Ar 90

xjghost
xjghost Posts: 1,105
edited January 2014 in The Clubhouse
I was given a set of these and was wondering what you guys know about them? Haven't done much research yet and don't even have the hooked up yet. I know they work but the side woofers are detiorating.
HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

Additional projects: RTA 12c's
Post edited by xjghost on
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2013
    The Acoustic Research AR-90 are very high precision devices, designed and built to tolerances comparable only to professional studio microphones.

    They far exceed the performance capabilities of the classic laboratory reference standard and AR LSTs.

    All of the modern technology in speaker design, as well as the most sophisticated of computer techniques, were used, not only in the development, but continually throughout their design and manufacture.

    The three most distinctive applications of this technology in the AR-90s are the Acoustic Blanket, the vertical, upper-range driver array, and the positioning of the two woofers, one on each side of the enclosure.

    The former two insuring unprecedented imaging and precision of localization and the latter unequalled flat frequency response in any listening environment, particularly at lowest music frequencies.

    Indeed, the clarity of the AR-90s will make you aware of limitations in associated equipment, including the finest electronics. As a result, any improvements in the chain preceding the AR-90 will seem to continually improve the overall performance.

    Specifications

    Type: 4 way, 5 driver loudspeaker system

    Frequency Response: 23Hz to 30kHz

    Power Handling: 250W

    Recommended Amplifier: 50 to 300W

    Crossover Frequency: 200, 1200, 7000Hz

    Impedance: 4Ω

    Sensitivity: 87dB

    Bass: 2 x 250mm acoustic suspension

    Midbass: 1 x 200mm acoustic suspension

    Midrange: 1 x 38mm hemispherical dome

    Tweeter: 1 x 19mm hemispherical dome

    Dimensions: 1102 x 368 x 386mm

    Weight: 37kg
    Jake
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2013
    AdcomwhiteamppreampAR90nikki002-1.jpg
    Jake
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited June 2013
    The AR-90 are one of my favorite tower speakers of all time
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited June 2013
    They are AWESOME speakers, like the SDAs they are a challenging speaker to drive, can handle a BOATLOAD of power and are worth refurbishing if needed.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited June 2013
    Wow, same friend that gave me the Hafler 500 gave me these. They belonged to his dad who was a doctor and died when he was a teenager. We are close friends and I told him to keep them at first but his Mom was cleaning out the attic and he insisted. I paid $100 to get the Hafler worked on and it is now powering my new to me SDA 3.1tl's I picked up recently. I had no idea! Wow. You guys are going to make me build another system around these speakers aren't you? Ugh there goes my next Jeep upgrade!
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited June 2013
    Those and the Hafler would be a mighty pair!
    Jake
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    Ok so I'm not ready to work with these yet but what would I look for when I was ready to get these "fixed up." I live less than 2 hours from Charlotte, NC and would rather drive up that way and make sure I get quality work done.
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited January 2014
    Haven't seen any ofthese in long time... They are SWEET.
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • trav0810
    trav0810 Posts: 1,056
    edited January 2014
    And friend of mine has a pair. They demand some power, but he really likes them. He is looking to move on to a pair of AR9's now.
    The difference between genius and stupidity is; genius has its limits.” -Albert Einstein

    Sony Playstation 3 for CD and Streaming
    Thorens TD320
    Modified Carver C-1
    Carver TFM 42 and 45 Amplifiers
    Polk RTA15TL Speakers w/Decato mods
    White Lightning Moonshine DIY Speaker Cables and Interconnects
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2014
    I'd love to have a pair for rear/surround speaks. They're perfect.
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    I keep meaning to get some pictures and post them for some thoughts on what they need but I have so much other going on I keep forgetting......
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • Irrenhaus
    Irrenhaus Posts: 1,092
    edited January 2014
    I just miss a sale yesterday of the AR 9's for $100.00 locally........:(
    HTAVR-Pioneer SC99XPA-DR3 Differential Reference AmpPolk R-700Rear- RT150Side- RT150Center-CSi5Sub-Rythmik audio F25Player- Panasonic DP-UB9000Projector- Optoma CinemaX P2Screen- Silver Ticket Products STR Series 6 120"Audio Room 2ch rig.Cary AE-3, Onkyo M-504, Marantz SA8005, Azur 851NWharfedale - Linton, SVS SB12-NSDMinis Forum PC (streamer) and Panamax MX5105Headphone rig;Schiit JOTUNHEIM and different headphones.Samsung 42" flat screen TV.
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  • halo71
    halo71 Posts: 4,606
    edited January 2014
    Wow you were given these? Consider yourself very lucky!
    --Gary--
    Onkyo Integra M504, Bottlehead Foreplay III, Denon SACD, Thiel CS2.3, NHT VT-2, VT-3 and Evolution T6, Infinity RSIIIa, SDA1C and a few dozen other speakers around the house I change in and out.
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited January 2014
    xjghost wrote: »
    I was given a set of these and was wondering what you guys know about them? Haven't done much research yet and don't even have the hooked up yet. I know they work but the side woofers are detiorating.
    Great speakers. If the side woofers are deteriorating, rotting foam, don't attempt to play them at anything other than a whisper, until they're re-foamed. It's very easy to damage the voice coils and spider if the surrounds are gone.
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    halo71 wrote: »
    Wow you were given these? Consider yourself very lucky!

    Yes and I do. He is like a son to me and they and the Hafler he gave me belonged to his dad who passed when he was about 12. they were in his mom's attic and rotting.
    westmassguy wrote: »
    Great speakers. If the side woofers are deteriorating, rotting foam, don't attempt to play them at anything other than a whisper, until they're re-foamed. It's very easy to damage the voice coils and spider if the surrounds are gone.

    Will do. They are speaker stands for some BA's in my bedroom atm. IDK where or what to look for when it comes to getting this done. I assume I'll have to go to Charlotte to get it done when the funds are available.
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    edited January 2014
    I can quote you on the re-foam, PM me or contact via my website. Polkies get a discount
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    westmassguy wrote: »
    I can quote you on the re-foam, PM me or contact via my website. Polkies get a discount

    Cool pm sent.
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2014
    I had a pair of AR9Lsi towers in the early 80's still miss those speakers.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited January 2014
    steveinaz wrote: »
    I had a pair of AR9Lsi towers in the early 80's still miss those speakers.

    I have a pair of those that I have to find something to do with/someone who loves them. I bought two pair in order to surprise my bud Ray in Brooklyn with a single, working pair. He was surprised.
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  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited January 2014
    xjghost wrote: »
    Wow, same friend that gave me the Hafler 500 gave me these. They belonged to his dad who was a doctor and died when he was a teenager. We are close friends and I told him to keep them at first but his Mom was cleaning out the attic and he insisted. I paid $100 to get the Hafler worked on and it is now powering my new to me SDA 3.1tl's I picked up recently. I had no idea! Wow. You guys are going to make me build another system around these speakers aren't you? Ugh there goes my next Jeep upgrade!
    Sell the jeep...build the system!!!
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    Msabot1 wrote: »
    Sell the jeep...build the system!!!

    Well I did sort of.... Kept the Jeep but built a small system around the 3.1's and the Hafler. IIRC there are pictures of it in my which polks are these thread.... lol!

    Matter of fact.... IMG_2672_zpsa6836f71.jpg
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited January 2014
    Good to hear that...your system will give you less of a headache than that jeep will....LOL!!
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  • j1mmy
    j1mmy Posts: 95
    edited January 2014
    Great speakers
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    Ok, speaker **** time!

    iPhone5c163_zps4132bab3.jpg

    iPhone5c164_zps4437f3c5.jpg

    iPhone5c166_zps19f35290.jpg

    iPhone5c167_zps08683055.jpg

    iPhone5c168_zps6d10912e.jpg

    iPhone5c165_zps3243c31f.jpg

    Those are all the left speaker. I ran out of time and only got one of the other right speaker. It was also what I was looking for.

    iPhone5c169_zpsb1ac5b05.jpg

    I have some other things I need to do but plan is to get them fixed and use them in my bedroom. I'm also kicking around a surround/ 2 channel system with my SDA 1.2's as mains and my monitor 10's as rears but that will be an entirely different thread!
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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  • xjghost
    xjghost Posts: 1,105
    edited January 2014
    nbrowser wrote: »
    Oh come on...XJs are cheap to mess with :)

    Yea until you add dual transfer cases, F350 axles, H1 bead-locks, 42" SS Tires, a cage, etc., etc. lol!
    HT/2Channel: Emotiva MMC-1, Adcom GFA-555II, Polk SDA 3.1's, Teac TN-300 TT, Polk Center and Sub.

    Bedroom system: Carver CT-24, Parasound HCA-800II, Monitor 10's

    Additional projects: RTA 12c's
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