Acoustic Research AR9's

P

Pycroft

Member
Hi all...

I am looking for some info from you! I have been trying to do some research on AR9's. From what I've read and spoken about a few people, there are two versions - an earlier version released late 70's - early 80's - the Teledyne AR9's. There was a later version released near 2000 that is no like the older versions. I have heard the older versions, but not the newer versions. If you have heard one or the other, I would love to hear your opinions on listening them in a 2 channel setup. If you have heard BOTH, I would love to hear the sonic differences you experienced. I you have A/B tested the speakers, I would ESPECIALLY love to hear about it! What would you say the going rate, blue book value is of each? Thanks a ton!

James
 
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Going rate for the originals range from $400 to $1200 depending on the market whims.

Never heard the new models, but the originals are an excellent speaker, my opinion.

These are voiced in the way popular among the New England designers of the time- flat neutral honest presentation with softer top end, slightly smoothly rolled off but never lacking detail. A real pleasure to listen to, and a hearty full ranger, to boot, with rich, deep low end.

At home playing classical to acoustic and if you want them to, will rock hard and mash your face in.

They need proper power- no gutless "almost good enough" amps to run these- they need clean, strong, quality power. They also need room to breathe- no cramped rooms, or the sound will be poor- those side fire woofers need space to breathe.


The 9LS came shortly after, and got a bad rap for the "blackout" front facia treatment and "hotter" (ala JBL) highs, among the AR purists.

The 9LSi re-did the facia in wood veneer, and softened the top end via minor crossover mods.

The AR 9s are fantastic, but the 9LS and 9LSi are extremely close in performance while being easier to place. The side woofers were replaced with a downfiring slot load single woofer, much easier, in my opinion, to place.
 
I owned the Teledyne for years and still regret selling them, I heard the newer model and they just dont compete. The bass isnt even close to as good and IMO the midrange wasnt up to task and tweeters were more forward than I prefer. I ma biased towards the Teledyne so take that into consideration but I owned them for years and loved them. Deli is spot on about care and feeding of them but they will reward you with awesome sound for the price.
 
Yeah,

Reason I ask is because I was looking for the older AR9's ever since I missed out on AR9 LSI's. Some came up local to me but they are the newer model... (Will post link later to what the newer model looks like). Even though the newer versions don't compare, would you say they are still a very good loudspeaker? I have Polk SDA 1C's, and am looking for something different. Would the newer AR9's compare sonically at all to the 1C's?

Thanks again!

James
 
The original AR9 is a lot of work to get up to operating spec, so be forewarned.
The surrounds on the woofer and mid bass are shot and need replacing. The caps are all in need of a refresh as well. Then you may have to redo the cabinets.
After all this I'd say you have a pretty incredible speaker. Deep bass that can knock you in the chest, a mid range that is real and a top end that is clear and spacious.
You will hear that you need monster power to drive them. Not quite true, what you need is an amp with a robust power supply to keep up with the impedance changes these speakers have. On Jim McShanes lead I use a Citation II to drive mine with excellent results.
I've not heard the newer 9ls or 9lsi.
 
Pycroft said:
I have Polk SDA 1C's, and am looking for something different.
Click to expand...

IMHO the Polks are better. but then again I love mid range and the Polks rule there where i find the AR's not voiced to my likes. If you already have those huge polks and want to try something different why no go with some Magnapans or some other planar type speaker. Something different and fantastic.
 
I've considered looking into Magnapans, but have never actually heard them. Don't get me wrong...I love my Polk SDA 1C's, but to be honest, I'm a stickler for good looking and sounding gear. I purchased the 1C's and they were pretty beat up - sound perfect, but I would like to find a speaker I didn't have to be embarassed to show people. When you have to say, "Okay, now close your eyes and listen" it's a problem for me.

Plan is to sell the 1C's on the cheap - for what I got them for - once I find a new speaker. Looking into another set of 1C's, possibly SDA 2B's, the AR9's, and am open to suggestions.

James
 
I'm not sure if the new AR9's are powered or not, it might only be the top level ones...

they look like a revised version of the 310HO's. I have 312HO's (only difference is slightly larger with side firing 12" woofers) on my home theater setup, and they are awesome speakers, very crisp mids and highs, and no need for a sub with these. I've heard people say they sound better without the grilles, but I couldn't detect a significant difference....they replaced some polk S6's in my setup, mainly because my older technics receiver didn't have a sub out and the S6's couldn't handle the lows as well. they sound a lot more airy than the polks.

of the of the HO series from the late 90's, the 308,310,312, & 315, only the 315 had a powered woofer, I don't know if the revised versions that I think were renamed to the AR1,3,9,10 etc are the same way.....
 
The early AR-9 will never image properly. The layout is flawed with too many woofers and too many drivers. The drivers themselves are cheap stamped baskets.
 
I have had the the original AR 9's and rebuilt them myself. The rebuild included rebuilding the woofers as the spiders had sagged over time somehow! My pair was exceptional sounding with a nice refinish, woffers rbuilt and a Solen recap.

True enough the woofers are stamped steel frames- but are a thick stamped steel none the less. Stamp steel is fine in most applications.

For amplification you should have a high current amp. Ideally you will want them biamped. I biamped mine with a Hafler DH500 on the low end and a smaller 100 watt amp on the upper end. Biamping these really works well!!
DC
 
SoCal Sam said:
The early AR-9 will never image properly. The layout is flawed with too many woofers and too many drivers...
Click to expand...

I disagree with your theory on this. Ken Kantor, one of the designers, has also publicly refuted this claim here on this forum and elsewhere.

What I will give you is if the speakers are not properly set up or not allocated the proper space around them to "breathe" (cramped spaces can block or interfere with the drivers and do not allow the drivers an optimal operational situation), then they will not image to their full potential and the side firing woofers could introduce issues with standing waves.


SoCal Sam said:
...The drivers themselves are cheap stamped baskets.
Click to expand...


I prefer investment cast driver frames, especially laying out big bucks for speakers.

However "cheap" here is relative- the drivers aren't "cheap" drivers, but it can be agreed upon that they are cheaper (in relation to the basket frame) to manufacture than a cast frame.

Many great sounding speakers used steel baskets with great success, including the Ohm Walsh series and the a/d/s/ series before the tower models.
 
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To revive this thread, I have a pair of the mid '70's teledyne AR-9s in almost immaculate condition that I was lucky enough to be given. They have been reconed/refoamed about 5 years ago and sound awesome. It almost pains me to say that I have been basically using them as computer speakers driven by an Aloia 13.01 amp. Nonetheless, this combo gives great sound. I'm sure they could be pushed better with a 10X more powerful amp....but c'est la vie....they sound damn good anyway.

Anyway. The "acoustic blanket" on the front of one is a bit tatty due to my kids. Does anyone know where I could get replacement "blankets" from as I'd like to bring these down from my office and use them as the front speakers in a new home theater setup I am planning. My wife wants them to look "clean" though. Personally, I think a 5" floorstander with dual 12" bass drivers looks awesome even without 100% perfect foam on the front!

Yeah, I know.....maybe it's sacrilege, but I'd rather get more use out of them than have them sit around idle....

(Oh - and the rear speakers will probably be a set of Ruark Templars that I have kicking around currently unused). I don't think I'll need a centre or a sub :-)
 
Fair point....and I will!

Having had a closer look, the main "acoustic blankets" are in perfect shape, but there are two "inserts" that go into them - the upper is a "donut" shaped piece of foam (and both of these are fine too), but the lower insert is a rectangular shape with a circular cutout. This is the piece that is damaged - the foam looks to be just old and crumbly. And it's just held on by velcro "dots"

I'm sure this is a couple of dollar item. If I knew what the composition was I could just buy a sheet of the stuff and shape it accordingly.
 
I owned Teledyne AR9's for years (to be clear I owned the much better IMO dual side woofer version) and that foam is also used on Dunlavy speakers I believe. Certainly you will be able to find some material to cut and mount DIY.
 
Own a set of AR9 lsi. Bought them at a garage sale for $25.00 and had to fix 1 woofer and one tweeter. And they were missing grills, but i made some and the sound from them is incredible. Haven`t heard them side firing versions of the ar9`s but if they have more bass and sound more accurate than the ar9 lsi`s i have it would certainly be worth the time to listen tom them.
 
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