Ar-3A Dented Tweeter Dome

[JoeB]

I'm new to this forum but not to Acoustic Research speakers. I bought a new pair of AR-3a's in the '70s. They were destroyed in a fire in 1993 and I have missed them greatly. Nothing I have owned since compares. Finally I recently purchased a pair of AR-3a speakers that need some TLC. The foam is rotted, of course, and I am going to have the woofers redone at a local speaker repair company. My question is about one dome tweeter. It is pretty badly dented (see the picture) and I'm not quite sure how to fix it (or even if it is fixable). Can this be pulled out (using needles or ??). Has anyone sucessfully repaired a dent this bad in an AR dome tweeter? Is the dome just a shaped cardboard piece or is it solid? Thanks in advance for any help.

Joe

[dynaco_dan]

>I'm new to this forum but not to Acoustic Research speakers.

>I bought a new pair of AR-3a's in the '70s. They were

>destroyed in a fire in 1993 and I have missed them greatly.

>Nothing I have owned since compares. Finally I recently

>purchased a pair of AR-3a speakers that need some TLC. The

>foam is rotted, of course, and I am going to have the woofers

>redone at a local speaker repair company. My question is about

>one dome tweeter. It is pretty badly dented (see the picture)

>and I'm not quite sure how to fix it (or even if it is

>fixable). Can this be pulled out (using needles or ??). Has

>anyone sucessfully repaired a dent this bad in an AR dome

>tweeter? Is the dome just a shaped cardboard piece or is it

>solid? Thanks in advance for any help.

>

>Joe

Hi Joe;

Congratulations on buying AR-3A's again.

A great speaker classic, very much appreciated all these decades later.

I looked at your tweeter photo, Joe, an excellent photo.

In my honest opinion, Joe, the tweeter is crushed beyond use.

I was expecting a nipple tweeter, as per ebay photos, but yours is, I feel, beyond salvage, sorry.

The good news is they are readily available used on ebay and other sources, usually around $20 - $50.00 each.

The only issue in buying used is, whether yours is front or rear wired connections, and be cautious in not buying an 8 ohm (AR-5, AR-2AX or AR-LST/2) version tweeter.

There is no repair, in my opinion, for salvaging your tweeter.

Re-foam the woofers, standard repair at usually around $25 - 50.00 each driver.

Depending on whether you take the raw woofers into the shop or the entire enclosure to them.

Good buy.

Good luck.

[JoeB]

Thanks for replying, Vern. I'll start looking for a tweeter to replace the damaged one. I actually have a front wired tweeter from an AR2 (given to me by the seller of the AR-3as that looks like it would fit but if the impedance is wrong, it wouldn't be a good choice. BTW, I have already removed the woofers and hope to drop them off tomorrow for repair. While they are being fixed I'll be cleaning the pots and at least checking the caps.

Joe

[dynaco_dan]

>Thanks for replying, Vern. I'll start looking for a tweeter

>to replace the damaged one. I actually have a front wired

>tweeter from an AR2 (given to me by the seller of the AR-3as

>that looks like it would fit but if the impedance is wrong, it

>wouldn't be a good choice. BTW, I have already removed the

>woofers and hope to drop them off tomorrow for repair. While

>they are being fixed I'll be cleaning the pots and at least

>checking the caps.

>

>Joe

Hi Joe;

If you have a VOM test meter, place the test leads across across the tweeter leads, you should read about 5.75 ohms, if it is an AR-2AX 3/4" tweeter.

They both look physically identical and without testing it you will never know.

If you are really lucky, it will be about 2.75 ohms and you will have struck pay dirt once again.

There is still a market for your tweeter, even if it is an 8 ohm version, a smaller interest market, never the less a market.

If it is 8 ohms, place a want ad here on this site under, "wanted", and anticipate a range of maybe $15.00 - $30.00 for it plus S&H.

There is always variables.

Photos will help at several angles.

Good luck with your great purchase.