AR-2ax. On the Prowl. Typical Issues???

main system and office system are done (shown on this site).

 

these will go for my garage system, some sound, lots of memories when working down there. existing b&w move to the shop, the bostons in the shop become spare.

expensive, but shows what a nice pair with original parts looks like

 

seems the woofers had cloth surrounds, and attempts to keep the fiberglass stuffing out of the back of the cone

 

were they L-Pads or Potentiometers? (originals seem to be ceramic wirewound )

As I learned here, L-Pads show the same impedance to the crossovers, Pots change what the crossover 'sees'.

I am going to state: adjusting them, like I adjust my horn's L-Pads, made a huge difference to how they sounded in their unknown designated spaces. Modern speakers ought to have precise adjustability built in IMO.

A great speaker, 2nd only to the 3a. An amplifier, such as an original Ampzilla ( going back in time, and although later than the ARs ) would be fabulous, assuming the speakers are rebuilt.....ime, woofer surround, crossover, rear attenuation controls. This is my take, also fmi.....

Don't bother with them,I got a pair in a package deal..mushy is the perfect term IMO...way better off with modern speakers

I've learned a few things:

early woofers were cloth surrounds

later woofers were foam surrounds

woofers had pieces of screen on the rear spider cutouts to keep debris away from the back of the cone

mid driver has some diffusing stuffing in front of the driver, behind a grille, looks weird

tweeters coil wires were on the face of the front mounting board (rather than tabs inside). tape over the wires, looks weird

the two level controls were wire wound rheostats, corrosion a common problem.

front fabric wrapped panel was both glued and stapled on, not easily removed.

factory veneer: depending on which era:

unfinished pine, unfinished walnut, oiled walnut, birch, mahogany, cherry

thinking more about it, not looking for a project, just the memories and decent sound when working in the garage.

I found a pair in unfinished pine in upstate NY, my friend could pick up for me, I visit him later in the spring when the snow melt gets the waterfalls flowing.