simark

Hello to all;

Its been a while since I last posted. Since then, with the tremendous assistance from Roy C., I modified my AR-3's into a pair of AR-3a Limiteds. All NOS tweeters and midranges. All the cross-overs were completely rebuilt and new pots were installed. Cost more than I wanted to originally spend, but I figured this is the very last kick at the can.

All I can say is I am really glad I went this way. Wow! If this is close to what they originally sounded like, then all I can say is that a new pair of AR-3a speakers could still blow you away in any showroom. I never thought that I would see the day when I would be turning down the pots on a set of AR speakers. The highs and mids are very prominent when the pots are maxed out. I know that they will mellow out after a few hundred hours but what a kick!

Thanks to all the experts out there that contribute to these pages. Gave me the confidence to dive in a transform these old girls into a pair of red-hot Mamas.  (bet you've never heard of AR-3's described as Red-Hot Mama's before).

Stan

BTW: I'm now the owner of a extra pair of AR-3 tweeters (working) and one dead tweeter, one dead midrange and one good midrange (Tonegen replacement driver). Plus AR-3 cross-over parts.

Hi Stan,

The later AR-3 used the same midrange as the 3a. If necessary, the Library has info on a slight crossover change that can be used with this later midrange driver. I have some extra midrange drivers pulled from Cello Amati speakers you may be able to use. These were manufactured by AR, and are physically and electrically the same as the 3a midrange, but with no metal grille. Some forum members have used these in AR-3s and found them to be satisfactory.

The HiVi Q1R tweeter dome is about the same size as the AR-3 tweeter dome, and should work as well or better in the 3 as it does in the 3a, 2ax, and 5. Try it with an 18ga, .05mh parallel inductor.
(It can be glued to the back of the tweeter with a small spacer.)  The Q1R magnet is shielded and won't affect the inductor.

PM me if I can be of assistance.

Roy

Hi Roy

Thanks for your reply. I certain was going to buy the HiVi tweeter and perhaps take you up on your offer for the midranges, but I made a decision to spring for original AR drivers one last time. Next time, substitutions!!
I bought (for more than I wanted to spend) NOS AR tweeters and midranges from the Canadian Audio classifieds site.

They look brand new and from reading the restoring document look like original parts dating from the 70's. My woofer in the AR3 has a serial number 1-2100030B which indicates that the speaker was updated to a AR3a woofer but retained the AR3 midranges and tweeters as well as the AR3 label on the back.

So it looks like I will be upgrading the AR3 to a AR3a. Do I have to change out the crossover also or can I use the original AR3 crossover?  Mine does not have the additional 6uF cap, but does have replacement L-pads. I may still bypass the L-pads.

Here is a photo of what I purchased. I was actually looking forward to messing around with the new tweeters etc, but a little voice inside of me said to do the right thing.

Soon, I certainly will be picking your brain for more advice once I start this project if that is alright.

Regards,

Stan

well, i finally snagged a dynaco quadaptor at a good price: 3 bux and change, plus 12 to ship it. ok, the shipping was a bit high, but the overall price was great. so... it is in nearly perfect condition. it had a round-head screw sticking out of the knob, which i replaced with a setscrew. and it was missing 4 of the knurled screws on the back. i found two pairs of 6-32 threaded knurled nuts in my junk collection and locktited long setscrews into them. last night i rigged up two extra speakers at work and tried it out. it works perfectly! chicago live at carnegie hall had a lot of crowd noise in the back, along with "reflected" brass sounds. just how i remembered it when i bought the album new! now to put two minimus-7s in the back of the livingroom...

Hello

If it's retro you want, it's retro I've got. I have a Realistic SQ-II Quadraphonic adapter for you. It also did a respectable job of simulating surround audio. Almost mint.