miltaryman
Active Member
2's, 2a's, 3's, 4's, etc... etc...
Can someone explain the diff models and which REALLY sound best?
thanks
Can someone explain the diff models and which REALLY sound best?
thanks
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AR Line-up Exhaustingly Confusing
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DesertRatt
All Bark, No Bite!
AR3a sounds best.
Here is one of those old web sites on the inner webs
I have AR4 and AR2 not x, xy, just plain
I have AR4 and AR2 not x, xy, just plain
Acoustic Research AR-4, AR-4x and AR-4xa Speaker Review, Specs and Price - the Vintage Speaker Review
Unfortunately, the three models AR-4, 4x and 4xa are frequently used synonymously when searching for one of these
vintage-speaker-review.com
Great sources of information for your research
The odds that someone here has owned and listened to all the AR's models while comparing them to each other to determine which one was really best is minuscule to non existent.
More then likely the repsonses you're going to get will be biased and I'm guessing/assuming based on maybe having listened to 3 or 4
The odds that someone here has owned and listened to all the AR's models while comparing them to each other to determine which one was really best is minuscule to non existent.
More then likely the repsonses you're going to get will be biased and I'm guessing/assuming based on maybe having listened to 3 or 4
Curious and not trying to be rude or a jerk but what other AR's have you owned or listened to that brought you to your decision?
Agreed but he's not around to offer his opinion, I was just trying to temper the OP's expectations
DesertRatt
All Bark, No Bite!
Just AR2ax and AR-9s way back when I lived in "AR country" for a few years.
Pio1980
AK Member
ARs sounded pretty good in their price categories, their two way speakers with 8" midwoofers were cheerful budget overachievers. To get more lower end and more tinkle on top louder needed more money and more drivers. In a smaller room with reasonable expectations, those two ways were hard to beat.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
First of 4 pages borrowed from classicspeakerpages.net. Pretty much sums up the differences.
As to which sounds best, we have the AR-3(a) and the AR-5 competing for that based on the bottom end and your room. Like the ADS 810 and 710 some think the 810 is bass heavy vs the balanced sound if the 710. Others prefer the 810. Not that these are the best ADS, just comparison.
Your question seems to be about the early models so I'll stop with the 1971 or earlier introductions because the AR-LST are supposed to be really good. I had a pair of LST-2 here that didn't impress compared to others but they were old but fully functional but not rebuilt. So who knows.
As to which sounds best, we have the AR-3(a) and the AR-5 competing for that based on the bottom end and your room. Like the ADS 810 and 710 some think the 810 is bass heavy vs the balanced sound if the 710. Others prefer the 810. Not that these are the best ADS, just comparison.
Your question seems to be about the early models so I'll stop with the 1971 or earlier introductions because the AR-LST are supposed to be really good. I had a pair of LST-2 here that didn't impress compared to others but they were old but fully functional but not rebuilt. So who knows.
miltaryman
Active Member
Wow those AR9'S show up on the chart Blue Shadow posted at $900 beans back in 79 (or maybe 82).
miltaryman
Active Member
Yeah, I really didn't expect the full model lineup comparison to be from firsthand experience of every single model, just moreso from anecdotal reviews, chatter, and some firsthand experience comparisons from sources which could be trusted and then compared to others.
miltaryman
Active Member
Do you feel the 4's outperform the 3's?Here is one of those old web sites on the inner webs
I have AR4 and AR2 not x, xy, just plain
Acoustic Research AR-4, AR-4x and AR-4xa Speaker Review, Specs and Price - the Vintage Speaker Review
Unfortunately, the three models AR-4, 4x and 4xa are frequently used synonymously when searching for one of thesevintage-speaker-review.com
Pio1980
AK Member
The 3A was the totl of the early series, the 4 entry level.
The only one you need to concern yourself with is the AR9.
miltaryman
Active Member
I didn't know they existed until about 90mins ago, and you're probably right, but they're (floor speakers) impractical for my living space.
Owned 4's 18's 2ax's and 3's. Still own two pairs of 2ax's and the 18's.
The 4's were nothing special IMO, the 3's being 4 ohm were sold off. Don't really care for a 4 ohm speakers on my gear.
Restored the two pairs of 2ax's and have no plans of selling them.
Have heard the 9's and they are very impressive. Never could justify the expenditure plus the size and weight.
The 4's were nothing special IMO, the 3's being 4 ohm were sold off. Don't really care for a 4 ohm speakers on my gear.
Restored the two pairs of 2ax's and have no plans of selling them.
Have heard the 9's and they are very impressive. Never could justify the expenditure plus the size and weight.
