AR3a and Sansui 8090 Good combo?

[yoho]

I’ve been using Klipsch Kg4s with a Sansui G-6700 which is a great combo but just picked up a very nice pair of AR3as. The ARs need to be refoamed the pots cleaned but other than that nada. I’m going to use the ARs with a Sansui 8080. I know that the 8080 is rated for one pair of 4 ohm speakers but it’s a beast and should handle them all right. Do I need to worry about anything with this matching?

 

[GD70]

That combination should be fine. Go slow on the volume once the ARs are finished to see how they work together.

 

[yoho]

That combination should be fine. Go slow on the volume once the ARs are finished to see how they work together.

Thanks. Should I clean the pots or replace them? I don’t mind cleaning them but is it worth it?

 

[GD70]

Thanks. Should I clean the pots or replace them? I don’t mind cleaning them but is it worth it?

Most definitely worth it!
I've found on later 3as, the pots were surprisingly clean, earlier ones, not as much.
Pull the woofers, carefully remove and bag the fiberglass stuffing, pop off the wire retainers on the pots upper half and inspect. You may be able to clean them without needing to remove them from the cabs. If there's a lot of the green corrosion, then pull the pots for cleaning, and inspection. If there's material missing from the disks, then they need replacing. If just some minor pitting, then I use my Dremel with a sanding disk to smooth the disk surfaces. Test and if you get a good output tone from the pots when turning them, then open them up again, and use dielectric grease on the disk surface, the coils and pot wipers, and reassemble.
This is a good time to replace the caps as well. Plenty of threads covering this.
Glenn

 

[yoho]

Most definitely worth it!
I've found on later 3as, the pots were surprisingly clean, earlier ones, not as much.
Pull the woofers, carefully remove and bag the fiberglass stuffing, pop off the wire retainers on the pots upper half and inspect. You may be able to clean them without needing to remove them from the cabs. If there's a lot of the green corrosion, then pull the pots for cleaning, and inspection. If there's material missing from the disks, then they need replacing. If just some minor pitting, then I use my Dremel with a sanding disk to smooth the disk surfaces. Test and if you get a good output tone from the pots when turning them, then open them up again, and use dielectric grease on the disk surface, the coils and pot wipers, and reassemble.
This is a good time to replace the caps as well. Plenty of threads covering this.
Glenn

Thank you. I feel like a kid in a candy store, they’re so cool looking. I will let you know how it goes.

 

[Fairlane]

Listen to Glenn's expert advice and you will have no problems. Wear gloves and a long sleeve shirt though when pulling the rock wool insulation out.

Congrats on the 3's and post some pictures when you can.

 

[yoho]

Thanks. I heard that rock wool was used because all the natural wool was being used in the war?

 

[GD70]

Thanks. I heard that rock wool was used because all the natural wool was being used in the war?

Once you open them up, post pics of the pots condition.
Before you attempt to remove the woofers, remove as much of the sealer putty around the parameter as possible. This will make it easier to remove the woofers. Use a wide putty knife to protect the baffle when prying out the woofers.

 

[Drugolf]

yoho, this is easy with the help of those on here like Glenn (GD70). Also, the great AR3 restoration manual you can download over at Classic Speaker Pages is the bible on this process.
You better throw up a few photos before we all get disappointed that you haven't.

And Glenns last pointer there is key as that stuff trys to hold onto the woofer pretty good.

 

[yoho]

This is a picture of the inside, looks new?

 

[RxDx]

Callins caps bad, mkay? They need to go.

 

[yoho]

These are the new caps that I’m going to install?

 

[RxDx]

Excellent.

 

[GD70]

These are the new caps that I’m going to install?

Those will work well.
Do you have a meter to measure the caps values? Curious what the silver Spragues measure at? Those are usually pretty good and don't drift much off spec.
Glenn

 

[yoho]

Those will work well.
Do you have a meter to measure the caps values? Curious what the silver Spragues measure at? Those are usually pretty good and don't drift much off spec.
Glenn

No, I don’t have a meter. I’m just going to replace them all. Any tips in that respect? Thank you.

 

[gkimeng]

Thanks. I heard that rock wool was used because all the natural wool was being used in the war?

AR didn't start producing speakers until long after WWII shortages ended. Fiberglass was in short supply for a period during the 50s because of the postwar housing boom (returning WWII and Korea vets graduating from their GI Bill college educations getting jobs and buying newly built tract houses).

 

[centsless]

I see you had foam gaskets for drivers so your serial numbers are probably 60 k or above. Never saw those caps in crossovers before so new to me. Your pots might have double swipes so could be good. What is your serial numbers?

 

[yoho]

#104305 and #104599

 

[centsless]

#104305 and #104599

You have the latest of the 3a's as they didn't go much higher. I don't think you will need to clean the pots as they look so clean when I zoomed in on pic. Do they work? You have the double swipes inside the pots and are my favs they made plus being the latest. You can take backs off in place and check them.

 

[yoho]

You have the latest of the 3a's as they didn't go much higher. I don't think you will need to clean the pots as they look so clean when I zoomed in on pic. Do they work? You have the double swipes inside the pots and are my favs they made plus being the latest. You can take backs off in place and check them.

They are not corroded at all, and turn very well with no crunchieness. Should I even mess with them?