Thought I'd share some photos of my just completed AR25 refresh project.
These speakers were purchased new by my mother back in the '80's. She gave them to me about 15 years ago but they were in pretty rough shape. I sent the woofers off to get new foam surrounds installed (this was before I learned that it was a pretty easy DIY job) and I replaced the single crossover capacitor.
I used them off and on for many years but they were so ratty looking, they spent most of their time in storage. Last December, I finally decided it was time to re-veneer them and replace the foam grills which were pretty much disintegrating into dust.
AR25's were originally covered with fake wood plastic "veneer" which I suppose looked ok when they were new. Mine were peeling off in sections and were beyond reclaiming. I considered just recovering with similar fake plastic wood contact paper but decided they deserved better. I've never veneered anything so this was also a learning project for me.
I borrowed heavily from @GD70 's excellent AR12 restoration posting as well as @RS Steve 's AR25 refresh. Since I was a rookie, I decided to use 3M PSA walnut veneer and Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish. For the grills, I tried to duplicate the original look of the foam grills by stretching brown speaker grill fabric over a wood frame.
Overall, I'm pleased with how they came out. They're not flawless but are more than presentable. In fact, they're displacing a pair of Bose 301's which frankly, never really impressed me as I had them set up.
Here are some before, during and after pictures.
These speakers were purchased new by my mother back in the '80's. She gave them to me about 15 years ago but they were in pretty rough shape. I sent the woofers off to get new foam surrounds installed (this was before I learned that it was a pretty easy DIY job) and I replaced the single crossover capacitor.
I used them off and on for many years but they were so ratty looking, they spent most of their time in storage. Last December, I finally decided it was time to re-veneer them and replace the foam grills which were pretty much disintegrating into dust.
AR25's were originally covered with fake wood plastic "veneer" which I suppose looked ok when they were new. Mine were peeling off in sections and were beyond reclaiming. I considered just recovering with similar fake plastic wood contact paper but decided they deserved better. I've never veneered anything so this was also a learning project for me.
I borrowed heavily from @GD70 's excellent AR12 restoration posting as well as @RS Steve 's AR25 refresh. Since I was a rookie, I decided to use 3M PSA walnut veneer and Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish. For the grills, I tried to duplicate the original look of the foam grills by stretching brown speaker grill fabric over a wood frame.
Overall, I'm pleased with how they came out. They're not flawless but are more than presentable. In fact, they're displacing a pair of Bose 301's which frankly, never really impressed me as I had them set up.
Here are some before, during and after pictures.
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