AR14 replacement speaker suggestions

[bperry.2]

Hey folks, looked around, and got more confused!!! What I'm looking for is a replacement raw speaker equivalent to the stock 10" speaker that was originally in the AR14...The cabs I got were mounted with Realistic 40-1014's and the foam went out on them as well....As these close enough to warrant refoaming???

 

[isolar8001]

Hey folks, looked around, and got more confused!!! What I'm looking for is a replacement raw speaker equivalent to the stock 10" speaker that was originally in the AR14...The cabs I got were mounted with Realistic 40-1014's and the foam went out on them as well....As these close enough to warrant refoaming???

Ask here....they have already been altered/ruined some would say.
I sure wouldn't bother refoaming what may be an poorly matched drop-in woofer, but try to get a replacement woofer that's close.
The crossover caps probably need looking at also.

Speakers

The most vital link in the chain.....

audiokarma.org

 

[Verdinut]

Hey folks, looked around, and got more confused!!! What I'm looking for is a replacement raw speaker equivalent to the stock 10" speaker that was originally in the AR14...The cabs I got were mounted with Realistic 40-1014's and the foam went out on them as well....As these close enough to warrant refoaming???

The simple answer is NO. The woofers that were used as replacements were not the original Acoustic Research drivers.

The real facts is that you cannot substitute a driver with any one. The replacement woofer needs to have the exact Thiele/Small parameters as the original one. Also, when you put another off the shelf driver as a replacement, the crossover components are no longer suitable for the new driver. So you have a Mickey Mouse speaker with poor performance very far from that of the original AR14.

No, speaker building or repairing is not an easy task. You need to have the knowledge about the functioning and specifications of speaker drivers.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hey folks, looked around, and got more confused!!! What I'm looking for is a replacement raw speaker equivalent to the stock 10" speaker that was originally in the AR14...The cabs I got were mounted with Realistic 40-1014's and the foam went out on them as well....As these close enough to warrant refoaming???

Those speakers are not repairable. AR used very unusual woofers with a very high Qts, low efficiency and low Fs.

These are the salient Thiele/Small parameters of those AR speakers.

The Thiele/Small parameters for the original Acoustic Research (AR) 14 woofer, a 10-inch driver known for its high Qts, are: Fs (resonant frequency) of 29 Hz, Vas (equivalent volume) of 23 liters, and Qts (total Q) of 0.841.
Fs (Resonant Frequency): 29 Hz

• Vas (Equivalent Volume): 23 liters
• Qts (Total Q): 0.841
• Other parameters:
  • Electromagnetic Q (Qes): 1.079
  • Mechanical Compliance of Suspension (Cms): 0.509 mm/N
  • BL Product (BL): 5.156 T·m

For today, those are very unusual specifications. AR used a system they called Acoustic Suspension, where the compression of air in the box provided most of the restoring force, and not the driver's suspension.
This has fallen out of favor due to very low acoustic efficiency.

All woofers have to be designed for a specific box volume and form of loading. In addition every crossover has to be designed uniquely for each of the drivers. So all drivers have to be replaced by identical ones.

I am sorry to have to tell you that those speakers are junk, worthless, and not worth any attention or effort.

 

[InfernoSpectre]

When replacing AR14 speakers, it's important to match the replacement drivers' parameters closely to the originals to ensure good performance. Refoaming the old drivers may not be enough for optimal sound, and crossover compatibility is also a key factor. Exploring options with similar specs or seeking expert advice could lead to better results.

 

[TLS Guy]

When replacing AR14 speakers, it's important to match the replacement drivers' parameters closely to the originals to ensure good performance. Refoaming the old drivers may not be enough for optimal sound, and crossover compatibility is also a key factor. Exploring options with similar specs or seeking expert advice could lead to better results.

I have done an extensive search and no drivers comparable to those AR drivers are made today.

 

[bperry.2]

Ask here....they have already been altered/ruined some would say.
I sure wouldn't bother refoaming what may be an poorly matched drop-in woofer, but try to get a replacement woofer that's close.
The crossover caps probably need looking at also.

Speakers

The most vital link in the chain.....

audiokarma.org

Hey!!! I greatly appreciate it brother!!! I kinda of assumed the Radio Shack stuff was junk, but they had some one-off decent stuff, so I figured it was worth asking....Again, appreciate the hook-up....

 

[bperry.2]

All, I read and appreciate the comments!!! I suppose I'll just pitch these boxes and find a suitable, working set of speakers!!!!

 

[TLS Guy]

Hey!!! I greatly appreciate it brother!!! I kinda of assumed the Radio Shack stuff was junk, but they had some one-off decent stuff, so I figured it was worth asking....Again, appreciate the hook-up....

The problem is those speakers were designed over 70 years ago. The speakers came to market in 1954, 71 years ago. They were revolutionary for their time in that they were the first small speakers to have any useful bass. Their designer was Eugene Stoner. He came up with this idea of acoustic suspension loading. Back then all amps were tube, and 10 watts was a powerful amp, 15 or 20 was high power for domestic purposes. That era was four years pre stereo. The downside of the speakers was poor efficiency, so they could not play loud. In that era most speakers were large by today's standards.
In the transistor era, amp powers started to rise sharply, especially in the mid to late seventies. The acoustic suspension principle went into decline from that time on, and the suspensions provided most of the driver restoring force and not the air pressure. That is why there is not a driver suitable for those speakers.
I doubt you could find a working driver, or even one that is restorable.

 

[bperry.2]

Actually, one further question!!! What old school speaker should I look for that had similar or better performance??? I REALLY love the old Sansui's I have, and am child of the 60-70's when all the Nam vets were blowin my doors off with the power when it came to the sensitivity/efficiency of the speakers, and I'll never stop loving the big assed cabinets with scrolled wood fronts....Or is there a comparable new speaker manufacturer I should be lookin at???

 

[bperry.2]

STONER??? MY AR10 DESIGNER STONER?!?!?!

 

[TLS Guy]

Actually, one further question!!! What old school speaker should I look for that had similar or better performance??? I REALLY love the old Sansui's I have, and am child of the 60-70's when all the Nam vets were blowin my doors off with the power when it came to the sensitivity/efficiency of the speakers, and I'll never stop loving the big assed cabinets with scrolled wood fronts....Or is there a comparable new speaker manufacturer I should be lookin at???

Those Far Eastern speakers played loud, but that was all you could say about them. Decent speakers back then pretty much all originated in the UK. They led the way in computerized design and were the first to use the Thiele/Small parameters to design speakers.

Modern speakers are far better than what was available back then. You have a huge choice of speaker manufacturers.

 

[bperry.2]

Very nice!!! That's why I also used Celestions, Altecs and JBL's in my amps and PA's....Thanks for the heads up though!!! At least I know my options!!!

 

[lovinthehd]

Your sonic memory may not do you any favors either, especially if the frankenspeakers seem normal to you. Definitely check out modern speakers that are well designed and measure well. You can always eq to taste....well, to an extent.

 

[bperry.2]

Yeah, between being in the infantry and field artillery as a medic and music crankin, it truly explains my hearing aids!!! LOL....My "sonic tastes" are pretty much just crank it to 11!!!

 

[isolar8001]

Yeah, between being in the infantry and field artillery as a medic and music crankin, it truly explains my hearing aids!!! LOL....My "sonic tastes" are pretty much just crank it to 11!!!

Even if those AR14's were brand new or restored to new, they most definitely aren't/weren't by no shape or form what could be called "loud crankin' party speakers".

Sorry to hear you have notable hearing loss...I cant imagine that myself.
Look into Klipsch or JBL for your crankin' needs....or better yet, headphones !

 

[Verdinut]

Yeah, between being in the infantry and field artillery as a medic and music crankin, it truly explains my hearing aids!!! LOL....My "sonic tastes" are pretty much just crank it to 11!!!

A pair of these affordable Monoprice THX certified towers could suit your needs (If you can wait for availability):

Monolith by Monoprice THX-460T THX Certified Ultra Tower Speaker (Each) - Monoprice.com

The THX® Speaker Series has been engineered to deliver the highest level of accuracy and reproduce all the dynamics and detail of the best home theater soundtracks and music. Each speaker has been

www.monoprice.com

 

[lovinthehd]

Yeah, between being in the infantry and field artillery as a medic and music crankin, it truly explains my hearing aids!!! LOL....My "sonic tastes" are pretty much just crank it to 11!!!

Then it may not matter much at all except to get loud. High efficiency/sensitivity speakers might be one way to go....

 

[Verdinut]

Then it may not matter much at all except to get loud. High efficiency/sensitivity speakers might be one way to go....

The OP has used Altec and JBL speakers which have a high sensitivity. He needs loud music and that's why I suggested the THX certified Monoprice towers which can output up to at least105 dB SPL. Of course that depends on the amps he will be using. Nevertheless, the pro audio Altec and JBL drivers are a lot moe efficient than the Monoprice ones, as they output about 100 dB and more at 4 feet with a 1 watt input at 8 ohms. I know cause I've used the Altec drivers in the past.

 

[lovinthehd]

Some of the JBL speakers these days can still do the trick. Might be more expensive than expected perhaps....