Need Help with AR-3a!

[leopoldstotch]

An inquiring mind needs to know. I currently own both a pair of AR-2ax's and AR-3a's. The 3a's woofer surrounds were shot so I have them being repaired at Millersound. In the meantime I have bought a pair of AR Acoustic ResearchAR-1 W 12" Alnico Altec Woofers just like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...270018602502&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEBI:IT&rd=

The problem is is that the have very little bass out put it's weak but my 2ax's blow them away in the bass dept and I know that shouldn't be the case. I have noticed that there are no caps in the center of the woofers. Could this be the reason that the bass is weak or are they the wrong woofers for the 3a's? thanks in advance!
Bruce

 

[ozmoid]

Wrong woofer for the AR3. Missing dustcaps on the AR's don't affect the audio output very much, but it is not good for the woofer. The cap is there to protect the voice coil from debris.

The surrounds on the pair you linked look slimmer than the regular AR3 or 3a woofer - that may be why the output is low, the speaker travel is shorter, moving less air.

 

[Eunomians]

They are indeed the wrong woofers for 3a.

There is no way that 2x/ax woofers could blow away 3a woofers - but you already knew that.

It's not easy to find perfect 3a woofers. Especially cloth ones. Best of luck.

 

[leopoldstotch]

Thanks Ozmoid and Eunomians. I had a feeling after hearing them that they weren't the correct woofers. Well at least I do have the right pair I'm just waiting on the surrounds to be repaired.