Acoustic Research (“AR”) AR-7 Loudspeakers, Rare, Collectible Genuine-Wood-Veneer Cabinet #002860 and #002862. 002860 and 002862 First Production Wood Veneer. This pair of Acoustic Research AR-7 speakers is 100% original and in excellent physical and functioning condition. This pair was manufactured in Cambridge, Massachusetts in December 1972prior to the move to Norwoodand thus these are part of the original production run of optional genuine wood-veneer cabinets, produced only for a short time in late 1972. Thereafter, AR discontinued the wood-veneer cabinets and offered the AR-7 only in walnut-grain wood laminate veneer. The quality of the first models was probably highest, and thus the wood versions are increasingly valuable for collectors. The grills are spare original units from AR and had been in storage and not used until this year. They are ARs original linen (no longer available anywhere in exact duplicate) and these grills are in pristine condition with no stains or dirt marks. The original grills are also included (total of four AR-7 linen grills). The woofers were refoamed in 2018, and the air seal is optimal with very slow leak-down for both woofers. The tweeters work perfectly with no issues. There was no Ferrofluid used in the voice-coil gap, thus there is no deterioration. The crossover utilizes a 2-way switch to adjust the tweeter level from normal to flat, and the crossover frequency (2000 Hz) is correct. The wood-veneer cabinets for this pair of AR-7s are in excellent condition with only minor scratches and no dints or deep marks. The AR-7 Technical Description. The AR-7 is a high-performance, 2-way, 8-ohm acoustic-suspension loudspeaker of small dimensions that was introduced in December, 1972. It was designed to optimize the bass output from a very small, bookshelf cabinet, and the speaker set new standards of performance for a speaker of its size. There are very few small speakers with the small size of the AR-7 that can match its superb acoustic performance. With equalization, the excellent AR-7 can be made to sound very close to an AR-3a or AR-LST at low volumes. It is therefore an excellent, 8-ohm, 2-way acoustic-suspension small bookshelf speaker system with performance that is just barely below the highest-performing AR loudspeakers of this era. When introduced, the AR-7 was rated to be safely used with amplifiers up to 100 watts/channel, and as little as 20-25 watts/channel of clean, undistorted output. When introduced, Hirsch-Houck Laboratories of Stereo Review magazine wrote, With the tweeter-level control set to Flat, the measured curve was among the flattest we have chartedwithin ±2 dB from 65 to 15,000 Hz. The measured characteristics of the AR-7 were so outstanding that we were not surprised at its excellent performance using our simulated live-vs. The only audible difference between our original program and its reproduction through the AR-7 set to Flat was a slight dulling of the extreme highs above 10,000 Hz. The woofer in the sealed AR-7 is a low-distortion 8-inch, long-throw acoustic-suspension woofer with a system resonance of 68 Hz (woofer free-air resonance of 25 Hz) and a 1¼-inch wide-dispersion cone tweeter utilizing a 2000 Hz crossover. A two-position toggle switch selects between normal or flat high-frequency output contour. The AR-7 enclosure has an internal volume of 0.35 cu. With dimensions of 9¾ x 15¾ x 6¼. The enclosure weight is 11 lbs. Both speakers are packed in a single, rugged carton. The item “Acoustic Research (AR) AR-7 Loudspeaker, Pair, Rare Wood-Veneer, Exc Condition” is in sale since Tuesday, October 20, 2020. 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.
- Year of Manufacture: December 1972
- Model: AR-7
- Modified Item: No
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Custom Bundle: No
- Type Cabinet: Sealed, acoustic-suspension system
- Cabinet Veneer: Walnut-Stained Wood Veneer Original
- Manufacturer Serial Numbers: No 002860 and 002862
- MPN: AR-7
- Brand: Acoustic Research