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Gaston

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  1. Or even better: https://atc.audio/hi-fi/loudspeakers/classic-series/scm100-2/ The woofers WERE outdone, but the old tweeters smashed the new ones: It was my opinion also, until we did this A-B. The "clear and precise" description is not wrong, they are just like that. That impression remains even after A-B with AR. It's just that the AR's tweeter reproduction was class above, it was much more gentle on the ears and at the same time much more revealing with more details (some sounds could not even be heard on 685's). That 1½" AR cone tweeter should not even reach 20kHz properly but it sounds magical (in comparison with 1" dome tweeter in 685 s2). Thanks, it was a great read. B&W Matrix 801 s2 is owned by a distant acquaintance, perhaps there will be a chance to make a comparison with AR (3a or 11). I had problems getting my AR 11's to sound properly (for my ears), I did not want to modify the crossover and then I tried them with a Sansui AU-5900 that has bass/mid/high controls. They are great now. Their sound is "sparkling" in comparison with AR-3a, but with Sansui's mid control I managed to remove the "nasal" character of AR-11 that I hated and I believe that they now sound closer to modern speakers than to classical AR's.
  2. It is very hard to find a comparison on the web/forums where you can read that someone has done an A/B comparison between AR and some random modern speakers. When this question is mentioned there are always people that without direct comparison conclude that AR's should sound "closed/boxed/muted/sub-todays standards etc". A friend of mine owns a pair of B&W 685 S2 speakers that always amaze me when I visit him. So, we did a direct comparison with AR-6 speakers. This comparison should be fair, since both speakers should belong in similar acoustic and price group (in his own age of course). So, let's get directly to the point - we both agreed that the technology did not improved much in those last 50 years or so. - B&W's had better, tighter, deeper, more pronounced low frequencies... even though the LF driver is smaller, they easily outclassed AR's with bass. - Surprisingly, AR's mid and higher frequencies reproduction was way way way (that's 3 times ) better than B&W's. The details were incomparable. B&W's sounded muted with some sounds obscured and were incomparably better reproduced and revealed by AR's which sound was full with air and presence. We used the original B&W stands for both speakers. I would love to hear from someone that has done this kind of comparison with AR's with 12" LF driver. I have a pair or AR-3a and AR-11, but I cannot find a friend that has a comparable modern speaker... B&W 685 S2 data:
  3. Maybe you are right, the pictures provided are pretty bad, so definitive conclusion from someone with better eye. However, who knows what's happening inside (the crossover). edit: this thread maybe can help you (it seems they are really Tonegen, not original as I assumed):
  4. Woofers are original, they need to be refoamed. Tweeters are probably from next gen AR-11/10π. Mids looks like Tonegen replacement drivers. AFAIK everything is ok-ish with drivers unless you want an all original pair. The unknown lies inside, since there are no pots, there is a big concern that the crossover has been modified.
  5. The woofers also don't look original. Like the cones have been replaced?
  6. That's not it. I know about NHT. In the article by @tysontom here: when talking about the development of powered AR-9's he mentions this on page 14: The amplifier design that was to be used in the “9D” later became the NAD 3020, one of the best-selling integrated amplifiers in high-fidelity history. The concept was to allow the speaker operate at normal levels with low or moderate power, yet accurately reproduce high peak levels by using a dedicated high-peak-current amplifier for each driver section. Before it started on its own, NAD was known as “New Acoustic Dimension by AR.” At NAD—essentially spun off by Teledyne AR—the company developed many innovative electronic designs by Erik Edvardsen.
  7. Ok, thank you all I have abandoned the idea... and this is the second unit of this age that I am skipping so far. It was a Sansui AU-717 previously because of "Sansui dreaded glue" issue and now this Nasty Audio Device... It seems that I should save some money and go for a brand new unit. The question is - which one; how much money will I need to gain that sweet, mellow sound that amps of aforementioned age provide. I cannot even think about a McInthosh even they all speak highly of them, their price is insane. I will get back in a year or two when I have money enough to talk about this subject How good a pro amp sounds? I have one preamp - semi vintage. It's a Kenwood Basic C2 preamp (that I have no idea how it sounds), OR, I can use a real vintage Sansui AU-5900 amp as a preamp - that sounds nice, but lacks power to drive those speakers satisfactory.
  8. Now that popped my balloon... but thanx While I completely agree about the age, that is my main concern, why you say that there's no evidence for 4 ohm speakers? Here: this says: Output: Speakers: 2x2, 4 to 8 ohm This review here attracted me to this NAD: https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-nad-nad-7080-receiver-amplifier Happy Holidays to you, too
  9. Not at the same time, even though as far as I understood the attached technical specs it allows 2 pairs of 4 Ohm speakers. The question is - "NAD and AR - is this a good symbiosis?" I read somewhere on this forum that NAD, the founding of that company was actually initiated(?) by AR? NAD 7080 is made from 1978 - 1980 and not much info can be found on the net, but it seems that it does not lack power. But how does it sound with AR's? Should I buy the receiver or skip it? The price is fair (290$), the condition is 8/10 (scratches on the edges of the faceplate, everything else seems to be factory original and perfectly working).
  10. @tommost for the logo here you go, just extract the AR only: AR3a.ai
  11. I can certainly try to replace it with fiberglass (even though, fiberglass has been succeeded by stone wool here - some usual european regulation crap aimed to destruct ones and to launch others behind the curtains of ecology and health). If I do manage to find fiberglass, I will replace it and will report if that changed the sound. Thanx.
  12. Thanx for your reply Aadams! The woofers are in phase. They were not stuffed with fiberglass originally. I used the original polyfil, I measured it - arround 400gr per speaker.
  13. I was wrong. They don't sound neutral, mids are too much for my ears. -6dB on the back switch is not enough to calm them. Also, can someone confirm or maybe there's some defect with my speakers - they sound like there's not enough upper bass. Low bass is present.
  14. Posting on a forum actually can be used as a good shock how the time passes. Now, after more than a year I have somehow managed to finish them. This is the finish after 3 coats of Colron Refined Danish Oil in Jacobean Dark Oak: https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/product/colron-refined-danish-oil It did darken them, but very nicely actually. They could have been much better done, but I am happy. The aluminum rings around the tweeters are there because I was afraid that I will break the fragile dry plastic. This is the first time that I gave them a good listen (first time - only briefly 10 years a go or more when I bought them). Then, 10 years a go I had a feeling that they had nasal sound, but now they sound... neutral to my ears. At the start I had the mids at -6dB and highs at -3dB. I would not touch anything. The sound is modern. I mean they sound very nice, but the sound is clean and neutral - compared to AR-3a. The 3a's are much easier listen than those. Even AR-14's sound mellower (tell me if I am wrong). Perhaps tweeters really need those acoustic blankets installed.
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