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In Reply to: RE: First Vitntage Speaker Restore Help AR 4x posted by robbo on July 06, 2014 at 09:52:00
Looks like you have 2 different 4x speakers. Speaker on the left (in the picture) is an earlier version and appears to have a woofer with a cloth surround. Speaker on the right has a woofer with a foam surround that has been replaced. Some say having a mix of different woofers will alter the bass response due to the differing compliance of the surround materials. Tweeters are also different, with the one on the left being older. Tweeter problems are usually the result of corrosion in the level pots. The pots are difficult to restore, but they can be replaced or bypassed.
Best source of information regarding AR speakers is classicspeakerpages.net.
When restored these are wonderful speakers.
Follow Ups:
Thanks, for your input. I'm going to check these out a little bit closer this afternoon when I get home. Assuming they are two different tweeters into different woofers Is it even worth messing with these ? Is it worth the investment to buy OEM tweeters and woofers? I did mention this is my first restore, and I am new to vintage equipment. So I'm not embarrassed to say I paid $90 for these. Did I get ripped off?
Thanks for anyone's help and input
I was scrounging around on ebay. AR 4X speaker pairs in good condition are selling for $200 and up, higher than I had thought. Single speakers go for $100 and up. The options here are to find a single speaker that is a closer match to one of those you have or find a better-matched separate woofer and tweter, and then you should be able either to sell the entire speaker that doesn't match, or sell it parted out, and you should be able to recover most if not all of the money you spent on the stuff you buy.
$90 for your not-well-mstched pair was not a bad price given the prices I see on ebay.
I've always thought of the epi 100 and an "improved" version of the AR 4x since Winslow Burhoe designed both, and they are similar size, both two- ways with 8-inch woofers. The tweeter in the epi 100 is more sophisticated than trhe AR 4x tweeter. I think you can get a pair of decent epi 100s for less money than I am seeing for the AR speakers, largely because the supply is greater. Also, the AR name fetches a premium price.
I have seen EPI 100s lately go for less that $100.
Very good advice from everyone here. i am 50/50 on what to do. I know i dont have a collectors item, but part of me wants to go ahead and try a restore mostly for the challenge. At minimum i would have to buy two woofers at $60/ each and two tweeters @ $25/each, not sure about cross overs. I would be out about $210. this is the quickest solution. i am not sure if i want to search for another orphan speaker and then part mine out, that seems like a long process.
Am out of my mind ?
another pictrue of my AR X4
Well.....FMV for a restored pair is about $250.
If it were me, I would look for a single 4x that is close to either of your speakers- close in serial number, so,that you would have the same woofer and tweeter in each. Then sell off your orphan. They are excellent speakers when working well. Frequency response is from about 50hz-15khz on axis, with very smooth midrange reproduction. Restoration is an easy project. You can go crazy with cap choices, but you don't have to.
Enjoy.
I had a set of these. They had cloth surrounds. I liked them. If they sound good to you, you might just enjoy them the way they are. I wouldn't be too concerned about getting them back to the original state. If you want to fiddle, you might check the tweeter control, or consider replacing the caps in the control. A new pair of woofers and tweeters, will set you back much more than you paid for the speakers. I wouldn't put much more money in these, but it is up to you. At one time in the AR ads, Judy Collins had a pair. You can get replacement cloth at a fabric store cheaply.
There is lots of information on vintage equipment in the forum, and you can just use the search function.
David
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