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We've talked about the AR-16 somewhat in the past, but not a great deal has been said about it since so few were produced. It was a somewhat over-engineered speaker with an elaborate crossover, expensive drivers and nice cabinet details. The 16 was the 4th speaker in a series of designs from AR's Norwood Advanced Development Division engineering effort, falling in place after the AR-10π, the AR-11 and the AR-MST/1. It was introduced to dealers in November 1975 and was introduced to the public (and began shipping in) mid-February, 1976. The AR-12 and AR-14 were next, followed by the AR-15.
Interestingly, the AR-16 was designed to replace the AR-4xa and AR-6, and it used the new Peerless (later AR-built) 1-inch cloth-dome tweeter, very similar to the one used in the early AR-14—no Ferrofluid ever, however. The AR-14 got Ferrofluid, along with all of the other ADD speakers (AR-10, AR-11, AR-12, AR-15, AR-17 and AR-18) in the period from October 1976 through June 1977. The AR-16, however, did get an elaborate half-section (on each driver) LCR crossover with electrolytic capacitors and air-core chokes—more sophisticated than with either the AR-4xa or AR-6. The low-frequency response of the 16 was the same as the AR-2ax (as well as the AR-6 and later AR-15), and the new tweeter had the advantage of a front baffle free of edges and moldings, thus the speaker enjoyed a basically diffraction-free output with wide dispersion. The first AR-16s were available in a walnut-grained genuine-wood cabinet for $99.95 each (available in pairs only, however); however, by the time production began, a walnut-finish vinyl cabinet was offered for $99.95 and a genuine-wood-veneer version for $115.00 each.
AR was very proud of the performance of the new AR-16 (flattest anechoic-energy response to date measured in their new semi-reverberant chamber), but it was one speaker designed initially to replace two speakers from before: the AR-4xa and the AR-6. Soon, however, the company introduced the AR-15 (AR-6-sized), the AR-17 (a better replacement for the 4 and the AR-18 (AR-7 replacement), and the AR-16 died on the vine after a little over a year of production.
--Tom Tyson
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The AR-16—the 4th ADD Speaker System
30 September 2012 - 12:14 AM
AR-3s on eBay190683591203
29 May 2012 - 02:12 PM
Buyer Beware!
This pair of AR-3s is listed as "new-old-stock," "new-in-box," ultra rare, holy grail, etc. The level of exaggeration in this description is high, and potential buyers should take heed. These are definitely not "new-in-box." Why?
For starters:
1. The warranty cards from both speakers are missing;
2. The original asphalt-impregnated packing tape was not shown;
3. There is no paper documentation, such as the original papers that were furnished with the speaker—no mention or photos of that documentation;
4. The special wrapping paper that encompasses each speaker when packed is completely missing from both speakers, and this was not shown in any of the photos and;
5. No AR-3 weighs anywhere near 90 lbs each.
This is a fairly typical exaggeration of the descriptions we frequently see on eBay. These speakers do appear to be in exceptionally good condition, and are valuable, but the seller appears to be over-exuberant in his description as though they were never, ever opened from the box. That is extremely doubtful. Most likely someone put them back in the box and stored them, and this seller bought them at an estate sale or something. I'm not trying to throw water on this deal by any means, but I know and recognize when an AR-3 is "new-in-the-box," and this pair is not.
--Tom Tyson
The eBay item number: 190683591203
eBay description:
1960s ACOUSTIC RESEARCH"AR-3 Speaker Set"NOS,NIB,ULTRA RARE,HOLY GRAIL,PAIR
"I am very sorry that i had to open the boxes,no one would imagine what was inside if i did not, the factory tape was still on each box with all correct packaging in place.These weigh 90 pounds each and are of course the Shelby of speakers to say the least. The "AR-3' is Famous as we all know, this set has a very cool story,my father owned a radio repair and sound shop on Jefferson in Detroit from the 30s to the 70s,he sold a lot of stuff and fixed a lot of stuff for the Motown guys, he knew all the techs,anyway in the 70s he was doing work for them on an amp and the man named Andre a producer said he had these speakers at home and if my dad would trade, anyway here they are, they have lived since then in my dads basement well kept and VERY dry.these have indeed never been used NEVER. The one in the Smithsonian is not as good a either of these.i will not take any parts off to check anything so please don't ask,i will pay for the return of both of these if they are not as listed."
This pair of AR-3s is listed as "new-old-stock," "new-in-box," ultra rare, holy grail, etc. The level of exaggeration in this description is high, and potential buyers should take heed. These are definitely not "new-in-box." Why?
For starters:
1. The warranty cards from both speakers are missing;
2. The original asphalt-impregnated packing tape was not shown;
3. There is no paper documentation, such as the original papers that were furnished with the speaker—no mention or photos of that documentation;
4. The special wrapping paper that encompasses each speaker when packed is completely missing from both speakers, and this was not shown in any of the photos and;
5. No AR-3 weighs anywhere near 90 lbs each.
This is a fairly typical exaggeration of the descriptions we frequently see on eBay. These speakers do appear to be in exceptionally good condition, and are valuable, but the seller appears to be over-exuberant in his description as though they were never, ever opened from the box. That is extremely doubtful. Most likely someone put them back in the box and stored them, and this seller bought them at an estate sale or something. I'm not trying to throw water on this deal by any means, but I know and recognize when an AR-3 is "new-in-the-box," and this pair is not.
--Tom Tyson
The eBay item number: 190683591203
eBay description:
1960s ACOUSTIC RESEARCH"AR-3 Speaker Set"NOS,NIB,ULTRA RARE,HOLY GRAIL,PAIR
"I am very sorry that i had to open the boxes,no one would imagine what was inside if i did not, the factory tape was still on each box with all correct packaging in place.These weigh 90 pounds each and are of course the Shelby of speakers to say the least. The "AR-3' is Famous as we all know, this set has a very cool story,my father owned a radio repair and sound shop on Jefferson in Detroit from the 30s to the 70s,he sold a lot of stuff and fixed a lot of stuff for the Motown guys, he knew all the techs,anyway in the 70s he was doing work for them on an amp and the man named Andre a producer said he had these speakers at home and if my dad would trade, anyway here they are, they have lived since then in my dads basement well kept and VERY dry.these have indeed never been used NEVER. The one in the Smithsonian is not as good a either of these.i will not take any parts off to check anything so please don't ask,i will pay for the return of both of these if they are not as listed."
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