AR-3A in Massachusetts $300

[Patrick_W]

Not mine. And I have no horses in this race, so no affiliation.

However, they look very nice and that is a good price.

https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/ele/d/dover-ar-3a-stereo-speakers/6987728495.html

 

[Lucky Pierre]

If I didn't have my 3s I'd be all over those.

The seller also has a pair of AR-9 for $300

https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/ele/d/dover-ar-9-stereo-speakers/6987736644.html

 

[Patrick_W]

Those 9s are a nice deal too!

 

[BassKulcha]

aaaaaand gone....

 

[Lucky Pierre]

@BassKulcha

Are they yours?

 

[BassKulcha]

I wish! I have family heading up that way soon so I was just fantasizing...

 

[Lucky Pierre]

Alas...

 

[BassKulcha]

A friend scored a near-pristine pair or AR 3s for free, so I got a chance to listen to those a few weeks ago, which was pretty special. He doesn't have the best system (just one of those Chinese integrated APPJ single-ended 6BQ5 amp) but it still sounded really good. With a better system I think it would've sounded great....

 

[Lucky Pierre]

I fear I sound like a broken record in my posts about the 3s, but encourage your friend towards a high powered solid state source. I've tried my 3s (and 5s and 4xs) on tube and SS amps. I've found they all sound better on SS gear. The 3s, especially, like power to come alive even at low volumes.

IMO, 65 watts and up on a good amp or receiver is the way to go.

 

[Blue Shadow]

I've tried my 3s (and 5s and 4xs) on tube and SS amps. I've found they all sound better on SS gear.

interesting. Back in the day, I bought speakers, AR-5 because I liked the sound of my brother's A4x. Within a year the paper route paid off with enough to spring for a real rig. This was when tubes were fading from the market and SS was the coming thing, 1970. I got a Dynaco Stereo 120 Kit while hindsight would have me believe I should have gotten the Stereo 70. Thoughts then were that there might not be enough power with the tube amp and well it was tube. Gear long gone but the 120 did a fine job with the ARs. Glad to read your comments that I didn't screw up too bad.

 

[BassKulcha]

I fear I sound like a broken record in my posts about the 3s, but encourage your friend towards a high powered solid state source. I've tried my 3s (and 5s and 4xs) on tube and SS amps. I've found they all sound better on SS gear. The 3s, especially, like power to come alive even at low volumes.

IMO, 65 watts and up on a good amp or receiver is the way to go.

He’s got a Sansui AU-9900 that needs recapping, so I think that could be a great fit once he gets around to getting it serviced...

 

[bharry]

I picked these up yesterday, I happened to see the ad 20 minutes after it posted. Grabbed both and some other stuff.

 

[bharry]

Other stuff- MAC 4100, MCD 7005, MQ 104

 

[Patrick_W]

Well played on the other stuff! That 4100 looks lovely. Dare I ask the total?

 

[bharry]

Well played on the other stuff! That 4100 looks lovely. Dare I ask the total?

PM sent

 

[bharry]

The hardest part was everything was on the second floor and I had to get it all downstairs and into my car by myself. Luckily I brought a hand truck but it was still brutal. Lifting an AR9 alone and into the back of an SUV is no easy task.

 

[bharry]

Took the grills off the AR3a. Ugh.

 

[Patrick_W]

Ouch.

I have seen worse however. And there are certainly plenty of replacement tweeters out there.

How are the other drivers?

 

[bharry]

There appear fine.

 

[StimpyWan]

Took the grills off the AR3a. Ugh.

Well, that was unexpected...!

Originals can be found at auction, but they'll most likely need rebuilding. Chris1This1, at Classic Speaker Pages, offers a rebuilding service. There's also a guy at auction, selling HiVi tweeters (none mine), that already have the inductor mod and matching AR-3A mounting plates. Finally, Midwest Speaker is selling a new reproduction. Both the HiVi and the Midwest tweeters get good reviews at CSP.