The BEST AR speakers?

[Belvedere2]

I love my AR 90s. Recapped with all film caps since I hope to never have to touch them again in my lifetime. I use a CJ 10a for a pre and a Threshold S/550e for amp. It's amazing how everytime I've bumped the power on these things the speakers respond so positively. They love current. Detail and soundstage is excellent.
I would love to hear some 10pi if I could find a pair anywhere.

 

[StimpyWan]

I love my AR 90s. Recapped with all film caps since I hope to never have to touch them again in my lifetime. I use a CJ 10a for a pre and a Threshold S/550e for amp. It's amazing how everytime I've bumped the power on these things the speakers respond so positively. They love current. Detail and soundstage is excellent.
I would love to hear some 10pi if I could find a pair anywhere.

I love my AR90s too. My first speaker purchase. Bought new, directly from the Acoustic Research factory. But, something about my 90s never satisfied me. They never had the bass and midbass performance that I thought they would (should) have had. Response lacking in those areas. When new, I tweaked and tweaked, with only slight improvements. So, I lived with their signature sound for years. Now, I have to wonder if they were wired incorrectly, from the factory? Something out of phase?

The speakers are down now. They've been out of my system, for some time, being refurbed. Refoamed. Recapped too, with Mundorf film caps. Next, and last, I'm refinishing the cabinets. When they get reassembled, I'm definitely paying close attention to the wiring, to make sure everything is correct. I hope these steps will advance my 90s to the level that I believe they deserve? Better than my current AR58S speakers? Hopefully?

 

[Belvedere2]

Good luck! Make sure the woofers/drivers are sealed. When I had mine done Carl found that they were missing the seals.

 

[Grenadeslio]

Good luck! Make sure the woofers/drivers are sealed. When I had mine done Carl found that they were missing the seals.

Yes, and they're a PITA to keep in place while installing the drivers. I think the next time I have mine out I might install something with a sticky back instead.

 

[larrybody]

I love my 9's and you are never going to mistake them for anything else. The three way 12 in. woofer models all sound great,yet with their own distinct differences. Even the two way 8 in models are quite the performers. Reading this thread I just pulled down my recently restored 11Mk1's and swapped in some 12's. Listening to LA Woman by the Doors right now.

 

[Cathead45]

I certainly appreciate all the input and am having fun building systems for various areas I occupy. There is so much knowledge about vintage equipment on AK it is my go-to source. I know AR speakers are sought after and priced very high when people understand what they have. I am always looking and some day may hit the jackpot on a pair of ARs. While I am waiting I looked on face book marketplace this morning and there was a pair of KLH model 17's just listed that looked pretty nice and were 1 1/2 hour drive away for $75.00. I jumped in the car and drove down there. The gentleman who owned them bought them brand new in the late 60's and had not used them in 20 years. They were in the original boxes and spotless except one small stain on one of the grills. I offered him $55.00 and ended up paying $65.00 for them. They are unmolested and sound great. the bass on them sounds as good as my model 5's maybe a little better. So these will get the cloth surrounds doped up after doing my model 5's and getting my cross overs rebuilt. After all Henry Kloss designed both AR's and then left to start KLH. I will lay in the bushes until I find the elusive AR 3a's. Thanks everybody!

 

[Grenadeslio]

I certainly appreciate all the input and am having fun building systems for various areas I occupy. There is so much knowledge about vintage equipment on AK it is my go-to source. I know AR speakers are sought after and priced very high when people understand what they have. I am always looking and some day may hit the jackpot on a pair of ARs. While I am waiting I looked on face book marketplace this morning and there was a pair of KLH model 17's just listed that looked pretty nice and were 1 1/2 hour drive away for $75.00. I jumped in the car and drove down there. The gentleman who owned them bought them brand new in the late 60's and had not used them in 20 years. They were in the original boxes and spotless except one small stain on one of the grills. I offered him $55.00 and ended up paying $65.00 for them. They are unmolested and sound great. the bass on them sounds as good as my model 5's maybe a little better. So these will get the cloth surrounds doped up after doing my model 5's and getting my cross overs rebuilt. After all Henry Kloss designed both AR's and then left to start KLH. I will lay in the bushes until I find the elusive AR 3a's. Thanks everybody!

Well if expecting to pay $65 then I can see why you think the AR's are expensive. I purchased a pair of AR12's new in 78 for $500, my AR58s about 6 months ago for $275 and think I scored a great deal.

 

[Cathead45]

I know $65.00 will get me the poor mans AR's (KLH). I just see the prices they are asking on the bay and won't spend over 1K for some AR's. I would be okay with a few hundred if they don't need too much work. I enjoy the hunt. Thanks

 

[Grenadeslio]

I know $65.00 will get me the poor mans AR's (KLH). I just see the prices they are asking on the bay and won't spend over 1K for some AR's. I would be okay with a few hundred if they don't need too much work. I enjoy the hunt. Thanks

$275 for my 58s in pristine condition unless nitpicking. Only in need of a new tweeter due to some rather heavy handed turning of the volume knob recently lol.

 

[Cathead45]

I will have to research the 58's. Under $300.00 in that condition is music to my ears. I would love to hear them. I will watch for some to pop up locally, I like to touch them before I buy. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Bob]

AR8s.

 

[StimpyWan]

I got extremely lucky. My AR58S speakers were only $120. One of my best deals ever. All drivers in great shape. I still did a ClarityCap ESA poly recap, and they sound awesome.

 

[Grenadeslio]

I will have to research the 58's. Under $300.00 in that condition is music to my ears. I would love to hear them. I will watch for some to pop up locally, I like to touch them before I buy. Thanks for the heads up.

Ya, I was surprised they were so much cheaper than either of my pair of Heresys, of which these replaced one set. Moved them on to there happy new owner for the price I paid, so I essentially used them rent free for 6yrs lol.

Kept the Oiled Walnut finished set though, I would have kept the others had I not had two sets.

 

[Cathead45]

Ya, I was surprised they were so much cheaper than either of my pair of Heresys, of which these replaced one set. Moved them on to there happy new owner for the price I paid, so I essentially used them rent free for 6yrs lol.

Kept the Oiled Walnut finished set though, I would have kept the others had I not had two sets.

 

[Cathead45]

Ya, I was surprised they were so much cheaper than either of my pair of Heresys, of which these replaced one set. Moved them on to there happy new owner for the price I paid, so I essentially used them rent free for 6yrs lol.

Kept the Oiled Walnut finished set though, I would have kept the others had I not had two sets.

That worked out well.

 

[Lucky Pierre]

For a small room, say 10x12, the 4 series are more than adequate, the larger models definitely adequate..

I concur. My living room is about the same size. My 4x have no problem filling the room with wonderful sounding music. I run mine as fronts (and stereo) on an NAD T748. They really open up with a bit of power.

I am finishing a restoration of AR-5 to run off a pair of Dynaco Mk IIIs. I am a little worried that they will be a bit large for this room.

 

[TomBig58]

Of my various AR's, 90s, 92s, 18s, 58S, and AR-1MS mini-monitors, I find my AR58S speakers the most addictive. There's warmth and detail, bass extension and midbass definition, plus clean and clear midrange and high end. Not overly bright, at least in my system, but there's a midrange presence deserving of decent gear. While I've never heard a bad set of AR speakers, my 58S' are a lot of fun, and aren't going anywhere.

Yeah.....what he said! There's just something so sweet about my 58s they have stayed hooked up even though I need to pull them out and do a little cosmetics on them. Like that old 7-Up commercial, "crisp and clean with no caffeine". Still a little bright with replacement tweeters but the lows, mids, and soundstage are just mesmerizing at times. A pair of 18's were my office speaker for quite some time but they are on holiday at the moment.

 

[StimpyWan]

I'm glad to see the 58S get several mentions in this thread. A great speaker, that sells well under the AR3/3a price range. A true Sleeper AR, that flies under the radar, due to the 3/3a shadow, it lives under.

 

[Imprecise]

I agree with the AR-9 sentiments.

But, they are also the most demanding, and dependent on the amplifier that drives them.

If you don't have the amplification and upstream equipment to support them, your particular results won't echo the sentiments in this thread.

Way back I had a pair of AR-9's driven by a Dynaco ST-416 so the low impedance was not a problem. Also had a pretty big room with good side clearance for the woofers. The equipment was recessed in what was once a built-in bookshelf intended for big hardcovers , redone to accommodate the gear. The 9's replaced a 3a pair and the 416 replaced a ST-120 and I stopped worrying about clipping destroying the tweeters when filling that room with progressive rock. BTW I see no conflict between prog rock and the New England sound.

Those are the only AR's I ever listened to for any length of time and the AR9 is definitely the better of the two speakers.

 

[Dan ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ]

Everybody knows that the best AR speakers were made by pirates.....ARrrrrrrrrrrrrr...