AR3a VS AR2ax
- Thread starter timsclips
- Start date
AR3a is an Aston Martin DB5, and an AR-2ax is a Chevy Impala.
I've restored and owned both (along with most of the other classic AR speakers). Neither are Aston Martins, nor Impalas. They are actually quite similar in character, although the 3a does go a bit lower and, to me, is a bit more dynamic.
For their era, they were outstanding...and still hold up quite well today, but are not comparable to high-quality modern speakers.
Peak power handling for the 2ax was specified at 100 watts....150 for the 3a.
For what it's worth, I sold my LST-2's, 3a's and 2ax's...kept my 2a's, 5's, 4x's and 6's. The only one I have some regrets about is the LST-2's, but I just didn't have a place for them.
I've owned 5 pair of AR-3As, 3 pair of AR-2AXs, 6 pair of AR-4Xs, 1 pair of AR-2s and refurbished them all... new caps, polished pots, completely redone cabinets. I know what I'm talking about from first hand experience. The AR-2AX is significantly inferior to the AR-3A to my ears. The AR-3A is one of my favorite vintage speakers, thus the DB5 reference. The AR-2AX is most certainly NOT, thus the Impala reference! I had in mind a 1965 Impala, not an altogether bad automobile, but no DB5.
Here are the specifics to my mind...
The midrange in the AR-2AX is rather a poor one. The domed mid in the AR-3A is excellent in every way.
The tweeters in the two speakers are very similar and are quite good.
The woofer in the AR-2AX is less than ordinary. The woofer in the AR-3/AR-3A is simply outstanding! The two woofers may look alike, but they are light years distant from each other in the quality of their music reproduction.
BTW, the AR-3A is capable of being taken to an all new level of performance by simply replacing the tweeter with a better more modern one. I've found that a nice vintage Dynaudio soft dome tweeter balances the speaker beautifully while also increasing dynamics and detail. However, I would never suggest anyone do such a thing to an AR-2AX because I don't think the speaker is worthy of it... ie. too small a payoff.
Look, there are very good reasons why a nice pair of AR-2AXs sell for roughly $250.00 while a nice pair of AR-3As commonly sell for north of $1000.00. To my ears, they are nothing like "similar" in any way, shape, or form.
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Having owned 2AX's and currently owning a set of 3's (I know they are different from 3A's) I can say that I thought the AX's were great for everyday listening, background music etc. They do a lot of things right.
Seemed to do well with solid state or tubes and are easier to drive.
But for critical serious evaluation of material, gear or pure enjoyment; the 3A's all the way.
Just my .02 cents worth.
Seemed to do well with solid state or tubes and are easier to drive.
But for critical serious evaluation of material, gear or pure enjoyment; the 3A's all the way.
Just my .02 cents worth.
I've actually thought about becoming a subscriber many times, but have yet to do it. I'm not sure why you would bring such a suggestion to a thread about speakers though. This forum allows me to post free of charge, so I don't think your suggestion has any relevance to this discussion.
As to how or why anyone would prefer an AR-2AX to an AR-3A pair, I'm completely at a loss. I also don't understand how some people prefer dull tasteless food over spicy interesting food, but some actually do. As you say, opinions vary. I gave mine which is based on first hand knowledge. What you do with it is up to you.
A 1965 Impala is a nice enough car. I'd prefer the DB5 though.
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Wow...your response is very rude. You gave your opinion, and I gave mine. Seems like the fact that mine - which is also based on quite a bit of experience - differs from yours has made you angry.
I certainly didn't couple my opinion with a personalization, or imply that your opinion is less valid than mine. But if it makes you feel better, you are certainly free to be a jerk...at least until the moderators reign you in.
As for the suggestion to become a subscriber; I saw by your number of posts that you seem to get quite a bit of use out of this forum, and wanted to remind you that helping to support it will assure its continued operation.
By the way, I do not prefer the AR-2ax to the 3a, nor did I make any statement to that effect. I did, however, keep my 2a's (among others) and sell the AR-3a's (among others).
I certainly didn't couple my opinion with a personalization, or imply that your opinion is less valid than mine. But if it makes you feel better, you are certainly free to be a jerk...at least until the moderators reign you in.
As for the suggestion to become a subscriber; I saw by your number of posts that you seem to get quite a bit of use out of this forum, and wanted to remind you that helping to support it will assure its continued operation.
By the way, I do not prefer the AR-2ax to the 3a, nor did I make any statement to that effect. I did, however, keep my 2a's (among others) and sell the AR-3a's (among others).
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I'm not angry at all, and to be honest, I have no idea how you came to that conclusion. Look, I don't come here to get into it with anyone. I'm very comfortable with everything I've written here because it is my honest opinion. That it doesn't coincide with yours seems to have upset you somehow. That is unfortunate, but ultimately, I come here to discuss hi fi. I can leave the personal stuff for the moderators to deal with.
AR 3A Fan
At HIONFI we're big fans of all AR speakers, they can fit the budget minded buyer or the collector. We're big fans of the 3A, please see the attached rehab work done on one of our pairs.
PS: Our LST-2's, 3's 3A's, 2AX's and 4ax's all get equal playing time in the store.
At HIONFI we're big fans of all AR speakers, they can fit the budget minded buyer or the collector. We're big fans of the 3A, please see the attached rehab work done on one of our pairs.
PS: Our LST-2's, 3's 3A's, 2AX's and 4ax's all get equal playing time in the store.
Attachments
I probably should have spoken directly about what I was referring to...
I once went to a dinner in Kansas City with a business associate from Ireland who loved BBQ. After about 5 minutes of eating his food, I noticed he was beginning to flop sweat pretty badly. I asked him what was the matter, and he said the BBQ was very spicy. Well, I was eating the very same BBQ as he was, and I thought it was no more than mildly spicy. As it turns out, Irish food is generally considered bland by US standards, and no doubt US food is considered rather spicy to the Irish. So I learned something that day and have never forgotten it.
I see now that you thought that comment was aimed at you when it really was meant as a generalization about varying tastes. I blame the nature of conversing on the net. No inflection or tone assistance. Only context, which often isn't enough.
I did my AR-3A restorations very similar to yours. I used good quality film caps for the midrange and tweeter, and a NPE cap for the woofer. I also replaced the rock wool filled AR-3As with Owens pink fiberglass. I used a dremel to polish the pots back to near new. I used Duct Seal to reseal the drivers to the baffle. I then completely refinished the cabinets. Done! Not new, but in some ways better than new because of the superior caps. Here are a couple of my restorations...
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Here is some more of my work...
Thank you very much.
I feel that the AR-3/3A is one of the most beautiful bookshelf speakers ever made. That wide inward sloping frame around the baffle is the key.
Thank you very much.
I feel that the AR-3/3A is one of the most beautiful bookshelf speakers ever made. That wide inward sloping frame around the baffle is the key.
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davidro
Lunatic Member
I like my modern speakers.
Have had a few pairs and will have more.
Another pair on its way as we speak.
Having said that, AR3a is a pair of speakers that I will not get rid of.
They're not inferior. They're just different.
But I do see why some would think of them to be inferior.
Thanks davidro.
I can see how some might not prefer the sound of AR-3As to modern speakers. My current speakers in my main 2 channel system are ESB 7/07 towers from the early 1980s, but I hope to someday be able to afford to keep a pair of AR-3As. I always end up selling them because they are worth too much on the open market! :-(
Agreed.
It also helps to carefully read people's posts. As noted above, I did not say that I prefer the AR2ax to the 3a. Posting your comment under a quote from my earlier post implies that I did.
The 3a's are fine speakers. The 2ax's are quite good as well, but less so. It is my opinion that they are much more alike than they are different. I prefer the AR-5 over the AR-3a for most types of music and at mid to lower volumes...the transition from the woofer to the dome midrange is better because of the smaller woofer. And, I find the AR-5 woofer to be tighter/faster sounding...the big 12" driver can get muddy, to my ears.
As for my 2a's...they are the earliest version, with the 10" woofer with cast aluminum frame, six mounting bolts, cloth surrounds, felt/foam damping rings and cylindrical alnico magnet. I like these woofers even more than those in the 5's.
I often run the 2a's and 5's together, sometimes with the 2a's running full range and the 5's running mids/tweets only. Very nice.
