tmad40blue
"I can hear forever!"
Do the refoaming yourself. It's not difficult by any means – recapping is probably harder in that you have to solder things 
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Which was better AR-3a or AR2-ax ?
- Thread starter jgscott
- Start date
ssmith3046
Super Member
AR-3a is the king. AR-2ax is right behind it. IMO
RxDx
Speaker collector
I haven't heard them, but the AR12 looks like a replacement for the 2 series. You probably did fine. The real test is if the sound appeals to you, regardless what others say. I say if you get something like the 2 low- and mid-range response with a little more high-end, you may have a real gem.
michiganpat
Super Member
AR 12 is the successor to the 2ax/5 when the ADD series of speakers came out. I've never heard a pair, but I've never heard a bad sounding AR, so I don't think you made too big of an error 
the 10" woof is easy to refoam yourself. the midrange is interesting, IIRC, as it is ferrofluid cooled, and is spiderless--the foam is the only suspension. that might be trickier to refoam. it was replaced by the 48S when that series took over.
as far as the foam, GordonW on the board or Msound has the proper large-roll, highly compliant foam surrounds. the AR voice coil gap is relatively large, so there's no need for shimming, just glue the surround to the cone, let it dry overnight, and then glue the surround to the basket, playing a 30hz test tone through it to center it. I'm thinking this would be the best way to refoam the mid, too, but maybe a 1000hz tone. you can generate any frequency sine wave tone with the freeware audacity.
grilles on the ADD series were foam, and usually fell apart. my AR-18's have 1 set of original foam grilles, 1 set with some replacement radioshack foam. there are sources on line for foam grilles, but they aren't too cheap. for about $80 Vintage-AR sells wood frame/cloth grilles that dimensionally match the original foam with the beveled edges. they don't look too tough to make if you have a table saw, miter box, and a little bit of skill....I just haven't had time to make any for my 18's with 2 rugrats running around
so the deal on the AR93's fell through?
the 10" woof is easy to refoam yourself. the midrange is interesting, IIRC, as it is ferrofluid cooled, and is spiderless--the foam is the only suspension. that might be trickier to refoam. it was replaced by the 48S when that series took over.
as far as the foam, GordonW on the board or Msound has the proper large-roll, highly compliant foam surrounds. the AR voice coil gap is relatively large, so there's no need for shimming, just glue the surround to the cone, let it dry overnight, and then glue the surround to the basket, playing a 30hz test tone through it to center it. I'm thinking this would be the best way to refoam the mid, too, but maybe a 1000hz tone. you can generate any frequency sine wave tone with the freeware audacity.
grilles on the ADD series were foam, and usually fell apart. my AR-18's have 1 set of original foam grilles, 1 set with some replacement radioshack foam. there are sources on line for foam grilles, but they aren't too cheap. for about $80 Vintage-AR sells wood frame/cloth grilles that dimensionally match the original foam with the beveled edges. they don't look too tough to make if you have a table saw, miter box, and a little bit of skill....I just haven't had time to make any for my 18's with 2 rugrats running around
so the deal on the AR93's fell through?
jgscott
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys. I wish someone hear had heard them or own a good set now. Also thanks for the info on the foam. I'm still not gonna try and redo myself though, maybe another time on some pratice speakers.
Well here's go's my first set of AR's. Strange that they are very odd, and not to many owned or heard of them.
I don't do art work real well. I will do the cabs and change the caps though.
Well here's go's my first set of AR's. Strange that they are very odd, and not to many owned or heard of them.
I don't do art work real well. I will do the cabs and change the caps though.
I've owned/own both types of AR-2ax (original larger orange dome tweeter and small black dome tweeter versions) and AR-3a speakers (original alnico woofer and later standard type woofer). Although the AR-2ax is a very nice speaker, it is not on the same level as either of the AR-3a versions. I prefer the original AR-3a woofer to the later standard woofer. The original is more balanced to the rest of the speaker, but more importantly, it is a FAR more realistic speaker ie. it sounds more like real bass instruments. As a matter of fact, to my ears, the original AR-3a sounds more like real instruments than any other speaker I've ever heard. It's one of the finest speakers ever made. Transcendent!
Copa1934
My ears are bleeding
Too funny. I knew almost instantly RS catalog! Just think, look at those prices, but more importantly "monthly" installments! Now you know how many people were able to get better quality gear. A lot of people often write here about "how could people afford that equipment?" Answer was most couldn't, but with monthly installments people found a way.AR-3a.
(sorry this was pre-AR-3a; the AR-3 was the original version - the AR-3a had a smaller HF dome with improved HF extension)
Nice little bit of trivia those catalog images!
furnitureguy
Active Member
Ar-2ax - Ar-3a - Ar10-pi - Ar-9
I bought a pair of AR-3a's new in 1972. I sold them in the mid 80's when I needed money and they needed repairs.
My audio fever was re-kindled a few years ago and a pair of 3a’s was at the top of my acquisition list. Along the way though, I procured two pairs of Ar-2ax’s. These are great speakers and I was very impressed! Having not heard a pair of 3a’s in nearly 30 years, I wondered how they compared to the 2ax’s. Were they actually all that better?
The Ar-3a is legendary and commands a premium price these days, so I bought a pair on eBay that supposedly were in great working condition but the cabinets were trashed. This suited me fine because I am a woodworker and repairing the cabinets was an easy job for me. I ended up replacing both sets of tweeters and mid-ranges, re-foaming the woofers and all new caps!!!! By the time I got done I could have easily paid top dollar for a pair in prime shape. My wife made me feel better when she commented that I had saved this pair from the landfill. Needless to say I did not give the eBay seller a positive feedback.
When I finally got the 3a’s restored, I hooked them up along with the 2ax’s to my Marantz 2285b and did the A/B switch test. As good as the 2ax’s were – the 3a’s were that much better. I was in Audio Bliss – the 3a’s were worth all the effort I had put into them.
Not long after this, a pair of AR-10pi’s appeared on craigslist. My knowledge of audio gear was frozen in 1973. To me, these were “newer” speakers and I had not heard of them. Doing a little research, I discovered the 10pi’s are touted as the ultimate improved version of the Ar-3a. I was a bit skeptical - I was in love with the 3a’s and felt nothing could replace them. But my curiosity was piqued, so I contacted the seller (Brian, an Aker and now a friend) and struck a deal that involved my woodworking.
The unknown is never truly realized until experienced – I was under the assumption that it didn’t get better than the Ar-3a, but my Audio Bliss found a new high with the 10pi!
Recently, I have been reading about the Ar-9’s. It is said that they are yet even better than the Ar-10pi’s.
I have never heard a pair of the 9’s, but after my experience with the 2ax’s - 3a’s and 10pi’s, my imagination has been telling me that’s where (Audio) Nirvana ultimately exists .
I bought a pair of AR-3a's new in 1972. I sold them in the mid 80's when I needed money and they needed repairs.
My audio fever was re-kindled a few years ago and a pair of 3a’s was at the top of my acquisition list. Along the way though, I procured two pairs of Ar-2ax’s. These are great speakers and I was very impressed! Having not heard a pair of 3a’s in nearly 30 years, I wondered how they compared to the 2ax’s. Were they actually all that better?
The Ar-3a is legendary and commands a premium price these days, so I bought a pair on eBay that supposedly were in great working condition but the cabinets were trashed. This suited me fine because I am a woodworker and repairing the cabinets was an easy job for me. I ended up replacing both sets of tweeters and mid-ranges, re-foaming the woofers and all new caps!!!! By the time I got done I could have easily paid top dollar for a pair in prime shape. My wife made me feel better when she commented that I had saved this pair from the landfill. Needless to say I did not give the eBay seller a positive feedback.
When I finally got the 3a’s restored, I hooked them up along with the 2ax’s to my Marantz 2285b and did the A/B switch test. As good as the 2ax’s were – the 3a’s were that much better. I was in Audio Bliss – the 3a’s were worth all the effort I had put into them.
Not long after this, a pair of AR-10pi’s appeared on craigslist. My knowledge of audio gear was frozen in 1973. To me, these were “newer” speakers and I had not heard of them. Doing a little research, I discovered the 10pi’s are touted as the ultimate improved version of the Ar-3a. I was a bit skeptical - I was in love with the 3a’s and felt nothing could replace them. But my curiosity was piqued, so I contacted the seller (Brian, an Aker and now a friend) and struck a deal that involved my woodworking.
The unknown is never truly realized until experienced – I was under the assumption that it didn’t get better than the Ar-3a, but my Audio Bliss found a new high with the 10pi!
Recently, I have been reading about the Ar-9’s. It is said that they are yet even better than the Ar-10pi’s.
I have never heard a pair of the 9’s, but after my experience with the 2ax’s - 3a’s and 10pi’s, my imagination has been telling me that’s where (Audio) Nirvana ultimately exists .
Rome
Holsum Honey Buns
As an owner of AR-3a's & 5's I can attest to the incredible sound of the 3a's. I have not heard any AR-2's, but my 5's are also wonderful. Not as robust as the 3a's, but that is understood.
Right now, I don't have anything powerful enough to drive the 3a's that would make them truly shine.
The MCS 3275 (75wpc) is what I am using right now & they still fill the room with sound & amazing bass extension. I need about 200wpc to bring them to life.
The 5's are a very balanced sounding speaker. I don't use much bass on the Kenwood amp & they still dip very low on the songs that scream deep bass.
The Kenwood KA-995 is a 100wpc 8 ohm amp, but I don't see any info that suggests it can drive 4 ohm speakers.
Hope to hear a pair of those mentioned here like the AR-2's & 12's.
Rome
Right now, I don't have anything powerful enough to drive the 3a's that would make them truly shine.
The MCS 3275 (75wpc) is what I am using right now & they still fill the room with sound & amazing bass extension. I need about 200wpc to bring them to life.
The 5's are a very balanced sounding speaker. I don't use much bass on the Kenwood amp & they still dip very low on the songs that scream deep bass.
The Kenwood KA-995 is a 100wpc 8 ohm amp, but I don't see any info that suggests it can drive 4 ohm speakers.
Hope to hear a pair of those mentioned here like the AR-2's & 12's.
Rome
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gkimeng
Forum Mod, ClassicSpeakerPages.net
It's very preference dependent. The ADD series that the 10pi belongs to started a slow drift in the AR "family sound" toward the more forward balance that most consumers preferred in the mid-70's, and the 9s go even further.
The 9s are also much more placement-sensitive and require much more power than the 3a or the 10pi. 300-400 wpc is not an unusual figure to hear people say they needed to get them to perform at their best. You'll also want an amp that is stable down to 2 ohms.
WARNING - slightly off topic --
I LOVE your image - I had the exact AR turntable for years !! What a classic..as well as a pair of AR 4's
As for the 3a, as a kid in 7th grade, I would routinely write companies for their product literature, and I clearly recall how excited I was to get the AR material. They said the the 3a was "the best speaker we know how to make" ... so my vote is the 3a (although I only got to hear them once !)...and I always loved seeing the great ads in Audio magazine or High Fidelity (Miles Davis etc)..
gkimeng
Forum Mod, ClassicSpeakerPages.net
Yes, the AR-12 is in the ADD series (1976-1979). The ADD series was the changeover from the classic AR styling and sound, but was not a company change. Teledyne bought AR from Edgar Villchur in 1967 and held the company until 1990 when they sold it to Jensen.
Hi, I realize this is an old thread, but I have to say, what a great read, a great thread! I learned a lot. Love AK, and the AR line. I have a pair of AR 9's paired with a Yamaha 2020. Talk about musical bliss! I also have a pair of AR 90's also paired with another 2020' and a pair of 91's paired with a Marantz 2285b. While these aren't as blissful as the 9's, they are very close.
I have a pair of 2ax's coming my way and am interested in how they will sound. Now looking for a pair of 3a's. My wife, who is wonderful about all of this, is starting to question my sanity!
Anyway, thanks again guys for a great thread! :thmbsp:
I have a pair of 2ax's coming my way and am interested in how they will sound. Now looking for a pair of 3a's. My wife, who is wonderful about all of this, is starting to question my sanity!
Anyway, thanks again guys for a great thread! :thmbsp:
scamwb
Active Member
The ultimate in their day
I had both. First we had a pair of AR-2's which we upgraded with a pair of factory crossfire midranges to 2a's which greatly improved the sound but they did not compare to the 3's which had superior bass and a smoother overall sound and in my opinion were the best speakers AR ever made. In their (an my) nothing compared to the AR-3 it was what I aspired to as soon as I because an audiophile. They had awesome bass and were a bit deficient in the high's and there were few amps that could drive them especially solid state. I remember our Dynaco ST-120 having all kinds of trouble and clipping when we cranked them.
I had both. First we had a pair of AR-2's which we upgraded with a pair of factory crossfire midranges to 2a's which greatly improved the sound but they did not compare to the 3's which had superior bass and a smoother overall sound and in my opinion were the best speakers AR ever made. In their (an my) nothing compared to the AR-3 it was what I aspired to as soon as I because an audiophile. They had awesome bass and were a bit deficient in the high's and there were few amps that could drive them especially solid state. I remember our Dynaco ST-120 having all kinds of trouble and clipping when we cranked them.