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AR-11 - Welcome opinions

ScooterMcTav

ScooterMcTav

I know less than I think
Good Morning All,

After a failed experiment with a set of Klipsch Fortes, I am still in search of a good sounding speaker (vintage or not) that has excellent bass extension, present but not harsh mids, and crisp highs; soundstaging is also important. My goal is to not have to use a sub for bass extension, and also to be able to place the speakers close to a wall.

Unfortunately, where I live, the selection is less than stellar, so I have to consider every set that comes by on its relative merits.

One that popped up recently was a set of AR-11. They seem to fit the bill as they have good bass extension, and can be placed against a wall. The negatives are they seem somewhat inefficient, a possible problem as I am driving them with a 60W per channel tube amp.

Welcome everyone's thoughts on these. Comparison vs. other speakers as in more _____ than _____ are also appreciated, as I've heard many, many speakers over the years.

Many thanks in advance.
 
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ScooterMcTav said:
Good Morning All,

After a failed experiment with a set of Klipsch Fortes, I am still in search of a good sounding speaker (vintage or not) that has excellent bass extension, present but not harsh mids, and crisp highs; soundstaging is also important. My goal is to not have to use a sub for bass extension, and also to be able to place the speakers close to a wall.

Unfortunately, where I live, the selection is less than stellar, so I have to consider every set that comes by on its relative merits.

One that popped up recently was a set of AR-11. They seem to fit the bill as they have good bass extension, and can be placed against a wall. The negatives are they seem somewhat inefficient, a possible problem as I am driving them with a 60W per channel tube amp.

Welcome everyone's thoughts on these. Comparison vs. other speakers as in more _____ than _____ are also appreciated, as I've heard many, many speakers over the years.

Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
What was the nature of the 'failed experiment' with the Forte speakers. Could it have been related to placement adjacent to rear wall?
 
AR-11 are great and a totally different animal than Fortes. I have owned both AR11b and Forte II. The ARs are very smooth and musical, seems like what you're describing. They do need some power for the bass extension, though with power they're really nice and tight from bottom to top. I found vocals like Diana Krall to be clear, natural, and neutral. Maybe apples and oranges to your tube amp though, since I drove mine with a Yamaha CX/MX-600U combo which is decently powerful solid state. Still, I would not hesitate to endorse the AR-11s.
 
AR-11's are basically AR-3a's modern equivalent. I have the 12's, a fantastic speaker, the 11's go deeper due to the larger 12 inch woofer.
I'd grab the 11's, you could always sell them, or eventually get a higher power amp. How large is the space where these will be? That will also help determine if these will work. Your amp should do ok as long as you're not looking for concert level volumes!
 
darkblue94 said:
What was the nature of the 'failed experiment' with the Forte speakers. Could it have been related to placement adjacent to rear wall?
Click to expand...

In short, I found the mids to be way too forward and strident; pretty much unlistenable and tinnitus inducing. They also had the Crites tweeter domes in them, and I have struggled in the past with metal domes.

I actually liked their bass response - thought it was quite musical.
 
GD70 said:
AR-11's are basically AR-3a's modern equivalent. I have the 12's, a fantastic speaker, the 11's go deeper due to the larger 12 inch woofer.
I'd grab the 11's, you could always sell them, or eventually get a higher power amp. How large is the space where these will be? That will also help determine if these will work. Your amp should do ok as long as you're not looking for concert level volumes!
Click to expand...

Concert levels are about 15 years in the rear view for me.

Room is rather small - about 10' wide and 15' long, with a 7' stippled ceiling, with no large reflective surfaces. One narrow end is open to an adjacent room.
 
ScooterMcTav said:
Concert levels are about 15 years in the rear view for me.

Room is rather small - about 10' wide and 15' long, with a 7' stippled ceiling, with no large reflective surfaces. One narrow end is open to an adjacent room.
Click to expand...
The 11's and your amp should work well in that size space. Keep us posted as to what you end up getting.
 
Thanks GD.

The seller seems a bit squirrely, offered me the speakers, then "poof". We'll see if we can lure him out with a nut (i.e. cash)
 
ScooterMcTav said:
"poof"
Click to expand...
my all time hate that %$&^# when it happens to me, they guy could be having one of those days and your left going come one man I'm like boned to go on these speakers

edit atm happened to me for a turntable, heard nothing for 2 days then I get ahold of him today and there is a guy coming over to look at it. It looks like I missed out on a Thorens TD 125 mk2 with EMS 3009 II improved tonearm
 
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I like my AR11 speakers a lot. I haven't done a direct comparison with my KLH Fives (which the AR11s displaced), but the sound is similar. I just put more work in to the 11s, so they feel like family. My space is considerably smaller and I'm running about 80 wpc (Realistic 2080), so the speakers haven't really been challenged.

If the price is reasonable you shouldn't hesitate**.

** I'm a shameless enabler
 
I suggested the KLH options simply because of the use of tubes. 60/ might do fine with the AR's but I think many of us have found AR's really work well with SS amplification and the KLH's seem to really thrive on tubes.
 
Appreciate the additional feedback - I left the nut for the seller, we'll hopefully get a response today.

Interesting that in my entire time in this hobby, I rarely see any vintage east cost speakers in our area. There's the occasional set of Bostons (usually A-70), the occasional set of Advents, and the very occasional set of AR, but not sure I've ever seen a set of KLH.
 
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