Horswispr Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Here's a review I recently wrote of the AR-3a. I invite comments. If I missed anything important, I can always add new info to the review.http://www.epinions.com/review/Acoustic_Research_AR_3as_epi/content_551198756484 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironlake Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Where the ar 9"s a better sounding speaker than the 3a"s? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horswispr Posted January 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 I'm actually not sure. A friend had either AR-10pi or AR 11s (only a couple of years ago) and I remember thinking that they sounded a lot like ARs...maybe a little "tighter"...but basically very similar... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horswispr Posted January 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 ...AR-3as, I meant... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry S Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 I've owned both; know them extremely well. The AR 10 Pi and 11 uses basically the same woofer and midrange as the AR3a. The biggest difference is the newer tweeter for the 10 &11. To me, the differences are not subtle. The 10 and 11 sounds more open , detailed and transparent compaired to the 3a's warmth. The newer tweeter has higher output compaired to the old version. The crossover points and slopes are also different.I generally like pop, rock, jazzz . Compaired to "concert hall" or "classical" music, these types of recordings (studio) contain more high frequency content than orchestral recordings. Because the newer tweeter on the 10 and 11 has more output compaired to the old, it will sound brighter than the 3a. I suppose one can use EQ on the 3a to simulate the newer models, but power handling is much better with the newer tweeter (contains ferro-fluid to help with the heat dissapation) when playing modern recordings with higher treble content at realistic playback levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidro Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 I'm passionate about large orchestral music and therefore agree with your impressions. Another aspect of the 3a you might want to consider is its ability to create good distance between the stage and the listener which is beneficial in reproducing large orchestral music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horswispr Posted January 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Thanks for the comment. If I add a bit more info to the review down the road, I might mention that the warmth and/or relative treble roll-off moves the listener back a few rows from the stage, which is in general how I like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironlake Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 thanks for all the info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundminded Posted January 24, 2012 Report Share Posted January 24, 2012 Where the ar 9"s a better sounding speaker than the 3a"s?Yes. AR 3a had better high frequency dispersion than AR9 but AR9 is otherwise superior to AR3a in every way IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.