KlausDK Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Dear All I am in an almost Frank Marsi kind of philosophic mode (sorry Frank for the comparison, love your philosophic postings). The good news are, I finally got hold af a set of AR-9, a speaker I have wanted, and been looking for, now for more than 10 years, I went for a local find, since shipping wasn't really realistic They are in wonderfull shape, not modified or vandalised in any way, except for the last surround repair of the woofers, where the wooden rings went down the drain together with the old surround material By the way, did you know that the European AR-9 models are/were 7 kg lighter than the US made, properly mainly due to a different choice of cabinet material, in Europe the lighter particleboard was used, instead of ply-wood. My problem is - I agree - quite a luxury problem, but now I do not have any more AR speakers to look for, I have or have had all models that I would like to, I have not kept all of them, but many, some of them I have found/acquired more than once, but I have no more not yet explored AR speakers on the wanted list, for the first time in almost 15 years; I feel that I am on a cross road in my life, where I will have to redefine my "Raison d'être" Some of you AR-coholics most have been in the same situation, how did you cope?? BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve F Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 In rough chronological order of ownership, since 1969: 4x (my Dad's), 2ax (2nd gen), another set of 2nd gen 2ax, 7, LST-2, 91, 11, Connoisseur 50t, TSW110, TSW105, 3a, 9. Some of these were for secondary systems, some of them were 'rear' speakers, some of them were replacements of my primary speakers. The 9's are my main speakers now, have been for the last five years. I find them eminently satisfying, to the point that I don't covet anything else. My desire for AR speakers is completely quelled, not simply because the 9's are so good unto themselves, but also because I hear every AR speaker in the 9. I hear the wonder of the 1954 AR-1's bass, the tonal realism of the 3/3a, the surprise of the 4x/7 (yes as big and expensive as the 9's are, they surprise me, every time I play them), the effortlessness at high SPLs of the LST, all wrapped up in the 9's unique approach to solving the acoustic puzzle. My dad was as big a music and AR aficionado as I am--maybe even more so--but he passed away in 1998, about 12 years before I got the 9's. He knew about them, had heard them with me at BAS meetings, but never even for a moment thought he'd own them. He'd be so incredibly pleased with their sound, and even more pleased that I now owned them. That's the icing on the cake--whenever I play these amazing speakers, my Dad is right there with me. Who could want more than that? Steve F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlausDK Posted August 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Thanks, you Steve, now I am really looking forward to have them restored with new surrounds and caps, may be this is simply the end of the journey BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonnar Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 You know, Steve , it' s the same thing for me , I have two AR 3 pairs ( and the third pair is coming ) because it was my Dad's favorite speaker , and when I listen to AR 3's I remember my childhood in early '60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owlsplace Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Yeah, I think I'm at the same place with the AR-58s ... I don't think I could do the 9's justice in my small space, but would be tempted to try. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michiganpat Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 1 hour ago, owlsplace said: Yeah, I think I'm at the same place with the AR-58s ... I don't think I could do the 9's justice in my small space, but would be tempted to try. Roger you're making me want to get my 58S's set up....they're not hooked up right now, as I need to completely rearrange the living room to fit them in (damn sectional couch) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted August 3, 2016 Report Share Posted August 3, 2016 Congrats to you for finally scoring a pair. Well, I'm still searching and just today missed out on a pair in Haverhill, MA that were on eBay. My snipe never got in as at the end of the auction they were beyond what I was willing to pay. Still looking. I hope a member here got them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankmarsi Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 8 hours ago, KlausDK said: Dear All I am in an almost Frank Marsi kind of philosophic mode (sorry Frank for the comparison, love your philosophic postings). The good news are, I finally got hold af a set of AR-9, a speaker I have wanted, and been looking for, now for more than 10 years, I went for a local find, since shipping wasn't really realistic They are in wonderfull shape, not modified or vandalised in any way, except for the last surround repair of the woofers, where the wooden rings went down the drain together with the old surround material By the way, did you know that the European AR-9 models are/were 7 kg lighter than the US made, properly mainly due to a different choice of cabinet material, in Europe the lighter particleboard was used, instead of ply-wood. My problem is - I agree - quite a luxury problem, but now I do not have any more AR speakers to look for, I have or have had all models that I would like to, I have not kept all of them, but many, some of them I have found/acquired more than once, but I have no more not yet explored AR speakers on the wanted list, for the first time in almost 15 years; I feel that I am on a cross road in my life, where I will have to redefine my "Raison d'être" Some of you AR-coholics most have been in the same situation, how did you cope?? BRgds Klaus See my post that sits on its own, I'm looking for some new fans. FM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ar_pro Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Congratulations on your new AR-9 speakers, Klaus; you can now look forward to finding the perfect amplifier(s)! But I'm intrigued that your AR-9 is 15lbs lighter than the American-built version. All of the AR-9 enclosures that I've seen were constructed from particleboard, not plywood. I wonder what else could account for that significant difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 perhaps a different density of particle board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Yes indeed, congrats, Klaus. A very observant thought, ar_pro - - - I was curious about the same comment. Be advised that there are many different densities for particle board, or MDF, and while this may be the rationale for the significant weight disparity, it's difficult to fathom 7 kg per cabinet difference. Just kidding here, but you better check to confirm that each cab has two woofers! And to DavidR, that was a nice set in Haverhill, too bad you missed out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidR Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Did you get them ? More than I was willing to go by about $175 Have to draw the line somewhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankmarsi Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I must've forgot what I was going to say, too much saw-dust in this room..................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidDru Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Hot Damn Klaus! Congrats on getting to your pinnacle of AR Speaker ownership. guess I cn see where you are coming from. The hunt is over. Maybe just time to turn the page and continue to find ways to get the most out of those babies. Power, sources, configuration etc. There is always a way to improve things. I recently put my 9's away. I had them set up in our large family fun room next to the home theater since it was the only rom that would do them justice. Was running them biamp with 2 large Adcom amps and they really sounded fantastic.....when I got a chance to listen to them that is. I found that I was rarely able to enjoy them in that room with an awkward sitting configuration and pieces of furniture etc in the way. I finally decided to put them away with the intent of digging them out again later. Even have sold off the Adcoms. Maybe I'll take them out to restore the cabinets to the level they deserve next. We shall see, but I look forward to that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankmarsi Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Klaus, I'm sending flowers! Please read the card, I poured my heart out about this new acquisition of yours. I'm so happy, no, no wait, I'm too happy! I hope you like hibiscus plants and flowers, one I favorites. And don't forget, enjoy the music, I mean, smell the flowers. I mean you, my fart smeller. Sorry, always meaning smart fella! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VintageMan Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 I know how you feel! You feel empty, no more goals in you live. You have it "all". There are qualified people, specialists, that will help you talk about it and, in time, you will overcome this "goalless" period in your life. In the mean time, think that your temporary goal is to restore your AR-9 so you can finally enjoy them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlausDK Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 11 hours ago, ar_pro said: Congratulations on your new AR-9 speakers, Klaus; you can now look forward to finding the perfect amplifier(s)! But I'm intrigued that your AR-9 is 15lbs lighter than the American-built version. All of the AR-9 enclosures that I've seen were constructed from particleboard, not plywood. I wonder what else could account for that significant difference? 10 hours ago, ra.ra said: Yes indeed, congrats, Klaus. A very observant thought, ar_pro - - - I was curious about the same comment. Be advised that there are many different densities for particle board, or MDF, and while this may be the rationale for the significant weight disparity, it's difficult to fathom 7 kg per cabinet difference. Just kidding here, but you better check to confirm that each cab has two woofers! Thanks, I have a Hafler XL-600 I plan to start with, once they are ready to play, and yes, they came with woofers As you can see from above, the AR-9 were listed in a brochure from UK, at 52 kg unpacked, I have checked the weight of mine, and they are indeed 52 kg. So if both US and UK were made from particle board, it must be the density that causes the difference, since the weight of drivers and x-over must be the same. It is the issue with the AR-90, listed at only 34 kg over here. BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlausDK Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 9 hours ago, frankmarsi said: Klaus, I'm sending flowers! Please read the card, I poured my heart out about this new acquisition of yours. I'm so happy, no, no wait, I'm too happy! I hope you like hibiscus plants and flowers, one I favorites. And don't forget, enjoy the music, I mean, smell the flowers. I mean you, my fart smeller. Sorry, always meaning smart fella! Thank you for the flowers, Frank, but the card somehow got lost?? BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankmarsi Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 1 hour ago, KlausDK said: Thank you for the flowers, Frank, but the card somehow got lost?? BRgds Klaus Hello Klaus, yes I know it's very sad my note was sabotaged and the PC police have deleted it. I had even used some sentences that were written in Danish so as to communicate better but, sadly the PC corner would rather not hear it. Perhaps it may have bordered on the incisive but, I did try to have fun with it. I must go now Klaus as I'm leaving to join the traveling circus. I will be appearing as "Clarabel", who was a famed early television clown from years ago, but I'm actually feeling more like "Emmett Kelly" because of the exclusion of my note. FM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Klaus, am very happy to know that your speakers included both woofers, and yes, the weight difference has got to be the density of the cabinet material, but it is still a bit of a mystery. The following brochure found in the Library (apology for blurry image), which was printed in England presumably for the market in France, lists the heavier weights for the AR-9 and AR-90, although we cannot be certain where any of these cabinets were actually manufactured. DavidR, I did notice how nice that pair of 9's might be, but no, I did not pursue them. While I appreciate the engineering and might like to listen to some 9's in someone else's home, I do not have any interest in owning a pair for myself. DavidDru's situation highlights the challenge of owning a pair of AR-9's. With no first hand experience of my own, I do suspect that they require rooms with significant measurement in all three dimensions, and even then they place strong demands on furniture placement. Plus, you almost need a small forklift to move them , so this penultimate model does not work for everyone. To address the OP's question, I have a hunch that a pair of AR-5's might be the perfect speaker for me, but I also often think about cobbling together my own version of a 10" three-way based on the collection of AR components that I have at my disposal. It's reassuring to know that others here have audio equipment pursuits that occupy years of thoughtful watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlausDK Posted August 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 8 minutes ago, ra.ra said: Klaus, am very happy to know that your speakers included both woofers, and yes, the weight difference has got to be the density of the cabinet material, but it is still a bit of a mystery. The following brochure found in the Library (apology for blurry image), which was printed in England presumably for the market in France, lists the heavier weights for the AR-9 and AR-90, although we cannot be certain where any of these cabinets were actually manufactured. I do know the French brohure, and I am pretty sure, that they were manufactured in UK, and someone in marketing just copied the US data for the brochure; the AR-90 I have were accompagnied by the AR-90 Owners Refference Manual, with the US weight rather than the UK weight stated in the specifications. BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iso Posted August 4, 2016 Report Share Posted August 4, 2016 Gongratulations Klaus... Are you sure that these were manufactured in the UK... as far as I remember lead in times were very long when these were special ordered to Finland when I was involved in selling these. Kimmo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlausDK Posted August 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2016 13 hours ago, iso said: Gongratulations Klaus... Are you sure that these were manufactured in the UK... as far as I remember lead in times were very long when these were special ordered to Finland when I was involved in selling these. Kimmo Thank you Kimmo, I am not 100 % sure, my AR-9 were made in UK, but I am absolutely sure that the weight of my AR-9 is only 52 kg, (because I have had them on a weighing scale), and this weight AR-9's were - to my knowledge - not marketed in US. BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KlausDK Posted August 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2016 Although my new AR-9 speakers are in good shape, there is always room for surprises, and it turned out that at a previous (supposedly professional) refoam of the woofers, some moron removed the masonite rings together with the old surrounds, and glued the new surrounds directly on the metal basket; what ignorance. I have seen this before on 1 (one!) of the woofers in a set of AR-11. So before new surrounds can be applied, the woofers will need to have new masonite rings. BRgds Klaus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owlsplace Posted August 10, 2016 Report Share Posted August 10, 2016 Glad you are on top of this, Klaus. I presume without the Masonite ring the voice coil would be prone to damage and the overall range of the driver would be reduced. Where did you source those rings? Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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