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AR-5 totally unique?

ponderbear

ponderbear

waltzing with sin
I had a great audio experience last night. I went to my father in law's house for the first time. He has a fairly modern Yamaha stack that he's playing though a pair of AR-5s and satellites that had the best bass response I have every heard in speakers that size. I've got to have that sound at my place! Are the AR-5s unique or can I get similar performance from other classic ARs? Which ones are the best? I am a novice with vintage AR speakers and now have to have some!
 
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The AR-5 was designed as a more cost friendly version of the AR-3a. If you think the AR-5 has bass, the 3a goes even lower!

The mid and tweeter are the same in both models, but the AR-5 has a 10" woofer instead of a 12" Some will argue that the 5 is actually better than the 3a because the bass is more punchy due to the smaller woofer.

I would buy either or both if it were up to me.
 
Many people say the AR-3a was the best of the AR line, but a few others claim that the 5 or even the 2ax holds that position. I've yet to hear a 5, but the 3a speakers are wonderful. [The best I have are 2ax, but I've heard 3a as well.]

I think ALL the early ARs give that "I can't believe all that bass is coming from that small a box" effect, to some degree. Even the smaller, "budget" AR-4x speakers deliver a degree of bass depth and quality unusual for speakers their size.

I would agree with jpdylon that either or both would be worth getting. Heck, ANY early AR is worth grabbing, if the price is right and you have space for it. There are better speakers out there, but not many, and almost none that are likely to be had a at the same price level. [Dynacos and Advents, perhaps.]
 
AFAIK, the earlier AR-5 had a unique 10" woofer different from the one in the 2 series. Later AR-5 and AR-2 series had the later "merged" 10" woofer.

Any AR-2 series (AR-2, 2a, 2x, 2ax) should give you the same bass response as the 5, though the 5 is generally considered better because of the dome mid. Some people like the AR-5 better than the 3a, saying that less bass makes the AR-5 more balanced than its' up-market cousin.
 
winters860 said:
AFAIK, the earlier AR-5 had a unique 10" woofer different from the one in the 2 series. Later AR-5 and AR-2 series had the later "merged" 10" woofer.

Any AR-2 series (AR-2, 2a, 2x, 2ax) should give you the same bass response as the 5, though the 5 is generally considered better because of the dome mid. Some people like the AR-5 better than the 3a, saying that less bass makes the AR-5 more balanced than its' up-market cousin.
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I'm one of those who likes the AR5 better than the AR3. Though, it's not because of it having less bass... it's because the 10" woofer MATES and BLENDS with the dome midrange, better than the 11" AR3 woofer. More of a character match, and less of a "notch" between woofer and mid than the AR3.

Just a more harmonious blend, IMHO, in the AR5...

Regards,
Gordon.
 
You really can't go wrong with any early AR, as others have said. The 2ax are excellent, and the 5's are even better. Both respond all the way down to 30 hz.
 
I guess the AR mojo is working at the moment- I just picked up a pair of AR-4x at the thrift shop for $5. Original tweeters in both, Original woofer in only one... drat. I figured I ought to be able to hook up with an AR-4X woofer eventually. Cabinets are in GREAT shape, badges look fine, grills are faded to golden brown and delicious, I'm sure I can deal with that though.
 
ponderbear said:
I had a great audio experience last night. I went to my father in law's house for the first time. He has a fairly modern Yamaha stack that he's playing though a pair of AR-5s and satellites that had the best bass response I have every heard in speakers that size. I've got to have that sound at my place! Are the AR-5s unique or can I get similar performance from other classic ARs? Which ones are the best? I am a novice with vintage AR speakers and now have to have some!
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where are you located? I have some AR2ax's in perfect working condition I would let go very reasonably. Not worth shipping these though.
 
ponderbear said:
the tweeters are both fried, it turns out. The one 4x with an original woofer sounds darn good with a minimus 7 for the highs. I have an AR-4 woofer in the mail right now. Still considering how to cover the highs.
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Are you 100% positive the tweeters are blown and it's not just the pots that are corroded because usually that's the case. I would not buy the tweeters that are linked in the above post you will not get that AR sound out of those if the tweeters are truly blown. Here is an AR site that I HIGHLY recommend. http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=1
 
I'm in the same unfortunate boat after giving my AR-4x new caps - I didn't open the pots, but they looked good from what I could see. Before I declare the tweeters kaput, though, I'm going to have to pull them out and test them. If the tweets are good, I think we all know what corner I shouldn't have cut.

Also, those tweeters from PE won't cut the mustard. The crossover point for the AR-4x is an absurdly low 1200 Hz. It's going to make it extremely hard to find a suitable replacement.
 
leopoldstotch said:
Are you 100% positive the tweeters are blown and it's not just the pots that are corroded because usually that's the case. I would not buy the tweeters that are linked in the above post you will not get that AR sound out of those if the tweeters are truly blown. Here is an AR site that I HIGHLY recommend. http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=1
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Thanks a lot for posting this! I would have moved right on without realizing what I was doing. Both pots turn but only with effort. Sounds like this is just what happened.

Do you suggest restoring the pots or bypassing? I've read about delihaus' recent experience with AR-4x pots and am curious what others have to say about this.
 
winters860 said:
I'm in the same unfortunate boat after giving my AR-4x new caps - I didn't open the pots, but they looked good from what I could see. Before I declare the tweeters kaput, though, I'm going to have to pull them out and test them. If the tweets are good, I think we all know what corner I shouldn't have cut.

Also, those tweeters from PE won't cut the mustard. The crossover point for the AR-4x is an absurdly low 1200 Hz. It's going to make it extremely hard to find a suitable replacement.
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Thanks also for these nuggets- I definitely want to resurrect the genuine AR sound if possible. Let me know how it turns out for you.
 
Hey Ponderbear, you should try "classicspeakerpages.net" forum section just for AR's, lots of knowledgeable guys there also, good luck !
 
speedracer said:
Hey Ponderbear, you should try "classicspeakerpages.net" forum section just for AR's, lots of knowledgeable guys there also, good luck !
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wow, a simple search for "ar4x" in the Acoustic Research forum yielded answers for 99% of my questions in the first page alone. Thanks a lot! You just saved my forehead from hours of brief intense contact with nearby walls.
 
Assuming they're not too far gone, refurbing with a dremel tool and a wire brush isn't difficult at all.
 
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