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An early lust fulfilled at last - I bought a pair of AR3as (longish)

Well I didn't really plan it...but here is how it happened. I saw an ad on Craigslist for vintage jazz LPs. The ad also mentioned that the seller was unloading lots of Macintosh SS gear and two pairs of speakers - AR3a's and JBL L100 Centurys. Being a jazz collector, I immediately emailed to set up an appointment. I mentioned that I'd lusted after both types of speaker in my youth, and would love to hear them. Anyway, I went by his place this eve, rummaged through his 100 or so remaining jazz LPs, and scored 10, mostly original edition mono colombia 6 eyes by Ellington and Brubeck, but with a couple of old Blue Notes as well. That would have been enough to make the trip a success...but then he fired up the ARs.

He put diana krall on the CD player...and I fell in love. Not with the lovely diana (I've long suffered lust in my heart for her) but with the ARs! Her voice was reproduced as well as I've ever heard a female voice, and my speakers have included Maggie 1.6QRs and (currently) Spendor S8es. It didn't help fortify my crumbling resistance that the speakers were perfect specimens, with lovely oiled walnut cabinets, fully intact woofer surrounds, new grillcloths, and new pots on the back. Oh, and the seller was throwing in two additional perfect woofers and crossovers scavanged from dead 3as. As the Borg say, resistance was futile. After a trip to the ATM to get $450, they were mine. Sure, I probably paid too much, but lust does that to a guy.

Having hooked them up to my McIntosh MC 275IV/EAR 864/VPI HRX/Shelter 90x, all I can say is WOW. No, I'm not gonna sell the Spendors - they are better overall, particularly as regards 'audiophile' stuff like imaging and soundstaging. But the AR3as simply sound wonderful, even though they're way out in room, away from any boundary reinforcement, and up on speaker-uppers (left over from long-gone Large Advents). Voices, both male and female, are outstanding. Bass seems deep and tuneful. If pressed to criticize, I might say that highs are just a bit strained sometimes. Other than that, though, I'm bowled over.

Now I have to find a place to put them, and buy an amp to power them. Any suggestions would be welcome.


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Topic - An early lust fulfilled at last - I bought a pair of AR3as (longish) - teenage diplomat 20:57:59 12/21/07 (19)

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