Modelo icónico da Acoustic Research, as AR3a são consideradas umas das melhores colunas de sempre, leia as críticas (em inglês) abaixo.

Com o número de série 919, este par é da primeira série (1967-69) e acabou de ficar pronto após meticuloso restauro na Manfers.

Acabamentos imaculados em folha de nogueira genuína, som magnífico, faculto audição a verdadeiros interessados. Os suportes foram feitos à medida em tubo de aço enchido com areia. O conjunto é um regalo para os ouvidos, mas também para os olhos.

Acompanha uma brochura composta pelo manual das AR3a, fichas técnicas e publicidade da época (com Herbert von Karajan e Miles Davis) e um guia de restauro e conservação. Devido ao seu valor, peso e dimensão, só aceito recolha/entrega ao próprio, em local a combinar (posso deslocar-me).

AUDIOHOLICS
The top ten most influential Speakers of the last 50 years — The Original Acoustic Research models

AR introduced the sealed “acoustic suspension” bass-alignment system to the high-fidelity world, making possible deep, clean, distortion-free bass an order of magnitude better than anything else that existed at the time, in an enclosure 1/8 the size or smaller of the then-best Klipschs and Bozaks of that era.
With AR’s acoustic suspension design, the bookshelf-sized speaker as we still know it today became a reality, paving the way for the commercial success and popularity of two-channel stereo (which was invented in 1958). That year, AR did something else that all modern speaker manufacturers still owe them for: They introduced the AR3, a major revamping of the original AR1 sealed system. Using the same woofer in the same-sized compact enclosure (well under 1.8 cu. ft.), the AR3 brought forward yet another AR “first”: the industry’s first dome tweeter and dome midrange drivers. How many speakers today use a dome tweeter? The AR3 was the first.
AR brought many industry first's such as low distortion sealed speakers, and dome tweeters and midranges.
In terms of smooth, level frequency response, deep bass extension (-3dB at 35Hz, passive — on its own, not an equalized powered subwoofer), low bass THD (under 1% at a 1-watt drive level, a reasonably loud listening level in the home, all the way down under 30Hz), wide dispersion and unobtrusive size, the AR3 enjoyed a margin of ascendancy over its competitors that is not only unrivalled in the annals of hi-fi, but may be unequalled in any technical consumer field, ever. The AR3 It stood at the high end of the scale and had no real, true competition for years and was finally replaced by the even-better AR3a a decade later, having been widely acclaimed as the best speaker in the industry for all that time. Ten years — a feat absolutely unequalled.
AR’s market share in the mid-1960s was an almost unbelievable 32%! One company — AR — had one-third of the entire American speaker market.

THE ABSOLUTE SOUND
The 12 best vintage loudspeakers of all time — No.2: Acoustic Research AR3a

Edgar Villchur invented the acoustic-suspension loudspeaker. He founded the Acoustic Research Company with Henry Kloss and began production of the AR1 in 1955. The acoustic suspension principle was elegantly simple; Villchur mounted a long-throw 12″ woofer in a sealed box, using the air trapped inside the box as the spring to launch the woofer’s cone. His design so reduced the size of the cabinet that you could place it on a bookshelf, making it an instant sensation. In 1958 Villchur demonstrated a new 3-way version, the AR3, with live vs. recorded events where the musicians would stop playing the notes but continue to “pretend” to play as the ARs were switched on. Suddenly, the musicians would stop and freeze while the music continued. Jaws would drop; everyone was fooled — it made newspaper headlines! At its peak the AR3a captured 33% of the high-fidelity loudspeaker market. The Smithsonian Institution has placed the AR3 on permanent display in The National Museum of American History.

DEVOTED TO VINYL
Best Vintage Speakers That Set Hi-Fi’s Gold Standard — No.9: Acoustic Research AR3a

In 1969, the 3-way AR3a became Acoustic Research´s latest and greatest high-end speaker. Touted by AR as “the best home speaker system we know how to make”, they cost around $500 at the time, which translates into over $3,500 in today’s economy.
They were worth it then and are worth picking up today albeit at a lower ‘vintage’ price.
The AR3a is a largish speaker system and weighing in at around each. The cabinet is made of real walnut veneer, grills are mostly cream coloured.
Each speaker has a 12-inch woofer, a dome midrange and a ¾ inch dome tweeter. High and mid-frequencies can be additionally adjusted at the back of each speaker with onboard level controls.
The sound of the AR3a’s is considered a very warm, but clear sounding speaker system.
One major advantage of these speakers in the world of vintage sound is the available supply of replacement parts. They should be easy to find on the web with a simple search.
Historically, AR is the company that introduced the sealed “acoustic suspension” bass-alignment system to the high-fidelity world. This would facilitate deep, clean, distortion-free bass in a smaller enclosure, thus saving space and weight without the loss of fidelity.
On the pricier end of the vintage speaker spectrum, these will cost between $500-$1500 for a set in working condition.

STEREO CHECK
The best vintage speakers ever made — No.26: Acoustic Research AR3a

In 1969, the Acoustic Research AR3a stood out as one of the most impressive speakers in the High-End class. Priced at $499, a notably steep cost for speakers during that era, they featured 12” woofers, dome midrange speakers, and 3/4” tweeters. The closed-box design, structurally enhancing a dry and clear bass, adds to their allure. Today, these speakers are highly sought after at auctions, as enthusiasts recognize the enduring value and exceptional quality that the Acoustic Research AR3a continues to offer.

SOUND AND VISION
Vintage Gears: Acoustic Research AR3 Speakers
Edgar Villchur didn’t set out to start a speaker company; he just wanted to license his acoustic suspension designs to other speaker companies. In the early ’50s, he shopped the concept to the biggest names in the business, but not a single one was interested. So Villchur started Acoustic Research in 1952, and his very first speaker, the AR1, was an immediate hit. Villchur’s design strategy used the elasticity of air within a sealed cabinet to provide the restoring force for the driver, which allowed his relatively small speakers to produce deep, low-distortion bass.
Villchur’s AR3 was an even greater departure. The look was pure and clean, just a plain, wood-veneered box, but lurking behind the knit-cloth grille was the world’s first production dome tweeter and dome midrange drivers, and a 12-inch cone woofer. The plywood cabinets, crossover networks, and drivers were all made at the company’s factory in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Build quality far exceeded industry standards, and AR was the first speaker company to provide a five-year warranty!
What made the AR3 a sensation was the sound. In the early ’60s, Villchur conducted a series of live-versus-recorded demonstrations in which the sound of a live string quartet was compared with the recorded quartet played through a pair of AR3s. Most listeners couldn’t tell the difference between the speakers and the musicians, a testament to the AR3’s quality. Eventually, the AR3 was replaced by the AR3a, a modified version that used the same woofer but offered improved dome midrange and tweeter drivers that created even wider dispersion. Like the AR3, it was regarded as the best speaker of its day and was wildly popular.
Villchur had a hand in designing AR’s ads, which were understated and clean, with minimal copy and just an unadorned shot of the speakers. There was no hype or pizazz, just the facts—and the speakers sold themselves. By 1966, the company claimed 32 percent of the U.S. market, the largest market share ever held by a speaker manufacturer. Today, a pair resides in the Smithsonian, and original AR3s in good condition can fetch in excess of $1,000 on the used market. An exceptionally pristine pair in Mahogany auctioned on eBay in February 2012 sold for $3,710.

IN SHEEPS CLOTHING HIFI
Killer vintage speakers: Acoustic Research AR3a

Acoustic Research (AR for the connoisseurs) is considered the Cadillac of loudspeaker manufacturers. AR was founded in the mid-1950s to produce high quality speakers by audio renegade, inventor, writer, and researcher Edgar Villchur and his student, Henry Kloss. Along with classic Klipsch speakers, AR was the essential brand to the hi-fi movement. If you see vintage ARs, buy them on the spot. The AR3 and AR3a were their top models and are highly coveted.