Ar tsw-810

[mea2112]

I have a chance to buy a pair of these for a good price from the original owner but I've never had AR's before and don't have a clue as to what they sound like. Can anyone with this model comment on the sound and build quality? How does the TSW line compare to other AR lines?

 

[RS Steve]

I own a bunch of vintage AR speakers and enjoy most of them. The only model I have that doesn't do much for me is The TSW-410's, I know that the TSW line was not made by the same AR of old, and thus quality sound was not like it used to be. I'm not saying it is bad but just not up to what the vintage AR was.

 

[kbott]

I've owned a a few of the tsw series several pairs of 210's as well as the 610 I think they all sound really nice. I look at it this way you're buying what was a top of the line speaker is it really going to suck? About the only compaint I would have is that the visual appeal is lacking compared to say some of their veneered speakers soundwise I would venture to say they compete very well

 

[audiojones]

I have TSW-610s and they are very good quality speakers. The 810 is a notch above the 610s and uses two 8" woofers instead of the 11 3/4" truncated driver that the 610 uses (which was same basic 4 ohm driver used in the AR3a). I would grab them if the price is decent, but be ready to refoam the two woofers and the midrange. The TSW series from AR is every bit the original AR and the quality is definitely there. I own or have owned pretty much all of the "classic" line of AR speakers and I like my TSW-610s almost as much as my AR3a's in my main system, and they were both made during the "Teledyne" era so don't be misled by that label.

TSW stands for Titanium (as in the tweeter used in that series) and Solid Wood (as in the solid wood top,and bottom panels of the speaker cabinets). They are extremely sensitive to proper placement and will not sound good at all sitting in the middle of the room away from the wall. I have found the best placement for them is near the corners a little further apart than the usual "triangle" placement configuration.

 

[Pandovski]

They are not collectible but great performers. Recommended.

 

[RS Steve]

AHH Teledyne owned AR sine the late '60's - please understand your information if you make a statement. of old?

Well, even though they kept the name they were bought out several times, and (my opinion) is the TSW-410's I have do not sound as good as the 48's, 58's 12's, or 15's in my collection. You my friend, need to understand that I try very much to know what I'm talking about!


Teledyne buyout[edit source]

In 1967, Acoustic Research was bought by Teledyne, Inc., and for the next 22 years it continued development and operations in Cambridge as Teledyne Acoustic Research. Technological breakthroughs in this period included the high-current amplifier. When purchased by Teledyne, AR was the world's second largest supplier of branded loudspeakers. Although Acoustic Research had continued in product development, by 1989 AR had dropped to fifth place worldwide, and Teledyne sold the company to their major competitor, Jensen Electronics. In 1996, Jensen, including AR, was sold to Recoton Audio Corporation.

 

[mea2112]

Thanks for the comments guys. They're much appreciated! It sounds like they're worth checking out.

 

[audiojones]

Teledyne buyout[edit source]...When purchased by Teledyne, AR was the world's second largest supplier of branded loudspeakers.

I wonder who the first largest supplier of branded loudspeakers was in 1967, was it KLH maybe? I always thought KLH was second banana to AR.

 

[michiganpat]

I'd guess pioneer....