ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR-4x ORIGINAL AR4x CLASSIC KLOSS VILCHUR LOUD SPEAKERS. Very Rare Acoustic Suspension loudspeakers with a. Up for sale is a pair of classic AR-4x Acoustic Suspension Loudspeaker systems. They are in good condition but the tweeters do not play. These very rare classic vintage stereo speakers are some of the most popular audiophile loudspeakers from the late 60’s. These speakers are considered by many audiophiles as some of the best 8″ 2-ways ever made and were “reference speakers of their era. The AR-4x were Consumer Reports, Consumer Guide and virtually every audio magazines reference speaker. The AR-4X still figures on a lot of people’s short lists for the best small speakers ever. AR made some of the better drivers of all time. These are a great match for vintage audio equipment to recreate “that vintage sound”. A great match for vintage and/or tube audio equipment. These were designed by Henry Kloss, Ed Villichur, Roy Allison and other famous loudspeaker pioneers that started Advent, Allison and KLH (the old school KLH, not the modern Chinese one). These great sounding AR Acoustic Research AR-4x speakers are in excellent operating condition for their vintage. Speakers produce good sound with all woofers and tweeters operating properly. I have not removed the grilles because they are not intended to be removed and I do not want to damage them. These have quality constructed oiled walnut cabinets that. They look almost as good as they sound! The quality constructed oiled walnut cabinets have been stained dark brown. They have a few nicks & scratches but still have their classic good looks (see pics). The dark linen grill cloths are in particularly nice condition with no holes or tears. Both original AR-4x logo badges are intact. The badges can be adjusted for horizontal or vertical placement. Perhaps the most surprising find is the original paperwork with serial numbers still attached to back of each! Best of all is the warm, powerful sound. The tweeters just sing, and woofers are tight and authoritative. Both speakers sound every bit as good as their reputation. Crisp Clean Sound Quality. Increase / decrease tweeter level control. Original paperwork with serial numbers still attached to back. Woofers: One 8 acoustic suspension woofer per cabinet. Tweeters: One 2 1/2 wide-dispersion cone tweeter per cabinet. Controls: High – frequency adjustment. Recommended amplifier power: Minimum of 15 watts rms. Dimensions: 10″ x 19″ x 9 deep. Weight: 18.5 lbs unpacked. 22 lbs well packed. General Info and reviews. The AR name goes back several decades. Famed loudspeaker system designer Henry Kloss, the primary inventor of the acoustic suspension principle founded Acoustic Research (AR), Advent and KLH. Speakers that utilize his acoustic suspension principle are noted for clean, flat response, deep into the bass frequencies. These speakers were designed by Henry Kloss, Ed Villichur, Roy Allison and other famous loudspeaker pioneers that started Advent, Allison & KLH. The AR-4x was the 2nd generation of the AR-4 that was originally released in 1967 with a production run until 1975. AR made improvements to the original crossover design of the AR-4, thereby further enhancing the systems amazing sonic attributes. The system was highly popular among professionals in the audio industry as well as audiophiles who needed quality sound reproduction in confined spaces. Even in today’s age of muli-thousand dollar bookshelf speakers, the AR-4x is truly outstanding. Read independent user reviews at Epinions here. The Acoustic Research AR-4x Loudspeaker: Dark and Satisfying, Like Hot Chocolate. Jan 01’07 (Updated Jan 06’07). Smooth sound; pretty good bass; small and attractive. Problems with tweeter controls; rolled off at frequency extremes. The AR-4xs are satisfying little speakers to listen to. But getting a fully functioning pair isn’t easy. The Acoustic Research AR-4x loudspeaker has been around since probably the mid-1960s. There were several different versions of the AR-4 over the years, and I think the AR-4x was among the earlier versions. In any case, it’s a small two-way loudspeaker with an 8 woofer and small cone tweeter. It’s slightly smaller than the famous Dynaco A-25, maybe 19″ tall, 10 1/2″ wide and 9 1/2 deep. The AR-4x is an attractive little loudspeaker in a typical late’60s early’70s way. It has very nice real walnut veneer, and the light, high quality screens make for a classy look. The AR badges that screw in to the screen frames add to the overall appearance. The speaker wire connectors on the back are good quality thumb screws. Attaching speaker wire is fairly easy. The thumb screws do not accept banana plugs, like the connectors of Dynaco A-25s do, but they’re not as frustrating as the tiny screws of Dynaco A-10s. The tweeter level of AR-4xs is controlled by a single continuous knob on the back of each speaker. This is an Achilles’ Heel of AR-4xs: the potentiometers (affectionately known as “pots”) tend to corrode over time, eventually silencing the tweeters, although the tweeters are actually in working order. In some cases, there are “sweet spots” on the pots, allowing the tweeters to function, but often one or both tweeters will be completely silent. If you can find a fully functioning pair, the sound is quite nice. I would describe it as “dark” compared to Dynaco A-25s or Small or Large Advents, but it is still satisfying. On classical music, the sound of the AR-4xs was particularly good. The rolled off high end, coupled with decent bass extension and nice micro-dynamics, yielded a smooth and satisfying sound. Strings were NOT steely, as they were with the KLH Model Seventeen. I could listen for long periods of time without fatigue. Interestingly, though, FM radio announcers DID sound a bit “chesty” as they had in my system with the original Large Advents. This suggests a “hump” in the upper bass/lower midrange. On Keith Jarrett’s Standards, Volume 1, the sound was mellow and pleasing. The leading edge of piano transients was muted somewhat, relative to more “high definition” speakers, and cymbals didn’t have as much shimmer as they do in real life, but the overall presentation was enjoyable to listen to. Keith Jarrett’s moaning (he moans along as he plays) was separated from the piano, bass and drums nicely. And the bass had good “throng” to it. The speakers did not sound wimpy, in spite of their small size. On Govi’s Seventh Heaven, a recording of “new age” guitar music with a Latin flavor, the AR-4xs sounded a bit TOO mellow. The sound of fingers on strings was lost, and there was a lack of air around the guitar. But the bass was at times actually a bit punchier than it had been on my Dynaco A-25s, though I doubt it extends as deep (smaller woofer and cabinet). On Gordon Lightfoot’s Summer Side of Life, Lightfoot’s voice sounded good, full and manly, and the guitars sounded realistic. However, the sense of air around the guitars was again lacking somewhat. Still, I didn’t find myself wanting to switch to speakers with higher resolution. I just enjoyed the music. Imaging was pretty good with the AR-4xs. Because of the mellow balance, the instruments were presented behind the plane of the speakers, and they were located fairly well in space. But I have to admit that after awhile, I noticed the AR-4xs sounding a bit “closed in, ” relative to the other speakers I’d been listening to (Cambridge Soundworks Towers; Dynaco A-25s; New Large Advents). When I switched back to Dynaco A-25s, my “retro references, ” the soundstage became bigger and there was more air around individual instruments. Still, my overall impression of the AR-4x was quite positive. I enjoyed the good micro-dynamics and laid back and warm presentation. The speakers played MUSIC and didn’t call attention to themselves. I should mention that AR-4xs came with two different version of their 8 woofers. The more dependable version has treated cloth surrounds, like many KLH speakers. These apparently don’t deteriorate over time. But some have foam surrounds, like Advent (and some AR) speakers. These will require refoaming every 15 years or so. Unfortunately, this isn’t always an easy proposition, as AR used a very strong glue to attach the screen frames to the front baffles of the speakers. If the woofer surrounds are nice and soft, you probably don’t need a woofer refoam. If they’re hard, or break apart when you touch them, pass that pair on to a devoted hobbyist. The tweeter control problems also deserve further mention. Rotate the tweeter level knobs on the back with your ear right next to the tweeter. Does the tweeter cut in and out? This is typical of AR-4xs in working condition. You can choose to live with it, finding the sweet spots where the tweeter works. Or you have have a hobbyist fix or by-pass the tweeter controls. If the tweeter is SILENT, rotate the knob back and forth several times. Sometimes you will be able to establish a connection. Often you will not. But because of the problems described above, one can NOT count on such a pair to be functioning 100%. I think the incredible popularity of Dynaco A-25s comes from the fact that they are extremely dependable and don’t suffer from woofer surround or tweeter pot problems. In terms of sound, I’d say the Dynaco A-25s are a bit more accurate than AR-4xs, but a fully functioning pair of AR-4xs is just as satisfying to listen to. A pair of AR-4xs in perfect cosmetic and working condition is a real find and a good bargain. To conclude, AR-4xs are attractive and good sounding vintage speakers, but their fussy nature means they may be best suited for the hobbyist who is ready and willing to deal with possible woofer surround and tweeter pot issues. Still, if you find a pair in good cosmetic and working condition, snap’em up. Listening to AR-4xs is like sipping a good cup of hot chocolate on a cold day! Acoustic Research AR-4x Speakers(Pair). AR 4x AR4X Speakers Pair OEM Box Acoustic Research. Acoustic Research Speakers AR-4X vintage NICE SHAPE! ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR-4x AR 4x SPEAKERS ORIGINAL BOXES! PAIR PRISTINE VINTAGE AR ACOUSTIC RESEARCH 4X SPEAKER. Most items we sell are previously owned. Unless described otherwise they generally exhibit at least the minimal amount of wear one would expect to see on a typical used item for the particular item’s age. Any significant blemishes or defects will be called out and shown clearly in the photos. We disclose any defects or cosmetic issues to best of our abilities, however it is impossible to note every minor nick and scratch on a used item. We truly wish to avoid disappointments. All items are tested & functioning as described. We do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as gifts. THIRTY YEARS IN ELECTRONICS. You will receive your item quickly, well packaged and as advertised. I do not always offer the lowest prices, but they are always very good. Most of my equipment comes from Colorado where we enjoy a semi-arid (DRY) climate. This is important as humidity is one of the main deteriorating factors in audio equipment, especially speakers. Humidity attacks and accelerates deterioration of electronic circuitry and the flexible surrounds in speakers. Lots of Detailed Photos – What you see in the pictures is exactly what you get! My ads show ACTUAL PHOTOS of the exact item for sale. With few exceptions, I do not use stock or file photos, copies, etc. As shown in many other ads. Testing – Audio/video equipment is tested for all basic functions and many secondary functions but we cannot always test every feature and setting. Amps, receivers & speakers are connected & tested for FM tuning & playback from a CD, tape, DVD, phono, etc. CD, DVD & tape players/recorders are cleaned internally & externally (heads and lenses are cleaned and demagnetized) and tested for playback, record, FF & REW. Any defects found are noted in the ad. 2-year warranties are available on Used and Refurbished Items. Thanks for packing the amp so well! Fed-Ex could have dropped this out of the plane and it wouldnt have been damaged. I picked up the speaker yesterday as expected. It arrived in perfect condition. Your packaging was better than OEM! This guy’s no joke, he knows what he’s doing! Great packaging and communication. Perhaps the best on E-Bay. Other sellers take notice. Customer service second to none! The best packing job I’ve ever seen. Tarasell LLC 3280 W 63rd Ave Denver, CO 80020. Get Images that Make Supersized Seem Small. Auctiva’s Listing Templates improve your auctions in minutes. The item “ACOUSTIC RESEARCH AR-4x ORIGINAL AR4x CLASSIC KLOSS VILCHUR LOUD SPEAKERS” is in sale since Sunday, September 25, 2016. This item is in the category “Consumer Electronics\Vintage Electronics\Vintage Audio & Video\Vintage Speakers”. The seller is “tara-sell” and is located in Denver, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Brand: Acoustic Research
- Model: AR-6
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States