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Thinking AR-3as now....

ericson38

ericson38

Active Member
We have HPM-1100s, JBL-166s, JBL-50s, Bose 901 IIs, and AR-4x's. I'd like some inputs on those who have listened closely to a pair of AR-3As.

Based on the amount of sound that comes out of the small AR-4Xs, am considering letting go of one of the pair we have now and get a pair of AR-3As.

I'm also thinking (hoping) that they will have better overall sound than the JBLs. HPM-1100s have their strengths, depending on music track, The voice detail on the AR-4x's is really special.
 
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ericson38 said:
We have HPM-1100s, JBL-166s, JBL-50s, Bose 901 IIs, and AR-4x's. I'd like some inputs on those who have listened closely to a pair of AR-3As.

Based on the amount of sound that comes out of the small AR-4Xs, am considering letting go of one of the pair we have now and get a pair of AR-3As.

I'm also thinking (hoping) that they will have better overall sound than the JBLs. HPM-1100s have their strengths, depending on music track, The voice detail on the AR-4x's is really special.
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The 3/3a is in a different league then the 4x series. Every aspect is enhanced. Better dimensionality, sound stage, much deeper bass. If you get a set, be prepared to do some restoration work. The caps need to be replaced. Woofer surrounds may need replacing unless they are early serial numbers with alnico, cloth surround woofers. Also, the tweeters in the 3as often have low output, but can be restored. Just some things to keep in mind.
 
I have the 3a's and a pair of 4x's as well. GD70 is absolutely correct in his assessment, the 3a's are in a different league. I would only respectfully add that they are a very difficult 4 ohm load on an amp/receiver. All the smaller AR's from that vintage, although not efficient, are 8 ohms IIRC.
I would also factor in that they are going for major bucks now even unrestored. Having said that, they are my favorite speaker that I've ever owned.
 
I would be driving them with either the Sansui AU 719, Pioneer SX950, or Sansui G8000. I sold off thousands of $s worth of audio I had restored over the last 10 years back in 2015. So this is all I have kept, along with some Pioneer turntables, Sansui tuners, and a (lonely) Pioneer CTF-1250 tape deck.

I was reading through this product list-

http://www.aphenos.net/electronics/speakers/klh/all_ar.htm

and saw that the AR-11s are also deep down (bass) speakers. So its either the 3a's for me or possibly the AR-11s.

Any comments on the AR11s ?
 
Keep your eyes peeled for some AR 5’s too. They are 8ohm I believe.

Had a pair of 3’s I restored and loved them for live music, freaking magical but not on all recordings so I moved them on. They like lots of current to open them up so keep that in mind.

just my two cents worth.
 
AR58S, AR91, and AR92s are all similar speakers too, and worthy of consideration, as well. Plus, the later AR303 and AR302. All 3-ways, with an AR dome midrange.

Good luck.
 
image.jpg AR11s (or 12s) will provide very similar performance to the 3 series. I have both 3s and 12s often running side by side. Soundwise the 12s compare very favorably with the 3s. They might not be as well known or coveted, but the price of admission is lower as well. And I like their appearance better than the threes.
 
I listened carefully to AR3As back when they were new and thought they sounded tonally dull and dynamically constipated, bad speakers; the ones I heard more recently were no better. It's the Bizarro World Klipsch Heresy.

I think the little AR 4X is superior to the 3A; it's livelier, more alert.

Of course speaker taste is subjective and there are those who disagree with me. You have to listen and make up your own mind, not go by a bunch of jaspers online (even me) unless you're familiar enough with a certain person well enough to know and trust their taste.
 
As @Tom Brennan says, it's a matter of personal taste. Having said that, my AR3a always sound so good to me that I seldom have any interest in rotating anything else in. Listening to them as I type this. Mids & highs are laid back but smooth. But what I appreciate most is bass response that can make me completely forget that a subwoofer is a device that ever needed to exist.
 
Chilibrother said:
As @Tom Brennan says, it's a matter of personal taste. Having said that, my AR3a always sound so good to me that I seldom have any interest in rotating anything else in. Listening to them as I type this. Mids & highs are laid back but smooth. But what I appreciate most is bass response that can make me completely forget that a subwoofer is a device that ever needed to exist.
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I agree. The AR3/3a was designed intentionally to have a downward sloping frequency response, through the high end. The mids lower in level than the bass, and the treble softer than the mids. I believe this was due to AR wanting a speaker than performed best with acoustic/classical music. A design that makes for an unfatiguing listen.

As to the bass performance of the AR 12" woofer, I feel it's very special. Fast, detailed, natural, and dynamic, with excellent extension. Maybe the best thing about these AR speakers. I love it's performance in my AR58S's, which have a flatter balance, more akin to AR9s. A balance I like much better, as I like slightly more treble hotness. Not bright, just more treble presence.
 
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macyjrm said:
View attachment 1994140 AR11s (or 12s) will provide very similar performance to the 3 series. I have both 3s and 12s often running side by side. Soundwise the 12s compare very favorably with the 3s. They might not be as well known or coveted, but the price of admission is lower as well. And I like their appearance better than the threes.
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The 12 is an excellent speaker, and love mine. They have been recapped, woofer and mid surrounds replaced. Definitely more forward in the mids and highs, extremely good detail, but still not fatiguing. They are fairly rare though, produced for one year in 1977. The 11s are easier to find, have the same cabs as the 12s with 12 inch woofers. BUT, I still say the 3s overall balance, is better to my ears. Also, another big BUT, is the 3s need, must, be properly, and completely restored to hear what they truly can sound like, which is phenomenal.
 
ericson38 said:
We have HPM-1100s, JBL-166s, JBL-50s, Bose 901 IIs, and AR-4x's. I'd like some inputs on those who have listened closely to a pair of AR-3As.

Based on the amount of sound that comes out of the small AR-4Xs, am considering letting go of one of the pair we have now and get a pair of AR-3As.

I'm also thinking (hoping) that they will have better overall sound than the JBLs. HPM-1100s have their strengths, depending on music track, The voice detail on the AR-4x's is really special.
Click to expand...
I have this recent video posted in the Video thread, but thought I’d post it here as well to give you a taste, an idea of what the AR3 is capable of. The 3a would be similar. This set, 1960, is completely restored, except for the crossovers which have the original oil can caps. The video is a live piece, with an amazing percussion segment.
Glenn
 
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GD70 said:
I have this recent video posted in the Video thread, but thought I’d post it here as well to give you a taste, an idea of what the AR3 is capable of. The 3a would be similar. This set, 1960, is completely restored, except for the crossovers which have the original oil can caps. The video is a live piece, with an amazing percussion segment.
Glenn
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They sound very good. Having that high damping factor JVC power amp makes for a great combination.
 
homebrew said:
Unless you're a collector, the outrageous prices people are asking for Ar-3as should be illegal. Sonically, they just aren't worth it.
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I think I missed the boat, with the normal fare passage rates. Going to keep looking for those, and AR11s.

Strangely, I like the JBL L50s better than the L166s (follow on to L100 Centurys). They image really well, almost like the preamp outs are plugged into hearing aids directly. But their bass is not as good as the L166s.
 
ericson38 said:
They sound very good. Having that high damping factor JVC power amp makes for a great combination.
Click to expand...
Thanks for listening. The power amp is amazing. Has no trouble driving any of my speakers, and listening all day, it's just warm.
 
StimpyWan said:
I agree. The AR3/3a was designed intentionally to have a downward sloping frequency response, through the high end. The mids lower in level than the bass, and the treble softer than the mids. I believe this was due to AR wanting a speaker than performed best with acoustic/classical music. A design that makes for an unfatiguing listen.

As to the bass performance of the AR 12" woofer, I feel it's very special. Fast, detailed, natural, and dynamic, with excellent extension. Maybe the best thing about these AR speakers. I love it's performance in my AR58S's, which have a flatter balance, more akin to AR9s. A balance I like much better, as I like slightly more treble hotness. Not bright, just more treble presence.
Click to expand...

I have a pair of AR 3a's restored by Vintage AR. My pair has the HiVi Q1R tweeters, L-Pads instead of pots, and a less resistive circuit on the midrange. So I can turn the tweeter and midrange controls down and have them sound like the originals or turn them up a bit and add presence and treble. I have owned more speakers than I care to list and my AR 3a's blow them all away. I also have a pair of the original 6's. The original series has an inductor on the woofer circuit and the long throw woofer that was not used in any other model. The magnets surround the voice coil rather than having a magnet behind the voice coil. The woofer has the same frequency response as the AR 10" woofer. The 6 is better than the 4 and even the 6 does not come anywhere near what the 3a's do.
 
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johnjhazel said:
I have a pair of AR 3a's restored by Vintage AR. My pair has the HiVi Q1R tweeters, L-Pads instead of pots, and a less resistive circuit on the midrange. So I can turn the tweeter and midrange controls down and have them sound like the originals or turn them up a bit and add presence and treble. I have owner more speakers than I care to list and my AR 3a's blow them all away. I also have a pair of the original 6's. The original series has an inductor on the woofer circuit and the long throw woofer that was not used in any other model. The magnets surround the voice coil rather than having a magnet behind the voice coil. The woofer has the same frequency response as the AR 10" woofer. The 6 is better than the 4 and even the 6 does not come anywhere near what the 3a's do.
Click to expand...

I'm restoring my AR90s now. New caps, and refinishing the cabinets. If I ever complete that work, I have a pair of AR5s up next, for restoration. I'll try and keep those close to as stock in sound as possible. That'll give me the vintage AR sound, when desired.
 
StimpyWan said:
AR58S, AR91, and AR92s are all similar speakers too, and worthy of consideration, as well. Plus, the later AR303 and AR302. All 3-ways, with an AR dome midrange.

Good luck.
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I even preferred the AR48s (with cone midrange!) to the fully restored AR-3a I had.
 
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