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AR 10pi recone / replacement woofers

S

svokke

New Member
I acquired a nice pair of AR 10pi speakers (a later version of the AR3a). As many AR speakers of that era, the woofer surrounds had disappeared. I sent them to a repair shop for refoaming, but they informed me the voice coil was broken off the cone. A recone is the only way to repair the original speaker.

I found the following recone kits:
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/acoustic-research-speaker-recone-kit-ar3-ar9-ar11-rk-ar11.html
http://reconingspeakers.com/product/ar-11-aftermarket-diy-recone-kit/

Replacement speakers (not original) are also available:
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/acoustic-research-replacement-woofer-12100032.html
http://www.abtechservices.com/arreplacementspeakers.htm

I would like to restore the speakers as close to original sound as possible.
Anyone has experience with a reconed or replaced Acoustic research 11" woofer?
 
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in the recone kits, IIRC the cones are too light and too stiff, so it alters response. you may be able to reglue the voicecoil to the cone....

the ABtech woofers (which the simply speakers link is, IIRC) aren't real close....you'd be better off looking for a good used original AR3a, 10pi, 11, 9, 91, etc woofer on ebay or bartertown
 
I run a pair of these speakers and love them.

I agree with Michiganpat. I'd be inclined to find a good used pair on ebay. They pop up from time to time. If they need re-foaming they are not too bad to buy.
 
svokke said:
I found the following recone kits:
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/acoustic-research-speaker-recone-kit-ar3-ar9-ar11-rk-ar11.html
http://reconingspeakers.com/product/ar-11-aftermarket-diy-recone-kit/

Replacement speakers (not original) are also available:
http://www.simplyspeakers.com/acoustic-research-replacement-woofer-12100032.html
http://www.abtechservices.com/arreplacementspeakers.htm

I would like to restore the speakers as close to original sound as possible.
Anyone has experience with a reconed or replaced Acoustic research 11" woofer?
Click to expand...

Actually, AB Tech Services is the only source for new AR replacement woofers, but in the past few years their selection and inventory have become very poor. Simply Speakers, as well as all other new AR parts sellers, purchase these AR drivers from ABT. The large AR woofer used in the AR-3a/11/10pi, etc, has been out of stock for years, and ABT has no plans to stock more of them. You will notice the fine print in the Simply Speakers listing says "out of stock". These woofers were terrible replacements anyway, so at this point it is not a big a loss.

As others have recommended, the best option is to re-foam original AR woofers. If you rebuild your old woofers, retain the original cones if at all possible. The replacement voice coil, spider, and surround are better than the new cone. (Btw, the re-cone kit is the same regardless of the retailer. They are sourced from the same wholesaler.)

Roy
 
I hate it when so-called professional "repair" shops, right off the bat, recommend a recone when they should realize it will usually NOT result in original performance. A recone should be the last resort.

Anything that can be done to reattach the VC former to the cone/spider is 100% preferable to a recone.

Or finding an exact replacement driver, as others have stated.

EDIT: And, I forgot, the 10pi is a wonderful speaker.

Doug
 
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