michiganpat
Super Member
look at the CSP 3a restoration guide, IIRC there's a recipie using a regular 8 ohm L pad and IIRC a 25 ohm resistor to mimic the 16 ohm pots originally used. I'd do that before bypassing completely.
refurbished AR4x- a review...
- Thread starter thedelihaus
- Start date
spkrdtr
spkrfixer
Is it a 4? Or a 5? Those AR workers...I haven't cracked open the other yet, so when I do that will confirm.
It's not a 4 or a 5. It's '200', the number of turns on the bobbin. AR sometimes marked their coils this way. 200 winds = a #4 coil. According to a later post here, they eventually changed to a #5 (225 turns) which may coincide to use of a next generation woofer.
spkrdtr
spkrfixer
Hi
I received my pair today and right now I ve cleaned the pots. When doing so, I compared the pictures of the inside with the ones in this thread and thought that I have a really early pair of the AR-4x. the SNs are 28976 and 28977. The big cap is clued just next to the coil and not under the coil. It is a Sprague one. Nevertheless I want to recap it. Are ther any suggestions of good caps??
........
Cheers,
Philipp
Sprague Compulytics are GOOD caps. I've tested a number of them out of AR's and they test fine.
monoethylene
Active Member
Thanks forthe replies guys 
To sum up, it would be good to use the Sprague caps and not to replace them (although I will have to measure them) and further to use the pot, because after the cleaning it is in a good shape and works perfectly?
After listening yesterday the whole night, I find the sound alright even though the music is a bit laid back and the heighs are not so clear compared to my other pair of speakers.
Is this the typical AR sound?
Cheers,
Philipp
To sum up, it would be good to use the Sprague caps and not to replace them (although I will have to measure them) and further to use the pot, because after the cleaning it is in a good shape and works perfectly?
After listening yesterday the whole night, I find the sound alright even though the music is a bit laid back and the heighs are not so clear compared to my other pair of speakers.
Is this the typical AR sound?
Cheers,
Philipp
shacky
Addicted Member
Thanks forthe replies guys
To sum up, it would be good to use the Sprague caps and not to replace them (although I will have to measure them) and further to use the pot, because after the cleaning it is in a good shape and works perfectly?
After listening yesterday the whole night, I find the sound alright even though the music is a bit laid back and the heighs are not so clear compared to my other pair of speakers.
Is this the typical AR sound?
Cheers,
Philipp
I think you can bet on the Spragues being good to go.
And yes AR's are laid back.
monoethylene
Active Member
Thanks for the advice
I love them more and more when listening to music!!
Cheers,
Philipp
I love them more and more when listening to music!!
Cheers,
Philipp
michaelhigh
mind's eye music
The bass from these little speakers is quite amazing. These diminutive delights are much bigger than they sound- much, much bigger. I dunno how they did it, but for most recordings (bar the AC/DC), there was plenty of rich bass. But even AC/DC sounded great with them. Very nice.
My impression too. Mine needed no refurb, look and sound great. $75 paid here, these will last well into my twilight years!
My impression too. Mine needed no refurb, look and sound great. $75 paid here, these will last well into my twilight years!
michiganpat
Super Member
try some AR7's or AR18's...even smaller, and dig about as deep....
Bought a set of AR4x 5 years back, with failing pots. A few weeks back, I decided to refurbish them. I sanded the case, painted it, and bleached the front. They look very good again
Pictures:
Front
no front
back
Electrically, I replaced the cap with a Evox 22uF MMK, and replaced the pot with a 8.2 + 6.8 resistor. (all parts that I had in stock). See: adapted scheme
Unfortunately, they don't sound as I remember. There is enough (and quite nice) bass, and highs are OK (not very detailed, but nice and smooth), but the middle range is seriously lacking. Vocals sound far away.
I followed the colors of the scheme linked to above.
What could be the problem? Polarity of tweeter and woofer inverted?
Pictures:
Front
no front
back
Electrically, I replaced the cap with a Evox 22uF MMK, and replaced the pot with a 8.2 + 6.8 resistor. (all parts that I had in stock). See: adapted scheme
Unfortunately, they don't sound as I remember. There is enough (and quite nice) bass, and highs are OK (not very detailed, but nice and smooth), but the middle range is seriously lacking. Vocals sound far away.
I followed the colors of the scheme linked to above.
What could be the problem? Polarity of tweeter and woofer inverted?