Acoustic Research AR-2a, Loudspeaker Pair, Oiled-Walnut, SN D 46874 – D 47790, Collectible. Wait for final invoice. Packing will be by double-box with Styrofoam surrounding speakers. AR-2a, Oiled-Walnut Cabinets, SNs D 46874 and D 47790, 1962. This pair of Acoustic Research AR-2a speakers is in excellent working and very good physical condition. AR-2as in this condition are rare and very collectible. The grills have never been removed with original grill-cloth staples in place, and the drivers are original and unmodified (observed through the grill with a bright light to verify). The woofers produce clean, excellent bass response with no audible distortion, even at moderately high listening levels, and the midrange drivers and tweeters are also fine. From the quality of the bass response, there is no indication of woofer-surround air leaks. These speakers have been checked out for about a week of listening and testing prior to this listing, and the speakers sound fine. The level-controls are the later Aetna-Pollock and are in good condition with some slight oxidation, but with sound through all individual drivers. The controls need to be twisted back and forth slightly to find the right spots, but all drivers work fine through the controls. These speakers have been in dry, air-conditioned storage for many years, which has helped to preserve them. The cabinets are finished in oiled walnut and are completely original without any additional “treatment” to the finish. The originality of these cabinets is unusual. Both are in very good condition, with some small glitches and dents that are mostly on the back edge of the speakers. The front grill moldings are nearly perfect. These speakers were always protected, and apparently had modest use over time. For the past twenty-five years, these have been stored in air-conditioned, low-humidity space, and there has been very little deterioration over time. The grills are excellent with barely. Noticeable dust outlines that seem typical of nearly all of the older speakers over time. The brass AR logo and “a” brass pins are also in fine condition. The cabinets are finished on all four sides. Earlier versions of the AR-2 model were finished on only three sides insofar as the speaker was designed to be placed horizontally due to the position of the two 5-inch midrange drivers. The AR-2a can be placed vertically, but the speaker will perform better when placed horizontally, as on a shelf or table. The AR-2a General Description. The AR-2a was Acoustic Research’s fourth speaker and was introduced in late 1959, a few months after the AR-3 was introduced. The AR-2a used the AR-3 1-inch dome tweeter in addition to the two 5-inch treated midrange units and an inproved 10-inch, Alnico-magnet acoustic-suspension woofer from the AR-2 model. These woofers use a treated-cloth surround, and typically these surrounds last for many years without any issues. The AR-2a went on to be very highly rated in all of the magazine critical reviews and through Consumer Reports ratings, and it was considered one of the finest loudspeakers available during this period, being surpassed only by the AR-3 model. When introduced, it was felt that the AR-2a was a match for any speaker system, even some that cost several times as much as the AR-2a. The AR-2a had superb, low-distortion bass response that approached the AR-3, and gave up only about -octave in the deepest bass when compared to the larger and more-expensive AR model with its 12-inch acoustic-suspension woofer. This was accomplished at a retail price of approximately one-half that of the AR-3. System Type : 8-ohm, sealed, acoustic-suspension woofer system. 0-inch acoustic-suspension-type, highly compliant, with long excursion cone. Magnetic structure weight 3.3 lbs with Alnico-5 ring magnet. Cast-aluminum frame; treated-cloth surround. Two 5-inch specially treated cone drivers mounted in angled (20 off-axis) enclosure for broad horizontal dispersion. Inch phenolic-dome tweeter (same as AR-3). Harmonic Distortion : <7% at 20 Hz with 10 watts RMS input power. 2000 Hz; 7500 Hz. 13.5" x 11" x 24. The item "Acoustic Research AR-2a, Loudspeaker Pair, Oiled-Walnut, SN D 46874-D 47790" is in sale since Tuesday, June 18, 2019. This item is in the category "Consumer Electronics\Vintage Electronics\Vintage Audio & Video\Vintage Speakers". The seller is "acoustic-research-inc" and is located in High Point, North Carolina. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Model: AR-2a 3-way acoustic-suspension speaker system
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Custom Bundle: No
- MPN: Acoustic Research Model AR-2a
- Brand: Acoustic Research