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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!dual!bill
From: bill@dual.UUCP (Bill Kanawyer)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: More on my AR-11 statement.
Message-ID: <364@dual.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 18-Mar-84 12:10:42 EST
Article-I.D.: dual.364
Posted: Sun Mar 18 12:10:42 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Mar-84 07:25:35 EST
References: <1840@tektronix.UUCP> <352@dual.UUCP> <240@opus.UUCP>
Organization: Dual Systems, Berkeley, CA
Lines: 55

< Food of the gods >

    Sometimes when one has all of the background information in ones head
one thinks that everyone else has too.

    I made two statements in an earler article (reference 352@dual.UUCP)
without giving enough information to allow proper understanding on the
readers part. My statements in short were:
    1) I thought that AR-11 tweeters were under rated on power handling.
    2) I did not like their (the tweeters) sound.

    The person who's login is rdc@opus.UUCP pointed out to me (and everyone
else, reference 240@opus.UUCP) that the effect noted in the two statements
could be caused by over driving the speakers.

			THIS IS QUITE TRUE

    However, please allow me to add a couple of things that will help you
to better understanding my experences with AR-11s.

    As said, I was using a large number of AR-11 in the theater that I was
running shows in. The speakers WERE wired to a large (1000 watts) amp. In
order to maintain proper loading for the amp they were wired in a serial - 
parallel circuit (8 ohms looking into the array) and were properly fused.

    For my own interest a pair were taken home and played on a 30W amp
at low to moderate levels (<80 - 85 db).

    In addition I have known 3 different people who have owned AR-11 and
all three have blown drivers. Not madmen who like to "crank it way up"
but just regular guys... like you and me.

    So, now that you know all of this I will state my opinions again.

    (1) I did not care for the sound of the AR-11 tweeters. They tended
to be harsher then I care for... but then I am sensative to high freqs.
I also do not like most horn and pizo tweeters.

    (2) My experence is that the mid-range drivers and tweeters can be
too easly blown by transients for which fusing is no protection. They
will blow at the drop of a hat (or needle). The most common cause of
failure (in my experence) is that the voice coil opens up.

    I should say that over all the sound of the AR-11 seems good. People
who like AR products should be happy with the sound. (My own feeling is
the AR-3a is a better product) Just remember when buying these to use
them with a amp of modest power. 30 watts per is more then enough to use.
Also remember to turn your gain down before changing records.

    I am sorry that this turned out to be so long. I had hoped to be able
to make my statement in just a few words. If I have still failed to make
my self clear... please feel free to write me.

Bill Kanawyer
{ucbvax,amd70,ihnp4,cbosgd,decwrl,fortune,zehntel}!dual!bill