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xpat

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    Illinois
  • Interests
    2 channel stereo and home theater equipment, classical music, computers

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  1. Thought you may enjoy watching short videos with Edgar Villchur discussing the design of the AR Turntable and acoustic suspension loudspeaker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9mqO6PYAJ4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOlAua3tBSw&feature=youtu.be
  2. I've repaired a pair of AR5s, AR9s and AR6s. I agree with JKent that the foam tape sold by Parts Express is a good option for the reason he mentioned. Also, I found the tape fairly easy to install to get a nice air tight seal. For the price, it is a steal ( I sealed all of the mentioned speakers with one roll and still have some left over.)
  3. I have original AR5s and they still have the original capacitors. I love the sound of the speakers and wouldn't think of changing the caps. I did restore the pots a few years ago and they are still working fine. If the 2ax sounds good to you, leave them alone and enjoy those classics.
  4. I agree AR was way ahead of the curve - and at reasonable prices! Another case in point is my original AR XA Turntable. It has been in storage for approximately 20 years. I just finished cleaning the platter and tonearm bearings and wells. Then re-lubricated. Played some vinyl and was taken back how good the turntable sounds. It's almost on par with my "high end" turntable that cost 25 times more. It surely was a golden age for stereo when the AR classics were produced.
  5. I thought the forum members may find this excerpt interesting. I pulled it from the Stereophile Magazine (Feb 2020). The speaker being discussed is the Magico M2 - a speaker currently selling for $56K ! sealed speaker design.pdf
  6. I got a pain in my gut when I saw the pictures....
  7. AR Surround, Your most recent comment is relevant to my listening situation as well. More specifically: 1) I have always set the UMR controls to -3db on the AR9s. Unfortunately, I don't have an EQ to tone down bright recordings even further. 2) Now that I have new longer cables, I moved the speakers out from the rear wall 4.5 feet. They are 1 foot from the sidewalls with no toe in. Your correct, moving the speakers made a great improvement in the sound. 3) Also agree the AR5's are great speakers for classical music. In my opinion, the timbre of the instruments can't be beat. And yes, when I put on rock, I like more sizzle and almost always use the AR9s (or Sound Dynamics 300 TI's). I've never been fortunate enough to hear a pair of AR3a speakers nor the AR LST. Maybe someday my luck will change.
  8. AR Surround Sorry for not replying sooner. First and foremost, I totally agree with you that moving the speakers can sometimes make a difference (sometimes a huge difference). In answer to your question, when I switched to the Type 4 cable, I tried to put the speakers back exactly where they were before the change. I've had these speakers since the 80's and probably have moved them in every conceivable space given the limitations of the room. Since the day I bought the AR9s, they always sounded somewhat sharp and forward in the midrange which would get tiresome after long listening sessions. In fact, the AR9s were not my "go to" speaker for classical music - instead I used my AR5s. (The sharpness may be due to a mismatch with my amp - an Adcom GFA 555 II. Amp sound is another topic for discussion). With the new cables, the sharpness was toned down considerably and the speakers sound much better.
  9. xpat

    AR-9

    I bought my AR9s new and they had foam inserts. However, over the years, the foam deteriorated and literally crumbled into pieces. I don't believe they made much of a difference in the sound.
  10. I've found that room acoustics, treatments and speaker placement has a tremendous effect on the sound. That's one reason I love this hobby - tweaking the room to see the effect. I've had my AR5s close to the wall, on stands, in the corners etc. In my particular environment, they sound best sitting on the floor. They are 4.5 feet from the back wall and 16" from the side walls. I have them tilted up ever so slightly using two ball bearings, covered by a wood flooring sample, and topped off with some material from a company that sells cellular shades. It's crazy but they sound the best with this configuration. Enjoy the tweaking!
  11. I just upgraded my old speaker cables (Audioquest F14) to Audioquest Type 4. I bought the Type 4s because I like to move my speakers around and didn't have a sufficient length of the F14 to meet my needs. I didn't expect to hear a difference in sound, but was very pleasantly surprised. My AR9s are punching out more bass, high end details (cymbals etc.), and sound smoother. I always thought cables were in the realm of someone selling you snake oil. I guess your never to old to learn something new. Will probably use the F14s on the front home theater speakers and get rid of the zip cord.
  12. Hmmm, Spotted these - maybe someone has already tried them.... https://www.simplyspeakers.com/acoustic-research-replacement-tweeter-12000840.html#tab-2
  13. Mark, I'm new to the classic speaker pages. I have a few brochures and marketing brochures for the AR5 and AR9 series. I haven't seen them in the library and was wondering if I should send them directly to you for posting (if interested). You have done a GREAT job from what I have seen so far. Regards, xpat
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