The BEST AR speakers?
- Thread starter Cathead45
- Start date
mccarty350
Super Member
I LOVE that raw pine look! It looks killer! I like your version much better than if it had been gray Snade.
mccarty350
Super Member
Drooooooooooool!
ssmith3046
Super Member
I think 4x is one of the best small bookshelf speakers ever made.
Prefer it over AR-6 too.
imready
it's good to be the king!
Though this tread is a couple months since the last post, I feel inclined to add my 2 cents worth. I have 3 pairs of ar 2's, a pair of ar 2ax's, ar 3a's and an original pair of ar 3's. I haven't listened to the 2's to know how well they play. The 2ax's and 3a's would probably keep most people happy driven with amps of similiar age like pioneer x2x or x3x. Marantz 22xx will do the too, the musicality of all these components make them a good match. However, the AR 3's are my favorites. I've had them in my loft system for the last year driving them with a pioneer sx 828. They are a joy to listen to, can play anything I listen to (analog only) jazz, blues, rock, singer song writer. They meet every laid that was made of them by ar back in the late 50's (58?).
All my avr's are garage sale finds. I got the Ar3a and Ar2ax pairs at the last garage sale of the day out in the boonies. The guys wife made him sell all his audio equipment because it was blamed for his behavior. I also got the sx 828 that was driving the AR speakers plus some other for what my wife and I could scrape together, maybe $ 47. I felt bad for him but there was no changing his mind. The AR 3's were $40.
I used to run an ad in the newspaper that I was buying old stereo equipment. I always tried to talk people into keep there stuff first and foremost. If necessary, I would help get their system back up and running. One women I convinced of this had mga integrated complete system but no speakers or functioning phono cartridge. She ended up with my first pair of restored Ar2ax's and a phono cartridge of mine for $150. She would call occasionally needing help and still remember walking into her home and hearing beautiful music. Those ar's made even a mediocre amp sound. I was happy for her but sad to lose the speakers. As luck would have it, I pick up another pair a couple years later at the earlier mentioned garage sale. Now that's audio karma!
All my avr's are garage sale finds. I got the Ar3a and Ar2ax pairs at the last garage sale of the day out in the boonies. The guys wife made him sell all his audio equipment because it was blamed for his behavior. I also got the sx 828 that was driving the AR speakers plus some other for what my wife and I could scrape together, maybe $ 47. I felt bad for him but there was no changing his mind. The AR 3's were $40.
I used to run an ad in the newspaper that I was buying old stereo equipment. I always tried to talk people into keep there stuff first and foremost. If necessary, I would help get their system back up and running. One women I convinced of this had mga integrated complete system but no speakers or functioning phono cartridge. She ended up with my first pair of restored Ar2ax's and a phono cartridge of mine for $150. She would call occasionally needing help and still remember walking into her home and hearing beautiful music. Those ar's made even a mediocre amp sound. I was happy for her but sad to lose the speakers. As luck would have it, I pick up another pair a couple years later at the earlier mentioned garage sale. Now that's audio karma!
ignoramustot
Active Member
(Giving an old but worthy thread a bump...)
Any love out there for the AR17?
They seem quite rare where I am (Melbourne Australia).
I've just acquired a pair of AR17 and they're my first ARs, running with a Sansui AU-4900 amplifier and a Dual 1219 turntable.
I'm still getting accustomed to the different sound and lower sensitivity of the AR17 compared with more modern speakers. I think my AR17 will benefit from being raised on stands to help clarify the bass, which is I suspect is being muddied by having them sitting on a carpeted timber floor.
And then I have to remove the amateurish black paint that a previous owner slathered on the cabinets and work on bringing the walnut veneer back to life. And I guess I should check & possibly replace the crossovers at some point, too.
In the meantime, I will enjoy getting to know their sound as it is.
Any love out there for the AR17?
They seem quite rare where I am (Melbourne Australia).
I've just acquired a pair of AR17 and they're my first ARs, running with a Sansui AU-4900 amplifier and a Dual 1219 turntable.
I'm still getting accustomed to the different sound and lower sensitivity of the AR17 compared with more modern speakers. I think my AR17 will benefit from being raised on stands to help clarify the bass, which is I suspect is being muddied by having them sitting on a carpeted timber floor.
And then I have to remove the amateurish black paint that a previous owner slathered on the cabinets and work on bringing the walnut veneer back to life. And I guess I should check & possibly replace the crossovers at some point, too.
In the meantime, I will enjoy getting to know their sound as it is.
ignoramustot
Active Member
Actually they're AR 15, not AR 17.
Can't believe I've made the same mistake in 2 different posts here and haven't yet worked out how to edit my previous post...
BilboBaggins
Addicted Member
I've seen a pair of AR14s around here. I'm curious about where they fit in the AR line. I may have missed it, but I didn't see any mention of the AR14 in this thread. Anyone have any comments about the AR14?
the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
AR 5's
bigx5murf
Super Member
They're probably the most neutral and accurate AR line there is. They're usually bass shy, unless you've got plenty of power on tap. The larger models are better in the bass dept. Some of them have more complex hidden woofers that need repair.
Twinsig
Well-Known Member
+1^^^^^
My LR is 14x18 w/furniture.
55w jvc
Rythmik L12 recently added
4x's recapped, New pots.
Sounds great.
I read somewhere the 4x was designed for small rooms & mimics live performance audio.
I sandbagged the diy stands and use those furniture/floor pads top & bottom to (help) isolate vibration transfer.
I must admit, the L12 really changed the deal .. $600 well spent.
You might try vintage-ar on ebay.
Oh, I wonder if the OP solved the mystery within the last 3 years?
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GD70
Lunatic Member
That’s a very nice setup!
Twinsig
Well-Known Member
Yes it is Curly.. just recieved a grado-green 3 for the TT. That should top it off but still remain equal to the other components.. Anything further id prob need to upgrade everything. $$$$$
My optimus 5 post here explains a speaker comparison where I demo'd the recapped 5's and then reconnected the 4x's. The 5's aren't going to be returned to service in this room!
My optimus 5 post here explains a speaker comparison where I demo'd the recapped 5's and then reconnected the 4x's. The 5's aren't going to be returned to service in this room!
