XplicitActs
Super Member
I'd be interested to see the rebuild for the tweeters.
Why is the AR 3A so desirable?
- Thread starter Onebean
- Start date
quiet
Addicted Member
I have a batch of old vintage box speakers that followed my AR3a production date. I'm not saying the AR3a is clearly "better" than "all" the others. But considering all the others had the benefit of early AR research I would expect the followers to be better than they are. Maybe that's the whole story right there. Audios 1964 GTO.
A reputation earned.
My take is they were the first to get a small box to work right with a very good even response. That doesn't mean they're everyone's favorite sound.
I do like the sound. My favorite? Depends on the day. Or music. Or weather...………...
The followers here, acoustic suspension, similar size box.
KLH 5
Advent OLA
DynacoA40XL
Bozak 301 Tempo
Wharfedale W60D
Fisher XP7B
Realistic Optimus 5B
A reputation earned.
My take is they were the first to get a small box to work right with a very good even response. That doesn't mean they're everyone's favorite sound.
I do like the sound. My favorite? Depends on the day. Or music. Or weather...………...
The followers here, acoustic suspension, similar size box.
KLH 5
Advent OLA
DynacoA40XL
Bozak 301 Tempo
Wharfedale W60D
Fisher XP7B
Realistic Optimus 5B
Pio1980
AK Member
Afaik, the OLA was designed to preform at as well as it's predesessors at a price point.
I have been kind of underwhelmed with the AR3As I have heard. Maybe they were not in tip top shape or maybe it was me.....or both.
I agree with Quiet above regarding speakers that followed that learned lessons from them.......like reproducing the same or more bass without 4 ohm loads.
I agree with Quiet above regarding speakers that followed that learned lessons from them.......like reproducing the same or more bass without 4 ohm loads.
GD70
Lunatic Member
These are the later tweeters. Excellent thread for that model.
Chris told me he can rewind the VC's, makes new paper domes, reseals them to the plates, uses a proprietary foam for the blobs.
Glenn
GD70
Lunatic Member
Chris does them, but won't give and tell all his techniques, and the exact materials he uses.
You don't have to like them. I heard new ones many times and didn't care for them. I had a buddy who had them driven by a modified Dyna 400 and he was always kind'a frustrated with their lack of life and inability to flower. So he bought Fulton Modular J speakers; those things were from another world, oh yeah.
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GD70
Lunatic Member
I her ya on that! Personally, I love the sort of rough, organic look of the drivers. What I always get a kick out of is when I demo my 3's for friends with the grills off, watching their expressions when they first hear them. They just can't believe how great they sound, considering what they look like, and because of their vintage!
Pio1980
AK Member
Friend used to service them.
quiet
Addicted Member
You got a point about the 4 ohm thing.
And getting my Ar3a sorted was starting to look like a career job for a while. But it was worth it.
What receiver do you run your ARs with?
Nice specs but I am too lazy to build one.
quiet
Addicted Member
Make sure it's a factory built unit, my is.
I love this. I leave the grills off my KLH Sixes just for this reason, but no one in my life cares about hifi or even notices them. I guess the upside is they also don’t notice when I drag more stuff home.
bjmsam
Yank in the UK
I agree. To this day, mine sound terrific (driven by an Adcom GFA-545) and look great with black cloth.
Yeah, but we're talking about a speaker beloved by people who smoked pipes and drove Volvos.