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AR-9's ?

I cut my teeth on vintage AR and I've had a pair of AR-9. I sold them this summer due to some tough times, but they were the finest pair of speakers I've ever owned. The best they sounded was when they were vertically bi-amped by a pair of Parasound HCA-1500A amps that pushed 315wpc into a 4 ohm load.

I've also had a pair of AR-90, which I also enjoyed very much. You're not losing much stepping down from the 9 to the 90 and you won't miss the bi-amping angst.

Unfortunately, like every AR I've heard, both models share the reticent top end that keeps things like hi hats from sounding realistic. It's the only thing, to my ears, holding them back.
 
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Thanks for the replies everyone! -Lots of good information.

My space for listening is on the smaller side so maybe I could squueze by with less power. I will make an effort though to find some AR-9's as well as some AR-9LS and AR-9LSI to audition.
I don't know anything about bi-amping - how does that work - does the speaker have a second set of hook-ups?
 
Vintage_Hi-F said:
...so it's not like you expect East Coast sound and get Midwest sound.
Click to expand...

Ak! Trying to think what "Midwest Sound" might be! lol Great line.

Dang. I'm going to get my LST2s singing well, but my brief affair with them has me asking the same question about the 9s. I don't have the amplification for them right now, but I may have to track down a pair at least to have a listen.
 
Hello...

in the mid 70 to the mid 80 I was a service manager/teck for a hi-fi store/dealer.
When things on the sales floor got busy I acted as a sales person.

I sold a pair of AR9s to a good friend. He had an audio research preamp and a Ampzilla power amp. The combination was great, but he liked to play it LOUD, he listened to all kinds of music. With in the first week he blew out both tweeters. Since he was a friend I did a "in home" service call.
I replaced both tweeters and sat and "partied" with him for awhile. The combination "blew me away" but I noticed some harshness at loud peaks.
Ran back to the shop and grabbed a scope, returned and monitored the signal at the speaker terminals. Sure enough, it didn't take much to get the Ampzilla to clip. That amp didn't have a problem with a 4 ohm load! that was many years ago.. I think it put out close to 400 w@4r.

I ran back to the shop (it was after midnight!) and grabbed a Phase Linear Dual 500.

With the PL 500 running the woofers and the Ampzilla running the uppers the AR9 opened up like ya wouldn't believe.
I don't recall the Z of the AR9s when bi amped but if they are 8r that means we were running them at about 700w per channel.

With both the Ampzilla and the Dual 500 (which a few weeks later I added about 22,000 mf to the power supply) there was a remarkable sound stage and played and LOUD levels I could listen for a LONG time without discomfort.

the AR9s need power. Lots of power. and when you think you've got too much.. double it again!

I think your two amps won't come close to being "enough"
Will they play? SURE! but be careful.. you don't wanna fry the tweeters.

as a side note.. after up grading to(adding) the Dual 500 he had no more issues with frying tweeters.
But I also rewired his sound room with another 120v branch from his service main.
 
Fast_Eddie said:
Ak! Trying to think what "Midwest Sound" might be! lol Great line.

Dang. I'm going to get my LST2s singing well, but my brief affair with them has me asking the same question about the 9s. I don't have the amplification for them right now, but I may have to track down a pair at least to have a listen.
Click to expand...

Klipsch would be an example.
 
xmas111 said:
I've owned AR9's since 1979. Originally I powered them with the Heathkit AA-1640 power amp. That was a monster amp...200 watts per channel! They sounded wonderful and had bass that wouldn't quit.

Later I went with an Carver TFM-25 power amp. Sounded pretty good with that too.

Fast forward to the last two years. I started to get stereo fever again. Rebuilt the AR9's, (crossovers, refoam....etc).
Purchased a couple Carver TFM-45 amps off the bay and had them both rebuilt by Rita at Bob Carver's repair center.

Now I'm running the AR9's bi-amped with the TFM-45's. That's about 1000 watts per channel!

The AR9's have never sounded better!
And they absolutely love power! lot's of power!

John
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Thanks John and good to know as I recently sold my TFM-25 to an acquaintance in need of more watts for his Thiels. I actually might have a line on a TFM-55 from a neighbor who only needs about half that amp for his TF-600s and we might do a mutually beneficial trade.

I do know my AR9s will need a refoam soon as 1 of 4 woofers is showing deterioration and the others can`t be far behind. Might as well re-cap while I`m at it also.
 
Fast_Eddie said:
Ak! Trying to think what "Midwest Sound" might be! lol Great line.

Dang. I'm going to get my LST2s singing well, but my brief affair with them has me asking the same question about the 9s. I don't have the amplification for them right now, but I may have to track down a pair at least to have a listen.
Click to expand...

Klipsch from Hope, Arkansas? :music:
 
One of my dream speakers. I used to go to a place called Musicraft back in the early 80s and listen to them, the 9s are awesome.
 
I was stationed in Japan during the 80s. The Yokota Air Base BX had a pair of AR9s sitting around (for years) which they could not sell. The reason? Well, I have my suspicions the amplifier was at fault. Compared to other offerings in the speaker demo room, (Japanese, Bose 901s, Polk SDAs etc) the 9s just sounded lackluster.

My roomate eventually bought them. He had a Yamaha M-50 to drive them and that amp fell flat on it's face. Hmmm, we both looked over at my Yamaha M-80, and there was much rejoicing. I had never experienced real bottom end on a speaker until I heard those ARs. It was a revelation for me.

Searching for a suitable amplifier, we carted the 9s and my M-80 over to the BX and did a back-to-back comparo with a (Nelson Pass designed) Nakamichi PA-7. As much as I hate to admit it, that PA-7 outclassed my M-80. It just sounded better overall when we put the coals to it.

I believe he eventually purchased a Kenwood Basic 250 watt amp.
 
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