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Best speakers in the world... AR

Filip I

Filip I

Active Member
Sorry for the title but this is not gonna be a post about some exoteric electeostatics or something similiar.

This is gonna be just honest praise to one simple cheap and utterly amazing speaker.... drumrolls... AR 17 ( Teledyne ).

Guys, I know I haven' t heard all the speakers in thw world and this thread is more fun that a fact ( what is in hi fi ? ) but for the last few years I had a chance to swap more than few decent speakers, amplifiers, not a hi fi veteran still can't say novice. Really dug deep in hi fi and after many many trials, errors etc. I ended with humble simple box.

Long story short, we can go on about preferences, types of music that we listen, environment, cables etc. but I can say I found my hi fi peace with theese little boxes.

There is not much thing that they do wrong, in fact they do most of the things very right. Finally, right or wrong there is a feeling of serenity, zen if you like when you fire those little suckers. If you remenber your first kiss, firs cigarette, first tape you listened... that's the one.

Sorry, being emotinal, bit drunk, listening Nick Cave, Whitesnake, Mary Lattimore for the last couple of hours.

Oh yes, theese little wonders are hooked to sansui 2000x. Another love of mine.

Try them, Ar 18 wouldn't be much difference and are far more common. Mine are bit " tuned" but not that much, just new wima poly capacitors, 2nd order crossover instead od 1st for HF and some coating on tweeter ( f... k me if I know ).

That's it for me, I could go on and on admiring theese simple wonders for hours but dinner is served.

I believe that anyone who really love music should try AR at some point and I know that we cannot agree on everything but damn they work for me.

Cheers boys and girls, cry, smile, smoke some good s..t and enjoy the music and your quest.
 
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Filip I said:
Sorry for the title but this is not gonna be a post about some exoteric electeostatics or something similiar.

This is gonna be just honest praise to one simple cheap and utterly amazing speaker.... drumrolls... AR 17 ( Teledyne ).

Guys, I know I haven' t heard all the speakers in thw world and this thread is more fun that a fact ( what is in hi fi ? ) but for the last few years I had a chance to swap more than few decent speakers, amplifiers, not a hi fi veteran still can't say novice. Really dug deep in hi fi and after many many trials, errors etc. I ended with humble simple box.

Long story short, we can go on about preferences, types of music that we listen, environment, cables etc. but I can say I found my hi fi peace with theese little boxes.

There is not much thing that they do wrong, in fact they do most of the things very right. Finally, right or wrong there is a feeling of serenity, zen if you like when you fire those little suckers. If you remenber your first kiss, firs cigarette, first tape you listened... that's the one.

Sorry, being emotinal, bit drunk, listening Nick Cave, Whitesnake, Mary Lattimore for the last couple of hours.

Oh yes, theese little wonders are hooked to sansui 2000x. Another love of mine.

Try them, Ar 18 wouldn't be much difference and are far more common. Mine are bit " tuned" but not that much, just new wima poly capacitors, 2nd order crossover instead od 1st for HF and some coating on tweeter ( f... k me if I know ).

That's it for me, I could go on and on admiring theese simple wonders for hours but dinner is served.

I believe that anyone who really love music should try AR at some point and I know that we cannot agree on everything but damn they work for me.

Cheers boys and girls, cry, smile, smoke some good s..t and enjoy the music and your quest.
Click to expand...

The way I look at it, is if you find something that fulfill's all your needs, all your requirements, regardless of what it is, then you win. Nobody's ears are like yours. Congrats, you found your nirvana Filip I.

Garry~
 
Filip I said:
Sorry for the title but this is not gonna be a post about some exoteric electeostatics or something similiar.

This is gonna be just honest praise to one simple cheap and utterly amazing speaker.... drumrolls... AR 17 ( Teledyne ).

Guys, I know I haven' t heard all the speakers in thw world and this thread is more fun that a fact ( what is in hi fi ? ) but for the last few years I had a chance to swap more than few decent speakers, amplifiers, not a hi fi veteran still can't say novice. Really dug deep in hi fi and after many many trials, errors etc. I ended with humble simple box.

Long story short, we can go on about preferences, types of music that we listen, environment, cables etc. but I can say I found my hi fi peace with theese little boxes.

There is not much thing that they do wrong, in fact they do most of the things very right. Finally, right or wrong there is a feeling of serenity, zen if you like when you fire those little suckers. If you remenber your first kiss, firs cigarette, first tape you listened... that's the one.

Sorry, being emotinal, bit drunk, listening Nick Cave, Whitesnake, Mary Lattimore for the last couple of hours.

Oh yes, theese little wonders are hooked to sansui 2000x. Another love of mine.

Try them, Ar 18 wouldn't be much difference and are far more common. Mine are bit " tuned" but not that much, just new wima poly capacitors, 2nd order crossover instead od 1st for HF and some coating on tweeter ( f... k me if I know ).

That's it for me, I could go on and on admiring theese simple wonders for hours but dinner is served.

I believe that anyone who really love music should try AR at some point and I know that we cannot agree on everything but damn they work for me.

Cheers boys and girls, cry, smile, smoke some good s..t and enjoy the music and your quest.
Click to expand...

Have you tried these:
57317931953__B728A94C-E29B-4997-B83A-30D9055A04FA.jpeg RenderedImage.jpeg
 
Oh my god, they do exist! Ahahaha I tought those are made up, well you live and learn...

Airjmax, that is very kind od you unfortunately I live across the pond ( europe ).

If I ever get chance to get close to Illinios I will definitively remember to give you a call.

Once again thanks and sorry, I tought you are pulling my leg about Filip speakers:beerchug:
 
Since you like AR, their classic 12" 3/ways are highly sought after, sadly that makes them unobtainable for many.

But here's a little secret that's getting out, the AR58s shares its name with other not so outstanding AR models that it remains in obscurity. They're truly a classic 12" AR 3/way from the dome midrange to the furniture grade cabinets but the prices are not.

A few yrs ago the nostalgia bug for some AR12's I had many decades ago bit but to my dismay found they're quite rare being only made the yr I bought mine, 1978.

So in my search I stumbled upon these beauties for $275 lol.

20190428_113204.jpg

20190428_112118.jpg

20181028_164303.jpg
 
Filip I said:
I believe that anyone who really love music should try AR at some point and I know that we cannot agree on everything but damn they work for me.
Click to expand...

I would agree with you on this point - that everyone should have some ARs in their quiver at some point. Are they the best? Who cares? They're damn good - I enjoy both pairs I own.
 
After years of driving my KLH Model Sixes with a 15 WPC tube amp I connected them to a 50 WPC solid state Panasonic integrated. Amazing. They are the best speakers in my... bedroom.

All kidding aside, what drives my assessment of my equipment is the pieces that never disappoint me. I'm sure my Panasonic/KLH rig is probably outperformed by equipment that's already in my house, but it always satisfies me. It's not so much the strength of the rig, but the lack of weaknesses.
 
Guys, you get my sentiment, this was purely subjective feeling. As someone else will have same feeling with Jbl, Infinity, Focal, Spendor...

But there is undenaible naturalness in these little boxes I haven' t heard in far exotic speakers. Also they dissapear in the room as thin air, smoke if you like. Another quallity worth mentioning.

I believe that AR have it' s place in hi fi " hall of fame" with a good reason, especialy considering time theese were made ( the whole Ar range and of course bigger brothers ).

I am dreaming of AR 12 one day but they are rare, even more in my country.
 
Filip I said:
Guys, you get my sentiment, this was purely subjective feeling. As someone else will have same feeling with Jbl, Infinity, Focal, Spendor...

But there is undenaible naturalness in these little boxes I haven' t heard in far exotic speakers. Also they dissapear in the room as thin air, smoke if you like. Another quallity worth mentioning.

I believe that AR have it' s place in hi fi " hall of fame" with a good reason, especialy considering time theese were made ( the whole Ar range and of course bigger brothers ).

I am dreaming of AR 12 one day but they are rare, even more in my country.
Click to expand...

loved my AR12's, stupidly gave them to my brother in 1991.

only thing that bothered me was their non mirrored driver layout, didn't affect the SQ so only a nit-pick on my part.

Also erroneously felt the midrange cone driver inferior to a dome, and the 10" woofer lesser than a 12". I was young and dumb back then, but still smart enough to buy them eh lol.

As I mentioned, the AR58s is a great substitute that's much easier on the wallet. But make sure it's the "s" version.
 
Grenadeslio said:
loved my AR12's, stupidly gave them to my brother in 1991.

only thing that bothered me was their non mirrored driver layout, didn't affect the SQ so only a nit-pick on my part.

Also erroneously felt the midrange cone driver inferior to a dome, and the 10" woofer lesser than a 12". I was young and dumb back then, but still smart enough to buy them eh lol.

As I mentioned, the AR58s is a great substitute that's much easier on the wallet. But make sure it's the "s" version.
Click to expand...

Hope to find model 5 at least if no 12. Big problem with speakers that age is there is barrely any left unmolested. Thank god I have right guy for any kind of intervention. Also wouldn't miss 2ax, 10 pi, 11, 303...and of course 48s, 58s...holographic series M5.

Also as I am getting older I don't crank the volume as I used to, not priority so some of the larger model would be overkill. Then again, why not:banana:

Ah, almost forgot: When I first got ar17 back from the service shop I didn't like them at all, almost sold them. Thanks to the wiser people and their insisting to be patient I put that sale on hold. Best decision ever, could miss that AR magic not ever knowing...
 
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