Acoustic Research 2 Channel Amplifier
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BaggedLancer
Posts: 6,371
Acquired this as part of an estate sale with some McIntosh gear. I'm keeping the McIntosh gear and therefore have no need for this. The left channel seems to be OK, right channel has some serious static/issues. No doubt, it needs a good service plus I'm sure some caps, etc. I have no time to play with it. 125 watts per channel. Last one with issues sold for $400 on eBay, last completely functional one sold for $650.
$325 + shipping OR BEST OFFER. Please don't hesitate to make an offer.
$325 + shipping OR BEST OFFER. Please don't hesitate to make an offer.
Comments
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Wow, this one may go back to the early 70's Teledyne days. Could it be caps need to be replaced?
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More than likely, yes, they do need to be replaced. Volume pot should be cleaned as well. I would probably do both channels to play it safe. Superb quality amp, just don't have the time to mess with it. As I mentioned it came with some McIntosh gear I bought and I'm quite happy with that so I'm passing this on to someone to tinker with.
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Ca. 1967; according to Wikipedia :-P the Teledyne buyout also occurred in 1967.
http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/IP.Board/index.php?showtopic=5117
see also: http://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/acoustic-research.shtml (they have the OM and SM available for download, too).
From a 1971 brochure, courtesy of http://www.classicspeakerpages.net/library/acoustic_research/original_models_1954-1974/original_models_brochures/february_1971_brochure/
Note that this ad copy predates the 1974 FTC regulations pertaining to output power claims of home hifi stereo components;although they claim to rate according to something like that standard @ 50 wpc into 8 ohms.
EDIT: and, finally :-P from 1969 Allied catalog at www.alliedcatalogs. com
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wow....mhardy you're still at it with the advertisements! This is definitely a great piece and I'm sure it can be restored into it's full glory. However, I'm enjoying my MA 5100 and MR 74 a little too much at the moment.
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50wpc @ 8 ohms/60wpc @ 4 ohms, and that's a fact Jack.
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Thanks for the correction, I can't figure out how to edit the post. Just going off what it said on the backplate, don't know much about these!
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Great find mhardy! Hope you can find her a good home BL!
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It is from before the Teledyne buy-out. It was basically developed as a SS amp to drive the AR-3/3a, as there wasn't much out there (especially affordable) that could do it.
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I really wanted this model back in the day. Problem was it was way to much money at the time.2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.
Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.
Imagine making politics your entire personality. -
George Grand wrote: »It is from before the Teledyne buy-out. It was basically developed as a SS amp to drive the AR-3/3a, as there wasn't much out there (especially affordable) that could do it.
I had thought so too - but couldn't confirm it; take your word for it, though.
I also cannot find it in catalogs prior to '69, but it was said to have debuted in '67.
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Thanks GG and others. This was actually used to drive a pair of 3A's which I did not buy until the owner upgraded to the McIntosh gear I did buy. Couldn't justify the dough for something that sounded so horrible.
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Taking it down for sale. Decided it wasn't in me to pass on broken equipment, regardless if how valuable it could be. Dropped it off at a local hi-fi shop to be completely gone through and repaired thoroughly to 100% working condition. Will relist it once it's repaired.
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Back up for sale. Just had it professionally serviced. Bad capacitors have been replaced on the printed circuit board, connections have been resoldered on the amplifier board and tone control board. As with any amp from this time period, when you turn it on there a small popping noise that immediately dissipates.
$750 shipped or best offer. Beautiful piece. -
Thanks. While it cost a few bucks to have it serviced, it was well worth it. It sounds amazing now.
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Price drop to $700 shipped and insured.
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I have a mint set of Ar 3as that would work well with this amp.
But don't have the money. -
You need a little more roast beef for original 3a's. 60wpc cuts it, and that's about it.
Nice avatar. You in recovery or something? -
Halloween recovery
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GG, was this amp not made specifically for 3a's? I could have sworn they went hand in hand. The previous owner of this amp was using it to run 3a's as well.
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Back then, AR's clientele included many professional people. The wildest it probably got was Sinatra & Basie at The Sands, and a lot of classical. It was okay for this. You want to try The Stones or The Who on 3a's with only 60wpc in your pocket you're going to have a problem down the road. Tweeter and mid-range problems.
No degree here, but a lot of experience with the early AR bookshelves that had ten and twelve inch woofers. 60wpc was about the point of entry for these speakers. With less than 60wpc, you couldn't follow individual instruments through crescendos cause the woofers were sucking up all the power if you were trying for realistic listening levels. -
I had an Ar amp and 2ax speakers back then and liked the Stones and The Velvet Underground and blew the tweeters multiple times. They repaired them for free. I changed my habits and never turned the volume control past 2:00 and that worked OK.
