wilson Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 Hi, I recently picked up a newer pair of AR5's #40500. These are the first I've seen with the ceramic magnet woofer.The woofers are marked AR5 and seem to be dated 1974. The labels on the back are Norwood MA /Teledynerather than CambridgeWhat is the feeling about the ceramic woofer? Are there changes to any of the other drivers?I have a spare set of regular alnico woofers - should I use the older drivers or rebuild the newer 5's as is?Thanks for your thoughts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 The ceramic magnet woofers should work OK. I am not aware of any AR-5 crossover changes specific to that era or driver. The early ceramic magnet 10 inch driver has the same cone and flat dust cap of its predecessor. Is that the version you have?Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve F Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 The AR-5 woofer-to-midrange crossover frequency changed from 650 to 550 Hz, in specs published around 1973-ish. When I wrote to AR at that time to question it, they replied something along the lines of, "....the specs had been updated to reflect changes that had been made some time ago."My guess is that the AR-5 w-to-mr x-o freq changed at the same time that the 3a went from 575 to 525, as the result, if I remember correctly, of a slight coil change.Steve F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted July 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 The early ceramic magnet 10 inch driver has the same cone and flat dust cap of its predecessor. Is that the version you have?RoyYes - from the front it looks identical to the early woofers. I haven't pulled them apart any further than the woofers. What year was the Teledyne transition? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyC Posted July 9, 2014 Report Share Posted July 9, 2014 Yes - from the front it looks identical to the early woofers. I haven't pulled them apart any further than the woofers. What year was the Teledyne transition?The AR-5 crossover change occurred before the introduction of the ceramic magnet woofer. Like the 3a, the crossover changes happened substantially before being reflected in the published specs....more like '72 based on my observations. The woofers you have will behave much like their alnico magnet predecessors. They should sound fine.Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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