AR-2a / AR-2ax combo

[nickdinatale]

Picked up these two today. Matching cabinets and grilles, but unfortunately mismatched speakers. I already have a set of AR-2ax's, but I'd kind of like a set of 2a's... Seems like this mismatched set is pretty common to find?

With that said, I'll gladly trade anyone the 2ax for an orphaned 2a.

 

[ra.ra]

Hey, those look real nice, but I certainly understand the OCD urge to make things all matchy-match. Regardless, these two will probably play together just fine. Not sure which version of 2ax you already have, but it's most likely that the "pair" you show here both have the early cloth-Alnico woofer and the red 1-3/8" dome tweeter. Your grille cut-outs seem to confirm one 2a and one 2ax, and while it's easy enough to convert an AR-2a to become a 2ax, it's near impossible to go the other way with a conversion. My suggestion is to restore the two you have, begin enjoying the mis-matched "pair", and keep your eyes open for an orphaned or single AR-2a to replace the 2ax shown here.

 

[Drugolf]

Are they actually two different speakers per the rear labels? Or can you see the drivers?
I am just wondering of it's just the grill cut out that is different. Or hoping for you anyway it's something that simple.

 

[ra.ra]

Are they actually two different speakers...?

Great question, and without more info from the paper labels or better yet, nudies with the grilles removed, we will never know.

 

[nickdinatale]

Are they actually two different speakers per the rear labels? Or can you see the drivers?
I am just wondering of it's just the grill cut out that is different. Or hoping for you anyway it's something that simple.

Yes, different midtone drivers - AR2a came with a strange "double" midtone drive, AR2ax has a single. Same tweeters and woofers from what I can tell. I'll have to pull both apart anyway to fix the rheostats (ugh, just got done refurbing a set of AR2ax's and here I go again! ).

 

[Drugolf]

Yes, different midtone drivers - AR2a came with a strange "double" midtone drive, AR2ax has a single. Same tweeters and woofers from what I can tell. I'll have to pull both apart anyway to fix the rheostats (ugh, just got done refurbing a set of AR2ax's and here I go again! ).

Well darn, I was hoping it would be something odd like AR was transitioning or something and had some left over grill frames that would actually work on both. I have both speakers too, but not here so I was trying to remember how the grille frames would cover things.