AR 18 - need an opinion

[Morden2004]

Does anyone have any listening experience with Acoustic Research's AR-18's? Are these 8" woofers? Can't find moch anywhere about these speakers.

Also, how easy is it to refoam these babys?

Paul

 

[mhardy6647]

Well, IMO...

... around about 1977 the AR-18's were the best sounding cheap bookshelf speakers you could buy. IIRC they were about $80 apiece. They are small sealed boxes with 8" woofers and a small cone tweeter that looks similar if not identical to the tweeter used in the earlier AR-6 two-way. IMO they had the "tone" of the whole line of AR speakers at that time (starting with the AR-10pi and on down to the big two-ways like the AR-14 and on to the little AR-18). Nice looking, too.

I have an AR whole line brochure from that era and can provide photo and spec scans. PM me if you're interested.

The above comments apply to the "original" Teledyne/AR AR-18. There were much later incarnations of these speakers which I cannot vouch for.

Refoaming is straightforward with the PartsExpress kit. Steve Deckert has an online photo tutorial that's exceptionally detailed at www.decware.com.

 

[Toasted Almond]

I think another consideration might be, "Is it an 18b, bx, or bxi?"

The "b" being a bit more desirable. Better tweeter. Still not an original 18, but better than the last two, which was after they started to cheap out.

Toasted Almond

 

[Morden2004]

Thanks to all for the replies.

These AR 18's are probably not what I'm looking for and I don't think they are in the same league as my Boston A70 Series II's so I guess I'll pass on them.

As a followup, what do you think of JVC speakers? Same guy has a pair of JVC SK-700 3-way (looks like a 10", a 5" and a 1" dome) and they too need re-foaming. rated at 85 watts RMS and 130 watts peak. I can pick them up locally, so no shipping.

They are cheap, but is it worth putting money into these class of speakers?

Paul

 

[Don C]

" is it worth putting money into these class of speakers?"
No.

 

[Morden2004]

Thanks, Don. I'm getting better at quelling the urge to buy "just because it seems so cheap".

Paul