Acoustic Research · Bookshelf · 1969–1976
The AR-5 is an AR-3a with a smaller woofer. AR put the 3a's two dome drivers, in 8-ohm versions, over a completely new 10-inch woofer, and said the main differences were that the 3a's bass went about a third of an octave lower and that the AR-5 cost less. Julian Hirsch wrote in Stereo Review that he doubted anyone could spot the difference on most music. The AR-5 was also where AR introduced its vacuum-moulded woofer cone and urethane surround, which spread across the rest of the line, and its drivers went on to fill the multi-driver AR-LST/2. Arthur Fiedler auditioned his Boston Pops recordings at home on a pair. AR's chronology runs it from 1969 to 1976, in a sealed box about 24 inches tall.
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 level controls can crackle or cut out like the AR-3a's, and the foam woofer surrounds will have aged unless they've been redone. The 4-ohm AR-3a domes look identical to the AR-5's 8-ohm ones, so a swapped dome is hard to spot.
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 · 3-way
BookshelfSpecs and what to check →
Acoustic Research · 2-way
BookshelfSpecs and what to check →