AR4x Refurb

[jjohnson]

I picked up this pair of AR's a few weeks ago in a sad state. Somewhere along the way, they were painted white. Also, one tweeter appeared dead and the grill cloth was brown and dry-rotted. After cleaning the pots, the tweeter came back to life. I very nearly parted these speakers out but thought better of it. I refinished them, replaced the grill cloth, and I have a grin on my face. I wouldn't think that these speakers could sound this good. In getting the paint off, I got through the veneer in a couple of spots that I'll need to stain up, but all-in-all, I'm very pleased.

 

[MAXZ28]

I love hearing these stories. I'm half done refinishing my pair. Where did you get the grillcloth?

Great speakers - great save! Enjoy!

 

[kn8243]

I love hearing these stories. I'm half done refinishing my pair. Where did you get the grillcloth?

Great speakers - great save! Enjoy!

agreed. Awesome. Where again did you get the grillcloth? haha

 

[jjohnson]

I love hearing these stories. I'm half done refinishing my pair. Where did you get the grillcloth?

Great speakers - great save! Enjoy!

I am certainly enjoying them, so far. The "grillcloth" is just burlap that I picked up from JoAnn Fabrics for $3.00. It's a bit thicker than the original but not too difficult to work with. If I were to do it over, it'd go much quicker and look better.

 

[spkrdtr]

I am certainly enjoying them, so far. The "grillcloth" is just burlap that I picked up from JoAnn Fabrics for $3.00. It's a bit thicker than the original but not too difficult to work with. If I were to do it over, it'd go much quicker and look better.

I've done a number of grille cloth sound transmission studies and have found one important conclusion: the fuzzier the fabric, the highs are reduced more. Burlap fabrics typically are very fuzzy.

Suggest you search out a linen fabric which, by it's inherent construction is much less fuzzy. Something in the 18-25 threads per inch range. It's generally called linen 'scrim'. Getting scrim linen vs non-scrim linen is important because the threads used for each have different diameters. Scrim uses thinner threads resulting in more open area to pass the sound thru. Fabrics with the same thread count, but not scrim have thicker threads and thus the open area will be smaller and relatively less sound will pass thru.

Those AR4x cone tweeters have limited HF range as it is and thus will be much happier and sing much better with linen!

 

[tmad40blue]

Glad to see another pair of AR-4x properly restored. They're one of my favorite 2-ways.

Put on some jazz and enjoy...

 

[pete1729]

I refinished a pair I found for $5 and gave them to my sister. After I listened to them I was sort of sorry I didn't keep them. They are, to my taste, an excellent speaker and very easy to listen to for hours.

 

[Bstable]

I would be interested in a source of fabric for these speakers. I got the right color from a fabric store, but found that I have to listen to these speakers with the grills off because the fabric is too tightly woven.

 

[ddeland]

Nice job Jeff! You know I've got at least 3-4 pairs of speakers layin' around here that need some attention ~ In case you were lookin' for another project

 

[Bostown]

Again, I'm inspired. They look great. :tresbon: Now, I need to get off my butt and get to work on mine.

 

[tmad40blue]

I would be interested in a source of fabric for these speakers. I got the right color from a fabric store, but found that I have to listen to these speakers with the grills off because the fabric is too tightly woven.

Chris ("Vintage AR Parts And Service" on eBay) is where we got the grille cloth for our AR-3a's. It's a little bit lighter than original, but it's got the same acoustic weave and acoustic transparency.