AR's....Whatdyya' think

[Jazzbolito]

So my friend inherited his parents' AR 19's, circa 1986
What are the good and bad points about them.
How do they compare to my Original Small Advents.
Any and all ideas are gladly accepted.
Thanks for looking
Jazzbolito

 

[Jazzbolito]

Any ideas???????

 

[Wigwam Jones]

I had a pair of AR 58s speakers I bought in 1983 in Okinawa Japan. Loved 'em. Wish I still had 'em. I don't know anything about yours, but I would be willing to bet they've still got a little AR magic in them.

 

[RxDx]

- AR19 - ~1986-88 ~$160/ea
Bookshelf Acoustic Suspension 2way system with drive units in vertical array
6" filled polypropolene cone long-throw acoustic suspension woofer.
1" liquid cooled dome highrange driver.
10-75 watts power handling ability
-3db at 65hz and 22,000hz
8 ohms nominal, 5.6 ohms minimum point.
Crossover freq. - 5000hz
Each speaker weighs 14.5lbs

No personal experience with these, but I'd guess they compare favorably with the Advents.

 

[michiganpat]

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/...r_series_brochure/connoisseur_series_pg2.html

they won't dig as deep as the smaller advents (-3db is more like 35hz for them). I've owned smaller advents, I'd assume the midrange and high end clarity will be much better, as my older AR18's are much nicer in the midrange and top end than my old small advents.

they'd be nice with a subwoofer crossed over ~70hz to handle the bottom end, or probably used nearfield, or put them in the corners for bass boundary reinforcement

 

[audiojones]

I've got a pair of AR 19b, don't know if they are the same as the AR19. They have 6.5" woofs and decent AR dome tweets in a nice compact cabinet. They sound very good for their size but they don't even come close to the Smaller Advent (which I have 3 sets of).

 

[Jazzbolito]

AR's in question

Thanks so much...you answered the questions I needed!

 

[Jazzbolito]

Anyone know the dimensions of the cabs?

 

[audiojones]

I can post the dimensions of the AR19b when I get home tonight, dunno if that's the same as the AR19.

 

[michiganpat]

I can post the dimensions of the AR19b when I get home tonight, dunno if that's the same as the AR19.

are you sure yours aren't 18B's?

anyhoo, spec page from the link I shared

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/...re/connoisseur_series_pg6.html#previous-photo

16" H x 10 7/8" W x 6 15/16" D

 

[audiojones]

are you sure yours aren't 18B's?

anyhoo, spec page from the link I shared

http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/...re/connoisseur_series_pg6.html#previous-photo

16" H x 10 7/8" W x 6 15/16" D

Nope, clearly marked AR19b, had 'em for years. Since you've got what you needed I won't bother.

 

[tarior]

AR lineage:
1952-1967. Ed Vilchur and Henry Kloss; very, very good.
1967-1989. Teledyne era, even better, the best of AR, IMO.
1989-1996. Jensen era, still quite good, but not quite as good as the previous incarnations.
1996-2003. Recoton era, OK, but mostly nothing special.
2003-present. Audiovox owned, all outsourced, but thankfully still providing parts support for legacy products via AB Tech.

 

[MJWPicMan]

I beg to differ. Any AR speaker made by Teledyne after they bought AR are an inferior product to the original ARs. Why do you think Henry Kloss jumped ship to start KLH? IMO any classic KLH speakers are better than anything made by Teledyne.

 

[tarior]

Everybody is entitled their opinions. In mine, the AR-9 and Vertical Series was dramatically superior to every previous and subsequent AR product in sound quality, power handling, technical innovation, crossover design, build quality, and fit and finish. Aside from KLH-1s (after Kloss sold KLH), I've never head a KLH speaker that I liked.
During the time they owned AR, Teledyne had one of the most advanced loudspeaker R&D labs in the world.

 

[michiganpat]

I beg to differ. Any AR speaker made by Teledyne after they bought AR are an inferior product to the original ARs. Why do you think Henry Kloss jumped ship to start KLH? IMO any classic KLH speakers are better than anything made by Teledyne.

Kloss left in the 50's, 10+ years before Vilchur sold to teledyne....