Acoustic Research · Bookshelf · c.1969–1976
AR described the AR-2ax as a lower-cost version of its acoustic suspension design, held to the same standard as the AR-3a but with price in mind. It sits at the end of a line. The AR-2 had a 10-inch woofer and cone tweeters, the AR-2a added the AR-3's dome, and the AR-2ax paired a 3.5-inch cone midrange with the AR-5's 3/4-inch dome tweeter. American Record Guide called it a better-than-ever AR-2ax and praised the new marriage of drivers, and High Fidelity found it had very nearly all the clean bass of the AR-5 or AR-3a. The midrange and treble controls are on the back. AR's chronology dates this version from 1969 to 1976, so be wary of listings that call an older cone-tweeter AR-2 an AR-2ax.
With the grille off
Ask for a photo of every driver with the grilles off, on both speakers. They should match each other and this list.
The rear level controls can crackle or cut out with age, and the dome tweeter can fail after hard use with a clipping amplifier. Ask about both before anything else.
New to old speakers? How to check a used pair walks through every driver, the crossover and the cabinet.
We haven’t been through this model’s listings yet. Search eBay and run every listing through the checklist above. Ask for photos of both speakers with the grilles off and the serial labels on the back, and pass on any seller who won’t send them.
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BookshelfSpecs and what to check →
Acoustic Research · 3-way
BookshelfSpecs and what to check →
Acoustic Research · 2-way
BookshelfSpecs and what to check →
Acoustic Research · 3-way
BookshelfSpecs and what to check →