AR9's in the house!

TroyD

Well, after a few minor snags and close calls, with an able assist by Dave...the AR9's are in the house!

Drop dead GORGEOUS cabs, heavy effers too!

The seller had redone the surrounds himself....a little sloppy but everything functions as it should.

I'm not going to say a whole lot at this point because I'm A) tired and still too new to really make an honest assesment but I will say out of the gate these flat out kick ****. They don't go as low as the Amazings (but what does?) The don't have as wide of a soundstage as the SDA's (again, what does?). The front to back depth....hmmmmm, I trying to think of a speaker that does that better. MAYBE the DQ-10's. As flat as the DQ-10's. Just on the warm side of neutral. Can't think of a negative comment to insert.....oh, well, Ima go back and spin some more tunes.

These will be fun to play with.......pics later.

Again, a BIG thanks to Dave. These are a ballbuster with TWO guys, couldn't have done it solo.

BDT

ohskigod

get some pics Troy (when ya got time anyway)

congrats!

steveinaz

bastad.

RuSsMaN

Atta boy.

amulford

Friggin SHWEET. I was actively seeking some of them a while back. Had to give up the ghost, couldn't find any worth getting, all busted up and ****.

I really dug George's. Way cool...

dorokusai

Excellent.

F1nut

New toys, cool!!!

reeltrouble1

Dave does have a strong back.

Nice Troy. About time for a road trip to SC.

RT1

TroyD

Ted,

C'mon up, man. They will also be available for Polkfest '06.

Here are some pics. The job done on the surrounds was sloppy but they work.....

BDT

RuSsMaN

What's the deal with the ready-made witching torch behind the left speaker?

They actually look smaller, than what I've always though of them as.

Cheers,
Russ

TroyD

Ask Big Flo....course as long as she keep making tater salad, she can decorate as she pleases.

They don't occupy a lot of real estate, actually BUT, those things are the heaviest speaker I've come accross.

BDT

steveinaz

What a great find Troy. I had AR9Lsi's in the mid 80's I loved those things; 150lbs per speaker.

BlueMDPicker

TroyD wrote:

Again, a BIG thanks to Dave. These are a ballbuster with TWO guys, couldn't have done it solo.

Cool beans, Big Daddy!

Dave's the nicest guy I never met. He has consistently turned me on to excellent new music. And, yeah, what a great deal to have a friend willing to strain a nut for the cause -- I'll never be able to thank Jesse enough for helping me horse heavy gear.

I hope they sound as sweet as they look! Enjoy!

Mike

DAGLJAM6

Not that I doubted AR's reputation for great speaker design I did have some reservations,going into this, as to the AR9's abilities....(Big speaker no finesse deal) . Once set up and power applied they sang, listened for an hour or so, impressive mids and highs and absolutely loved the tight realistic bass ( no flabbiness whatsoever). These speakers do an amazing job of depth presentation the chorus on a tune on "Oh brother where art thou" (Ted you know the one) sweeps back away from the solo vocals more impressively than i've heard in other fine speakers.
They are by far better looking in person than pictured ,as monolithic as any of the SDA series, and seriously heavy.

TroyD

Dave,

You really think I should be worried about leaving fingerprints at that dude's place??


BDT

hoosier21

pssst Dave

I would start charging a moving fee

TroyD

I've been listening to them all morning....some more impressions:

Pros:

Soundstage depth is second to none that I've heard so far. Width, not as wide, obviously as the SDA and not as holographic is the DQ-10's but we are talking a matter of degrees here.

Bass weight / impact? Are you kidding me? Clearly the Amazings go lower but MY Amazings didn't have the definition and tautness of the AR's. My recollection of the Plat's was a different story, however, YMMV.

The DQ-10 was the most flat and coherent speaker that I recall hearing but the AR9's are equal to the task. Maybe better.



Cons?
The upper registers while clearly present and not 'lacking' don't have the airy open quality that the SDA's or the Amazings do. The roll off very very smoothly though. Not the last word in definition, but, again, we are talking a matter of small degrees here.

So far, these are living up to the billing. The bass response/definition is worth the price of admission in and of itself.

BDT

TroyD

and Outlae ICBM?

Never heard of that one.

BDT

steveinaz

Laid-back highs and taunt bass are signature AR traits. I love'm. Some of the most listenable and enjoyable speakers on the planet, IMO, and a god-send for digital sources.

You should hear the Energy Connoisseur series----very, very similar.

DAGLJAM6

hoosier21 wrote:

pssst Dave

I would start charging a moving fee

For a day off and a Mickey D's quarter pounder meal i'm there.

Tour2ma

RuSsMaN wrote:

They actually look smaller, than what I've always though of them as.

Ditto... probably attributable to pics with George standing next to them.

Glad they landed safely and you're diggin' 'em, BT.

amulford

They aren't as small as they appear to be. At least 4' tall, if not 4 1/2. Of course, for us of the vertically challenged persuasion, they ARE big.

There's just something to say about that accoustic suspension designed woofers. Tight accurate response, with that "kick your ****" presence. Definitely feel it...

steveinaz

Between these and the Tosh RTR, I think I have a boner.