AR11 bottom bass frequency

[amante]

Unfortunately, for my house, I may have a lead on some AR11 speakers. I have owned a pair of AR3 speakers that I carefully restored (now sold), own a pair of AR91 speakers restored and powered by a Luxman 1050 and also own some AR90s that need a recap but rock as they are. I don't need more speakers but I look at the lower frequency range of the AR11 and wonder why it doesn't get more "bass" respect. Can someone enlighten me?

I have read several posts how each version of the AR3 was an improvement over the last (AR3, AR3a, AR10, AR11, AR91, AR58/Conn. 50) but it's usually stated with some loss to the bottom bass. If that's so, why does the AR11 show a 27hz in the literature? That's lower than my AR90s.

Just wondering. Please talk me out of pulling the trigger, ha, ha. -Joseph

 

[gkimeng]

What literature are you looking at? The ADD brochures we have in the library at Classic Speaker Pages cite the low frequency response of the AR11 and 10pi as 3db down at 35Hz. This is the same as the AR91.

The AR-9 got down to 28Hz, but it had two 12" woofers. The AR-90 got down to 32Hz using two 10" woofers.

After the 91, the 58s bottomed at 39Hz, and succeeding models were either the same or at 37Hz. Taking the single 12" woofer models to floor standers was definitely not a good move for getting the lowest bass response.

The single 12" woofer AR didn't get back down to 35Hz again until Ken Kantor took it back to its original bookshelf form in the 303, which made it down to 32Hz.

 

[RS Steve]

I own two pair of AR-11's, the bass is very strong. They like a lot of power to bring out their best, I had all four paired with my big Soundcraftsman amp, it will handle 2 ohms without breaking a sweat.

 

[michiganpat]

buy them.....if you run out of space, you can ship them to me

 

[amante]

Thanks guys. Knew I could count on you for the low down!

If the wife yells at me then you're my back up, michiganpat.

 

[michiganpat]

it's easier and more successful to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission when it comes to vintage audio

although I fear my wife, so I did beg for permission to buy a set of AR58's that came up for sale locally for $150....I need to get going on those....

 

[Hanleyster]

I just got a pair of AR 91s.

I am going to have a bass-test competition between the AR91s, Smaller Advent, New Large Advent, and JVC SX-A3 (don't laugh! 8" woofer w/ 12" PR)

 

[macyjrm]

Are you certain the AR 11s are wired correctly? If the positive/negative taps aren't wired the same for each, the result will be some canceling of the bass frequencies. I have a pair of AR 12s and they sound like clones of my AR 3s.

 

[GD70]

I have AR3's and 12's. The 12 are basically the 11 with a 10 inch woofer, slightly different mids specific to the 12. There is no shortage with bass. I restored them with a re-cap and fresh surrounds for the woofers and mids. The 3's are early with oil caps which I left alone. Pot's cleaned or replaced as well as a correct tweeter replaced.
Regarding the 3 vs. the 12, the 12 is an overall better sounding speaker in my opinion. It's cleaner, mids and highs crisper, great sound stage. Bass not quite as deep as the 3's, but close. I have not heard the 11's, but would suspect they go as deep as the 3's-(31-20k +/-5db), AR 11-(27-30K), AR 12-(44-30K, +/- 3db).

Info here: http://www.aphenos.net/electronics/speakers/klh/all_ar.htm

Anyway, based on how great the 12's sound, I would not pass on the 11's.

Glenn