djcheung Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Hi all,Come across this 'Acoustic Research' speakers and have no idea what they are.Can anybody help in identifying this?Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ligs Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 I only recognize the AR logo and non of the drivers. Can you take a picture of the terminal cup in the back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 I have just asked the seller to send over some pictuers of the back.I do agree with you that non of the drivers look like the usual AR design.I kind of think the woofer look like the woofer used in the Limited 3 by Dynaudio ???I will forward the picture as soon as I receive it.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ligs Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Here is a picture of the woofer used in AR3 limited.http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=1129&page=3I am still using NHT 1259 woofers which share the same appearance of AR3 limited woofers but with twice the voice coil displacement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 Hi there,The reason why I said it looks like the Limited 3 woofer is because I have a pair of them.Still waiting for the pictures.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 The cabinets kind of resemble the 91Lsi but not the drivers. And they're 4-way? Does the seller have a model number? Can't read the label on the front. And is that real wood veneer or vinyl? If the seller would provide a decent, sharp photo that would certainly help.-KentMaybe they're the dreaded "white van specials". Then again maybe it's a UK model that never made it across the pond........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 I am trying very hard to get the seller to take better picture but so far failed.But I have some pictures of the back of the speakers.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 A few more pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ra.ra Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 The suspicious cynic in me thinks that maybe those AR-Norwood labels have been carefully relocated, as in removed from their original cabinets and adhered to these shown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjr513 Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 I would have to agree with ra.ra ... also I never seen a AR speaker with what appears to me a driver what I call a full range "whizzer"cone in middle...i'm refering to the driver below the mid-dome driver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ligs Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 The mid and tweeter appear to be made by Philips.Here is a picture of Philips AD2160 SQ-4http://www.ebay.com/itm/single-Vintage-Philips-Mid-range-Speaker-AD-02160-SQ4-midrange-/220848907818?pt=Speakers_Subwoofers&hash=item336b9ee62aSQ=squarker=midange:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 I have the same suspicion as well.I have asked the seller if he could take pictures of the back of each of the drivers.Let wait and see.The Philips midrange driver looking almost identical except for the silver ring.Thanks all for your valuable inputs.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ligs Posted June 11, 2014 Report Share Posted June 11, 2014 You are welcome! I started using parts from Philips since my high school days, including output transformers(for p-p EL 84), various Philips drivers(from 1 inch to 12 inch). At one time I bought 16 Philips 5-inch fullranges from McGee Radio trying to copy a open back design from RTR that sounded like electrostatic speakers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2014 Well, no response so far !So, I imagine that either the speakers are 'white van' product or he doesn't want to take the driver units out and take some pictures.Just bought a pair of AR58LS this afternoon.So will work on that this weekend instead.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Great find! According to Steve F the 58 was a bookshelf version of the 91 so I would conclude the 58LS is another direct descendant of the AR-3 and worthy speakers indeed. Think you were wise to avoid those questionable ones.How cool that the speakers have made their way to Cambridge. OK--it's UK, not MA but still Cambridge Actually, I visited your beautiful town a couple of years ago to visit my niece at UEA. A great trip.Enjoy the restoration project and please post photos and progress notes.Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Hi Kent,Glad that you have enjoyed your trip to Cambridge.You can always pop in next time you visit to audition my minimal setup with the ARs.Ones can hardly call them bookshelf speakers . So far I haven't come across a bookshelf that can house these monsters. Did a quick test and they sound ok.Woofer and midrange units out of the cabinets.Also discovered that someone had previously opened it up and swapped the polarity around on one of the woofers.Old foam surrounds cleaned and waiting for the new suurounds to arrive.Will probably replace the caps in the xover.They are the old callins !I will use some reasonably price caps - alcap.Should I use something like Solens ?Will post some pictures of the cleaned drivers this evening.Best regards,David.PS. The mystery speaker seller contacted me again saying that there is no way that he can remove the driver units from the cabinets without damaging either the cabinets or the units. They are well sealed ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Here are some pictures of the cleaned up drivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted June 16, 2014 Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Looking goodI'm not familiar with the 58LS but based on experience with the 91 I'd say that Callins CAN caps "may" be fine. It's the black and red PVC that are junk.I'm not a believer in magic properties of capacitors. NPEs are good for big caps. Roy tells us that mylar caps are good if you go for film because the ESR is similar to the original.Not sure what's available your side of the pond. Solens are certainly good but so are many others. I have no experience with alcap.Keep us posted!Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2014 Hi Kent,I have actually confused with the AR14 that I am also working on.The caps in the AR58 are by Interlec.I kind of trying the keep the cost reasonably low considering what I have paid for the speakers.Alcap is a local brand.I have considered Solens and ClarityCaps but they are expensive when there are 5 caps in each of the speakers and the largest is a 100uf.I did get the ClarityCaps when I refurbished the AR9 and they did cost a bit.Will keep you updated with progress.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_C Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 I used the Alcaps (supplied by Falcon Acoustics here in the UK) in my AR-16 and they are fine. I did try and search for info' about using caps other than Electrolytics but there seemed to be conflicting info' about Solens "screaming" and then other info' suggesting a small resistor was needed to compensate for something or other. Without a greater knowledge about electronics like some others on this forum I decided it would be easier and safer to replace like with like. If you do go with the Alcaps it is probably worth paying a few extra pennies for the higher Voltage (100V instead of 50V in my case) and get them matching within 1%, 2% or 5% whatever they hold in stock instead of the usual 10%.The life expectancy will probably be about 30 years. (My understanding is that the life expectancy of NPE caps is a function of voltage, and temperature amongst other things).Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKent Posted June 17, 2014 Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 DavidMay I suggest you abandon this thread and start a new one for the AR58LS?Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djcheung Posted June 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2014 Sorry Kent,Will do.Best regards,David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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