AR9LS Speakers - a good buy at $1k

If it was a nice AR LST and you can get the drivers repaired if needed I would say OK. The AR9 was not a very popular speaker in it's day and AR loudspeakers were near their end times. There are much better loudspeakers available today. The Bose 901 is not one of them (not a Bose bash, I owned two pairs of them).  

@yogiboy , I'm currently running a Yamaha RX-495 receiver, but plan to upgrade that too.  I'm beginning to think I would be better served by buying newer equipment after reviewing specs of speakers & receivers.

Those JBL's are nice and have an attractive price point.  It seems newer speakers are slim versus making speakers with 12" or 15" woofers?  Are you finding the 5" - 8" woofers can produce quality sound and chest thumping base like the old school 12" & 15" speakers?

TIA!

I doubt you will get that chest thumping bass that you seem to want. You might be better off looking for a subwoofer to give you that kind of bass. This Klipsh might fit your budget of 1K. Your 70 watt Yamaha would be fine with any of these speakers. What speakers are you now using?
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_714RP280FE/Klipsch-Reference-Premiere-RP-280F-Ebony.html?tp=185

I personally did like the AR9's, if your room is large enough. I agree, not chest thumping if that's what you like, but very smooth sounding.

@yogiboy , understood...so it seems today's speakers require a sub to produce the low frequencies.

For this system I currently have Bose 301's paired with the small surround speakers that came with the Yamaha receiver.  They lose clarity and breadth when you turn up the volume, which is why I now want to level up to a nicer system.

Those Klipsch look sweet and are $200 off, which is a great savings!