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AR 2x

redpackman

redpackman

Active Member
I have a couple of the AR 2x early production speakers. Here are a couple of photos. Do these look like originals? Is this cap one of the good ones or LONG since past due for replacement. This speaker doesn't look like the speaker in my other AR-2x Does it look like an AR 2x original or did someone switch it before I got it. I have had these since the mid to late 70's.
 

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Replace the cap with a modern film type, Dayton or erse or other economical film type. A 6.2 uF (more commonly found) will also work fine. Higher voltage rating also not an issue.
the woofer looks like an Alnico type. I presume the surround is cloth. A good woofer to keep!
Since the caps is a single (not a double 4 & 6 uF) I suspect your AR is an AR2 with only a woofer and tweeter. Correct?
 
I agree- that is an original x-over. Upgrade the cap, lube the pots and you are good!
DC
 
This says it is a 2x according to the documentation on the back of the speaker.

Here is a shot of the front of this speaker. It doesn't look like the other speaker at all, though these two 2x's serial numbers are NOT close but some 3000 apart. In another post I'll include pictures of the other woofer, which looks much like what I'd expect in the AR 2x, or AR 2a or AR 2ax series.

Any info you can give will be appreciated. Do I simply have two versions of the AR 2x here one with an early (original) woofer and one with the later woofer? The cross-overs and labeling on the back are identical (except for the serial numbers, as I've mentioned which are separated by some 3000 places or so). Both claim it's a 2x. It does have a single midrange/tweeter which I've been led to believe is the same speaker as the 2ax's midrange (wire mesh over a concave pad that's around 3 to 3.5 inches in diameter)

Note: after going on eBay and looking at pictures of the woofer(s) pulled from AR-2ax speakers (there were so few AR-2x's made that they don't often appear on eBay) I'm seeing pictures that look like both of these speakers. Did AR switch woofers in the 2ax and/or 2x in the middle of the production run and end up using some of both type. Since my Serial numbers are so far apart I got one of one type and one of another? Does that wash?
 

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More info on the mystery AR 2x's

Here are two pictures of the woofer in the OTHER Ar2x I have. It looks much more like the standard 10" woofer found in the AR 2x/ or 2ax etc.

They didn't make these things to win any beauty contests did they?? LOL

By the way, the dark marks on the front of the speaker are not tears in the cone, it's just some spurious dark goo that got on the speaker sometime in the manufacturing process. These things are UGLY, but they sure do sound good don't they?
 

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Yes, ugly is the word to describe any part of an AR speakers under the grille cloth.

Don't know if the speakers look like originals as you have only posted pictures of parts.

I have a pair that have the sprague large aluminum can cap that has been determined to not need replacement after all these years by the guys on classicspeakerpages. The caps in your speakers have been ready for a replacement for 20 years.

Let us know how the sound changes with the new caps.
 
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