. Also if someone could measure the diameter of the port too? What an unexpected challenge?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dxho Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 I'd probably go through the front first, just to confirm the crossover is in the original location, or even exists. No telling what other mods have been done to these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted March 29, 2023 Report Share Posted March 29, 2023 First thing I would do is try tapping the back where the terminals on an AR would be to see if there's a hollow sound. Someone's veneer job may have been interrupted before a terminal opening got routed out and the terminals may still be there under the veneer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted March 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2023 I’m hoping they are still in the back. I’ll probably do both. The stand is solid walnut pocket screwed into the bottom so that is not factory either correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted March 31, 2023 Report Share Posted March 31, 2023 On 3/30/2023 at 12:49 AM, MichaelW said: The stand is solid walnut pocket screwed into the bottom so that is not factory either correct? Right. It also seems upside down. The woofer is usually on the bottom when floor placed. Someone did a lot of quality woodworking on these. Looking forward to you solving the mystery. Keep us updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
genek Posted April 2, 2023 Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 Ouch. That means that when the speaker is positioned properly, there will be exposed holes. BTW, if that is a 2a with the cross-fired mids, proper positioning is laying it down horizontally. Cross-fired drivers should not be vertical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 Could that whole back panel be removable? I’d try prying it off. From the pics it looks like a frame of maybe 1/4” walnut around the new panel. If you’re lucky it may be attached with velcro. Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted April 5, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2023 All great info….I’ve worked around the edge of the back panel in hopes it might pry off but this far it seems right. No fasteners I can see. The putty knife isn’t hinting at Velcro behind either. I’ve read more and despite their decent size these were intended to lay on the horizontal not stand as stated above! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted April 5, 2023 Report Share Posted April 5, 2023 I "had" a pair of 2a's. The grille does come off but not easily. There's glue and, IIRC, nails. But if you do get the grille off you can get inside by removing the woofer and maybe at least figure out where the terminals are. I suspect that Gene is right and they weren't moved, just covered up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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