For your consideration, this pair of Acoustic Research (AR) 9 floor speakers. I’m not a professional technician, so I can’t say these have been “professionally tested” but I connected them to a receiver and, if the video has uploaded, you’ll hear that they function very well. I went through a series of FM channels and when music was on and I cranked up the volume, it sounded like Krakatoa. The cabinets are in pristine condition for their age, although as you can see in the images the foam on the center speakers has disintegrated, although I’ve noticed in other listings that sellers have replaced the foam which makes those units look pristine. The only other flaws I could spot were impressions of varying size in each of the speaker’s main cones — you’ll see those in the images as well, but as far as I could tell that issue didn’t affect the sound at all. Lastly, the front panels are nearly perfect — the only glitch being at the bottom of the speaker on the right, which is dented, but not broken. It snaps into place just like the other screen and the impression barely makes an impression. The side panels on both are perfect. Also, on March 5 I added the last four image which are pictures of the woofers on each speaker. On one of them, you’ll see that the middle of the cones are dented slightly (not sure how that happened), but on the other speaker both are in good shape. A visitor asked if all things are original, and while I can’t attest to that since I bought them as they are, based on the aging I see — the screws, glue, the foam, condition, etc. A visual inspection suggests everything about these speakers is original; nothing looks to have been replaced. The number on speakers are 013368 and 013369 and were inspected by #7, who was considered one of the best in the business. Actually, I have no clue who #7 was. A very nice find for the condition they are in, and would certainly enhance the sound of a retro vinyl collection as well as the look of a mid-century den. I live just north of Orlando, Florida. Here’s some additional information I found about these speakers. Here are some users’ reviews of the AR9s. Can’t think of any. I have a pair of the original AR9’s from the early 80’s. They are the large units with the oiled walnut veneer and 12 woofers. They are outstanding speakers and the only ones I could find at the time that sounded better than my Rectilinear III’s, which I still have. They are very clean sounding and listenable for hours at a time. They absorb lots of power without ill effects. I have re-foamed them once. The AR9’s won, hands down. These speakers are driven by a McIntosh 200 wpc power amp. They can be run all day with the amp “limit” lights on most of the time and sound fine. This is a review of a pair of vintage 1982 Teledyne Acoustic Research AR9 Speakers. They are massive speakers weighing 130+lbs each. Once you replace the foam surrounds you’re in for a real treat cause these speakers are simply amazing sounding when driven with a proper power amp. They are sealed enclosures with acoustic suspension drivers so they require a TON of power to really make them sing. I’m driving mine with a Conrad Johnson Premier 350SA. The CJ350 can produce 350W+ for 8ohm or 780W for 4ohm. The gigantic 4ohm AR9’s desire a ton of current and the 350 can deliver everything the AR9’s ask for. When driven with the 350, the AR9’s BASS is simply out of this world articulate and dynamic. I just love listening to music that gets down into that 20-32Hz range. The AR9’s can deliver all those low 20Hz signals most systems just can’t reproduce. For the record the literature that comes with the AR9 speakers state their frequency range as 18Hz-20KHz +-3db. The soundstage of the AR9 is just gigantic with palpable liquid smooth 3D holographic imaging which brings that elusive engaging excitement for the listener creating goosebumps on body and permanent dumbfounded smile on shaking head & face. I’ve simply never heard BASS reproduced in a home setting as well as the combo of the AR9 + 350. Original late 70’s AR9’s, just restored them with new surrounds. Sound absolutely great, had to bypass the crossover selector switches as they were introducing spurious static and dropouts to tweeter and upper mid drivers in one channel. These speakers truly can “send you to another place” as you get lost in the music. I ran them for years at very high volumes but put them into storage after arrival of children and “surround rot”. A few hundred bills later for 6 new surrounds and now I remember why they are so special. Ve had these speakers for about 10 years now. I’ve upgraded my amps and receivers through out the years. Even tho they need some fine turning, they are some great speakers. They sounded good in the sound room! I swear the older these speakers get and more these speakers are played the better they sound! IF you find them, then get them! . They are a rare find! Have read the reviews of the AR9 made in the 1980’s and have come to the conclusion that those not satisfied do not have adequate amplifier. These speakers need a lot of power to work. I would say that an older vintage amp with AT LEAST 120 WPC would get you close. Something like a vintage Pioneer SX 1250, 1280 or really an SX 1980 would be best. The power of a 1250 is 160 WPC, a 1980 is 270 WPC. FYI to those who are running a moder surround sound Home Theater reciver rated at 1,2 or even 300 WPC those are not the same. The comparison in laymens terms is saying my Turbo Toyota 4 cylinder has 225 HP and my Dodge Ram 360 V8 has 225 HP. The difference between old high quality amps as mentioned and new ones is the same as these engines-Torque. New recievers, unless you are willing to spend in the thousands have no torque. They are designed to be used with a self powered subwoofer to get those deep low’s. The AR9 needs torque. If you don’t have it they will not perform. They are a Bass Reflex, meaning sealed cabinet speaker that loves power. As I stated very few but the most powerful and expensive amps will drive them. A circa late 70’s SX 1980 in todays dollars would cost around 4 or 5 thousand dollars. This item is in the category “Consumer Electronics\Vintage Electronics\Vintage Audio & Video\Vintage Speakers”. The seller is “motorcycleamerica” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.
- Brand: Acoustic Research
- Custom Bundle: No
- Model: AR9
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Modified Item: No