Filip I
Active Member
Ahahahaaha there are more people sharing your feeling about the cabinets,you're not alone.
From this point I am glad too, nothing better than a real wood / veneer.
AR 5 save!
- Thread starter Filip I
- Start date
From this point I am glad too, nothing better than a real wood / veneer.
azrussell132
Active Member
Congrats on your find!!
Filip I
Active Member
Thanks, it was a chase indeed.
Filip I
Active Member
Today just something little extra. Since I am waiting call from the tech I tought to cut the time and do some details myself...So...badges/plates.
Took my lady's nail polisher, it has 7 levels of fine grits. Must say lady know her business well.Unfortunately after my little session it is unusable but nobody cares
Pics attached.
Took my lady's nail polisher, it has 7 levels of fine grits. Must say lady know her business well.Unfortunately after my little session it is unusable but nobody cares
Pics attached.
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never knew nail polisher grit can achieve this remarkable outcome.
Filip I
Active Member
Meanwhile grilles are done, going to glue them to the 8 mm MDF thin frame. Don't know if the old, original frame had too much influence on sound dispersion or not but it sure looked to much...going light and sexy this time ( 5 mm wide )...Just to remind you my two cats made me do it ( metal grill ...)
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Filip I
Active Member
Hey crew,it's been a while...AR 5's are back from the shop so it is time to close this story and summarize my impessions...so far.
To give brief intro: all the original capacitors stayed inside ( Sprague ) since they were inside 10% tolerance and my tech aksed me to listen it first " as is " and then we will consult if I want to make additional changes, step by step. He really appreciate and hold Sprague in high regard so I agreed,can always change for better,new if needed...Woofer sourroundings replaced, pots cleaned and some additional foam rings were added to tweeters and mids. All in all speakers are fully functional and close to the factory spec.
As for the listening...they are just beatiful,end of story. Put them against my AR 17's which I ve been listening for more than two years now.What is obvious in first 5 seconds of listening, and what most people already know or will guess is that 5s are definitively a bit " darker " than 17s...Missing some final details but on the other hand some of the recording are now tamed and I can enjoy most of my music without fatigue, more natural sound. 17s are killers but on some recordings ( listening only CD as a source ) can be too much on high levels and prolonged time of listening..
They are big,natural sounding speakers, that would be my description. And that bass...I wasn' t expecting big change compared with 8 inch woofer but it is more than subtile change. It is strong, precise, coated with honey, all in all AR signature bass as most of you already know.
Volume don't go more than 9 o'clock position, and even that is too much for my 400 sqft listening area.It just plow with a velvet glove.Just amazing ( and again different ) compared to the modern AR 17s.
All in all I would agree with you guys when saying AR5's are the one of the best and mostly underrated AR's...Gonna stay with me for a long long time.
Some pics attached. Still working on the grilles, they are made just need to do some assembly first...
To give brief intro: all the original capacitors stayed inside ( Sprague ) since they were inside 10% tolerance and my tech aksed me to listen it first " as is " and then we will consult if I want to make additional changes, step by step. He really appreciate and hold Sprague in high regard so I agreed,can always change for better,new if needed...Woofer sourroundings replaced, pots cleaned and some additional foam rings were added to tweeters and mids. All in all speakers are fully functional and close to the factory spec.
As for the listening...they are just beatiful,end of story. Put them against my AR 17's which I ve been listening for more than two years now.What is obvious in first 5 seconds of listening, and what most people already know or will guess is that 5s are definitively a bit " darker " than 17s...Missing some final details but on the other hand some of the recording are now tamed and I can enjoy most of my music without fatigue, more natural sound. 17s are killers but on some recordings ( listening only CD as a source ) can be too much on high levels and prolonged time of listening..
They are big,natural sounding speakers, that would be my description. And that bass...I wasn' t expecting big change compared with 8 inch woofer but it is more than subtile change. It is strong, precise, coated with honey, all in all AR signature bass as most of you already know.
Volume don't go more than 9 o'clock position, and even that is too much for my 400 sqft listening area.It just plow with a velvet glove.Just amazing ( and again different ) compared to the modern AR 17s.
All in all I would agree with you guys when saying AR5's are the one of the best and mostly underrated AR's...Gonna stay with me for a long long time.
Some pics attached. Still working on the grilles, they are made just need to do some assembly first...
Attachments
bhunter
The Spherical Cow
I like that metal grill. Good job Sir.
Filip I
Active Member
Thank you, appreciate that. I like it very much as well, some might prefer original grilles, I would too probably, but damn cats, that wouldn't last long. Look a bit " modern " now.
StimpyWan
Addicted Member
The new grills give the speaker a very modern look. I like it. Well done!
Now maybe I'll send you the pair of AR-5s I found, for you to refurb...!
Filip I
Active Member
Thanks! As for the refurb...can't promise you I will give them back if you send them but you're welcome to send them anywayThe new grills give the speaker a very modern look. I like it. Well done!
Now maybe I'll send you the pair of AR-5s I found, for you to refurb...!
Filip I
Active Member
Current situation: just playing album after album for the last two days...Electro,blues,vocals,ambient,swing...you name it...feeling like a kid just discovering music again...I am amazed that even electronic music sound super fine although these speakers are definitively made for live instruments,vocals...
2000x is on duty and it will stay that way. No power issue there, at least for my listening levels and I am not shy on the volume know.barely getting mildly warm after whole day session and 40c summer weather. For serious power, if you are feeling bored and want to have a chat with police AU 9500 is always there but sonics wise 2000x is just level up ( all the equipment is fully restored,no issues there)just the way it paint sound...
Super fine speakers.Big sound,just music floating...It was worth waiting.
2000x is on duty and it will stay that way. No power issue there, at least for my listening levels and I am not shy on the volume know.barely getting mildly warm after whole day session and 40c summer weather. For serious power, if you are feeling bored and want to have a chat with police AU 9500 is always there but sonics wise 2000x is just level up ( all the equipment is fully restored,no issues there)just the way it paint sound...
Super fine speakers.Big sound,just music floating...It was worth waiting.
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malden
Lunatic Member
I will be restoring a pair of AR 5's in the near future.
I'm glad to hear that you like the sound of the cap-coupled 2000X over the direct-coupled AU-9500. I too prefer my lower powered cap-coupled amps over the more "advanced" higher power, direct coupled amplifiers.
Filip I
Active Member
Hey hey, glad you're going to get your AR 5 back to life. Truly musical speaker.
I believe you already know what you need to address during the restoration but just my 2 c:
Beside obvious cap replacement, you will need to restore/change rheosthats. Russian ones, that I have in mine are excelent choice. There are other ways you could do this, anyway whatever you do, please don't leave these untreated. Really degrading sound quality and overal performance.
Also, tweeters are gone by now...although they might apear to be working and have healthy mesurements ( around 5 ohm ) their suspensions need to be rebuild. I hesitated to do that but at the end my tech guy did complete restauration and suspension was rebuilt. Another big jump in quality and performance.
Sorry for the rambling, just wanted to help and provide you as much as possible info so you can get the best of your AR 5 when restauration is done.
As for cc vs dc amps, 9500 is on duty again.2000x is pure seduction however when dynamics and details are needed...well 9500 it is. They both have their merits and I love sound of each but...it is true...AR's are power hogs and they need power ( at least 50 w+ of high quality ) to show their true capabilities.
And for all you guys who listen CD's let me share one secret: sony cdp - 715 or cdp 915...just try them...
Oh one more thing, again a thing of personal settings and preference: I have with me AR 12, which are also highly regarded in AR's ladder however after all the testing,switching etc. AR 5 stay on top despite AR 12 being clearly more precise and techicaly better speaker. 12s are better, 5s more engaging, musical,emotional.
Just realized I can't make a single post short...