The BEST AR speakers?

[RxDx]

So, I notice that nobody has said the AR-1. Lowest marks for affordability, to be sure. But being that the design was something of a benchmark in the history of loudspeakers... I mean I'd like to have a pair of ar-1 over any other model, personally.

I had the impression - but I probably picked this up from the cult of western electric - that the ar-2 were considered profoundly disappointing after the ar-1. The way I remember it being explained, the ar-1 was such an excellent product, and made such an intensely high reputation for the company, that it carried them as wind in the sails through the next decade of their business, regardless of the incremental decreases in quality...

*Raises shield*

Now, I'd gander that this is about a half-truth. There does seem to be consensus that the ar-2 is disappointing. But that's because both the ar-1 and ar-3 are spectacular. I feel like the company quickly recovered, but some people just won't forgive them for running out of 755a drivers. Which, by the way, has an interesting rumor surrounding it. I've heard the reason the 755a was used in the ar-1, was that they were available dirt-cheap through a military surplus contract. They'd been heavily over-produced in the post-wwii grind of the military industrial complex for use in just about every battleship mess hall to field station to office lobby, and came at an ultra low cost. Anybody know about this one?

The AR-2 had a smaller woofer, sold for less, and was never
intended to replace the 1 or the 3. Who considered it a
disappointment? People who couldn't get an AR-1 at an AR-2
price?

No idea what "incremental decreases in quality..." or "company
quckly recovered" means. By 1967, AR sold about a third of all
speakers.

Not sure why anyone would want an AR-1 except for collectability.
The AR-3 is the same woofer system with much improved mid
and high range response.

 

[unga-unga]

Who considered it a
disappointment? People who couldn't get an AR-1 at an AR-2
price?

YES precisely, and to this very day in fact!

Not sure why anyone would want an AR-1 except for collectability.
The AR-3 is the same woofer system with much improved mid
and high range response.

I would agree. Collectability/investment value/appreciation potential. And I just get a kick out of things that represent design benchmarks, like for instance the pride of my collection is a field coil tweeter, one of the very first. Designed in 26 or 27 I believe. But the JBL ring radiators I have designed in 55 walk all over it.

 

[daveshel]

AR-3a for sure. I heard LSTs and I think the image wasn't as cohesive. I'm most familiar with the Teledyne models of the early 80s, and I think the 58s was my favorite of that era. The 9 and 90 were too demanding, and even with the right room and the right amp, their imaging was sort of diffuse. I think that their more complicated designs suffered from time alignment issues.

 

[R/90S76]

Don't know if it's to late for another opinion but when it comes to the AR line I'm biased to the AR11s I bought in West Germany In Jan 76. Ive listened to other
ARs through the years but there just something about my AR11s. I ve got them powered up to a Hafler P225 stock except for the updated MPC to 27,000uf,B&K
preamp MC101, Optonica 3500 turntable and the smooth warm tones with no harshness when this combination is turned up just puts a smile on my face.
The ARs have had the tweeters replaced twice through the years and its crossover capacitor, mid ranges replaced while stationed in Germany and the Woofer
replaced years ago due to not being able to find someone refurbish the surround, never did notice any difference in Woofer performance,just wish I'd kept
the original woofers. Keep looking on E Bay for some.

 

[Bkphoto]

My newest project

AR-2a

 

[4300]

I think the "Classic" series deserves a mention, although even some of the most hardcore AR guys have barely heard of them or acknowledge them since they aren't an AR3.

 

[StimpyWan]

I think the "Classic" series deserves a mention, although even some of the most hardcore AR guys have barely heard of them or acknowledge them since they aren't an AR3.

Vertical Series...!

 

[gkimeng]

The "best" AR speaker is always going to be the one that most suits your listening room and other equipment. We can wax nostalgic about AR-3s, LSTs and 9s, but if you have a 9x12 room and a 20 WPC amplifier, none of those are ever going to be at all satisfying to you.

 

[TunerLanding]

I find my AR91s to be...superb... Not too big, not too small. Deep bass & Outstanding sound with either a Pioneer SX -1010 or an SX 1250.... They play everything, well...

View attachment 2562888

I wonder how the aR91 compares to an AR3 or AR10pi? I find the design fascinating has anyone been able to compare them?

 

[gkimeng]

The AR-91 is essentially an AR-11 (AR-10pi with a more conventional AR-3a-type crossover) in a cabinet designed to be on the floor rather than on a stand or bookshelf, and with a mid and tweeter whose output is tuned to be more in line with consumer preference of its time (more highs, narrow dispersion for "tighter imaging," rather than wide dispersion for a broader soundstage. Which you prefer depends on your personal preference. I found them a tad bit "screechy" for my ears at their default settings, and if I had a pair I'd need to turn the switches down.

 

[Nautiker]

The AR-91 is essentially an AR-11 (AR-10pi with a more conventional AR-3a-type crossover) in a cabinet designed to be on the floor rather than on a stand or bookshelf, and with a mid and tweeter whose output is tuned to be more in line with consumer preference of its time (more highs, narrow dispersion for "tighter imaging," rather than wide dispersion for a broader soundstage. Which you prefer depends on your personal preference. I found them a tad bit "screechy" for my ears at their default settings, and if I had a pair I'd need to turn the switches down.

Whereas I don't find them anything like "screechy" (and having owned Pioneer HPM 100s, I know what hissing, screechy speakers sound like). The AR 91s are about perfect, to my hearing, and play everything very well, indeed... Mine are set to the 'flat' setting... And I've owned them since new - 1980... ;-)

 

[TunerLanding]

Whereas I don't find them anything like "screechy" (and having owned Pioneer HPM 100s, I know what hissing, screechy speakers sound like). The AR 91s are about perfect, to my hearing, and play everything very well, indeed... Mine are set to the 'flat' setting... And I've owned them since new - 1980... ;-)

They are gorgeous! I have the AR90 from that series I love them. That series seems pretty polarizing, people love them or hate them. The voicing and imaging is superb to my ear on my 90s but can’t beat and AR 12” 3 way in a medium space

 

[StimpyWan]

They are gorgeous! I have the AR90 from that series I love them. That series seems pretty polarizing, people love them or hate them. The voicing and imaging is superb to my ear on my 90s but can’t beat and AR 12” 3 way in a medium space

I totally agree. I own 90's and 58S's, and find the 12" woofer in the 58S's, very addictive. They add a touch of midbass warmth, that's very natural. That warmth is sometimes missing in my 90's, which seem to be voiced towards a more neutral balance.

 

[David bland]

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.

Rope caulk is the only way to go with any sealed driver/cabinet. I had to purchase 72 12" strips so I could probably open a strip store (club) LOL.

 

[David bland]

(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.

I have a pair of 17s that I got in an auction for 5.99 and 50.00 for the shipping. Turned out they had Radio Shack woofers, which got me a full refund. The tweeters were hopelessly pushed in, too. Long story short, I took the drivers from a pair of Rock Partners (same as the ones In 18s) and they fit the cabinets, which are in immaculate condition, perfectly. The sound is amazing. I cut the centers out of the original tweeters and glued new ones from Simply Speakers onto them and will put them up for sale for more than I originally paid for the pair of 17s. I got to keep them because the seller was not going to pay fifty bucks to get 6 dollar speakers back. Gave them to my roomy so I still get to listen to them. All they need now is two 6 uf caps and they will be set. Gotta find badges with AR17.5 on them.

 

[David bland]

AR-3a for sure. I heard LSTs and I think the image wasn't as cohesive. I'm most familiar with the Teledyne models of the early 80s, and I think the 58s was my favorite of that era. The 9 and 90 were too demanding, and even with the right room and the right amp, their imaging was sort of diffuse. I think that their more complicated designs suffered from time alignment issues.

9s and 90s are hands down the best. With the right electronics in front of them and proper recap mods, they are in a different league from the rest. With my 90s tweaked and positioned just right and 425 high current watts feeding them, they are kings of this castle. (Room is too small for 9s, but who knows what the future holds).

 

[11B40]

I bought the AR 12s new in '77 for$500 at Pacific Stereo in N.Cal. About 1985 the surrounds and foam grills were shot. I ordered new woofers and foam covers from AR put them in and the surrounds lasted until about 2010. I refoamed the 10" and the midrange. They are just fantastic sounding. I just play them as the music wants, no loudness or adjustments to tone. The sound has a lot to do with the Sansui 8080 I bought with them for $500 also. The 12s come to life at about one aucoustical watt, that's quarter throttle. They do fine at less but 1 watt awakes them. I especialy like Steely Dan at 1 or 2. The 12s handle anything you put into them, they will drive you out of town at half throttle.

 

[TunerLanding]

AR17 was my first set of AR and as I understand it a direct answer to the Large Advent. Very nice but slightly bettered by my Boston Acoustics A200 which is a three way and more expensive at the time. The AR17 began me on quite a journey!

 

[TunerLanding]

AR12 has quite a glowing following considering it was #3 down the pecking order of AR bookshelves from the mid-late 70s. I attribute this partly to the midrange which is also found on the 1979 AR tower designs. Interesting they weren’t used on the 11 or 10pi. Also the 10” woofer is easier to drive and place and in my experience (current AR90 and 10pi owner) having the “right amplifier” and room acoustics/placement are pivotal in ar speaker performance especially the side woofer and 12” designs. I’ve read lots of reviews on people giving up on the 90 and 9 and it’s understandable as after 2 years I’m still figuring them out. Give them room to breathe and don’t toe them in much or you’ll obscure the soundstage big time. Underpower them and you’ll lose detail. ARs are finicky comparatively but get it right and you have speakers worthy of a very nice system. I’ve seen AR3 sets amplified by very expensive amplifiers for example which speaks to how right the designs are.

 

[Andyman]

I finally refoamed a set of $70 AR-10Pi I bought quite a few years ago about 3 years ago and they have been my #2 speaker behind my Altec A7s and probably will replace them when I downsize.