[M.Livingstone]

Firstly, as will become obvious, if you make the assumption that I am going to need even the most fundamental issues/themes/technology explaining, I think it will help. I can turn a soldering iron on & change the fuse if push comes to shove, but that is a fairly accurate indication of my technical ability.
I have a pair of AR 14 speakers that I have been very happy with throughout the variety of new sources; starting with vinyl (when I first got them) to today's digital.
My question is (probably) not as simple as I would like it to be.
They need major (in my terms at least) repair & I have investigated an admittedly small & very limited selection of replacement speakers - limited by what is available through a rapidly dwindling local choice of shops with a stock you can go in & listen to.
None of what I have heard so far, in my very very limited price range or even twice that, comes close to what I am used to. The problems I have with my AR's is intermittent, so I have, albeit occasionally, a reference to judge what I would like replace them with.
My question for anyone still awake after this arrant nonsense & drivel, is this:
Are they worth the expense of uncertain repair by a complete beginner? At the very least, one of the tweeters is not working.
And a supplementary, if I may?
Suggestions for any new replacements of a similar standard. Please do NOT assume that you cannot suggest something on the grounds that this chap must be an absolute idiot if he hasn't heard of these or that solution as, I am that chap.
Many thanks for your patience if you have got this far & my gratitude for any replies.

[nickd]

Welcome to A.C.
Assuming you are in the U.S.? Parts and surround repairs were available last time i restored a pair of AR's. You might have to substitute a bit but you can most likely restore them to original or better cheaper than replacing. If you love'em, do the research, chase the parts and fix them.

[JLM]

Google is your friend.

Note too that bricks and mortar outlets have limited selection, especially at lower price ranges.  Living in the country I'm down to exactly one audio shop (that sells primarily A/V systems) and has one dedicated audio space (not even a separate room).  Their knowledge of current audio trends is far worse than mine (at least I'm thinking/ready to rip CD's).   

Note that in general audio tastes have changed over the years.  The big "wall of sound" has been replaced (except by the dipole fans) with precise (more accurate) imaging.  Loose/exaggerated (flabby) bass has been replaced with tighter bass (can sound anemic in comparison).  Cabinets are getting smaller to fit modern/smaller living conditions with less bass extension (what used to be called more European, nowadays neighbor friendlier).  And driver materials have improved while serious designers also are stiffening up the cabinets (to reduce the sound they inadvertently produce).  All this and prices haven't changed much.

Again check the net for many really very good/inexpensive speakers.  I bought $350/pair 2-way stand mounts 12 years ago (improved version currently available for the same price) and frankly are only a couple of small steps (and an octave of bass) behind my $3000/pair "babies" in my main rig.

Check out Parts Express for tons of parts and good/cheap subwoofers.

[AJinFLA]

The big "wall of sound" has been replaced (except by the dipole fans) with precise (more accurate) imaging.

Hi JLM,
Dipoles can (and do) exhibit as "precise" (aka, pinpoint spatial perceived location) imaging, as other formats, with the usual caveats about specific designs, placement, i.e., not too close to boundaries, etc, etc.
And what makes this "more accurate"? More "accurate", to what?

cheers,

AJ

[Letitroll98]

Most speakers of that era and price range one would simply replace with one of the newer models out there, right now that would be the Pioneer BR22 getting rave reviews on another thread.  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113182.0  However AR holds a special place in the hearts of devotees and the AR14 is a worthy model to spend some time with.  The problem is that they made them for a long time and made running changes in the tweeter and possibly the woofer.  I think they started out using the venerable Peerless KO10DT silk dome, but changed that at some point.  The thing being you need to find out which variety you have.  Also explaining what problems you are having would help.

[JLM]

Hi JLM,
Dipoles can (and do) exhibit as "precise" (aka, pinpoint spatial perceived location) imaging, as other formats, with the usual caveats about specific designs, placement, i.e., not too close to boundaries, etc, etc.
And what makes this "more accurate"? More "accurate", to what?

cheers,

AJ

Thanks for the question AJ and sorry for pulling this thread off topic.

I'm strictly from the "point source" school of imaging (like virtually every recording/production studio in the world).  I know audiophiles and music professional have little respect for each other (ironic isn't it?).  Kinda like the female spider killing the male after mating.

Accurate imaging can really only be accessed with live, un-amplified music using proper (minimal) miking techniques (much more rare than we'd like to think).  Accuracy is the unaltered, true reproduction of the original event.  I enjoy a fairly wide variety of music, but recordings that use close miking of each performer with direct connections from electronic signals is simply an artificial construct in which any imaging must be compared to what was heard at the mixing board to determine if its "accurate" (see above).

Every recording (beyond properly recorded un-amplified live music) is manipulated.  The mass market of earbuds, boom boxes, car systems, and A/V pushes the wants/concepts of imaging manipulation into accepted norms of unnatural constructs. As a result confusion reins and audiophiles suffer greatly from lack of fidelity.

[Guy 13]

Hi JLM and all Audio Circle members.
I agree 100% with you JLM.
Guy 13

[JLM]

Most speakers of that era and price range one would simply replace with one of the newer models out there, right now that would be the Pioneer BR22 getting rave reviews on another thread.  http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=113182.0  However AR holds a special place in the hearts of devotees and the AR14 is a worthy model to spend some time with.  The problem is that they made them for a long time and made running changes in the tweeter and possibly the woofer.  I think they started out using the venerable Peerless KO10DT silk dome, but changed that at some point.  The thing being you need to find out which variety you have.  Also explaining what problems you are having would help.

Didn't mean to discourage from following the vintage dream, I never did the AR thing.  After not keeping up with audio/stereo for a few years it was a shock to me to find out how tastes had changed and took me some time to adjust.

[Guy 13]

Didn't mean to discourage from following the vintage dream, I never did the AR thing.  After not keeping up with audio/stereo for a few years it was a shock to me to find out how tastes had changed and took me some time to adjust.

Hi (Again) JLM and all Audio Circle members.
More (BIG) changes in the audio and video are to come and I don't really like it.
I am more or less an old fashion guy, I don't like the speed at which that changes happens.

Guy 13

[AJinFLA]

Thanks for the question AJ and sorry for pulling this thread off topic.

My apologies also, glad we are on the same page regarding this purely imagined "accuracy" of stereo media reproduction. My main contention was your statement about dipoles and spatial characteristics. Caveats needed to be added.

Regarding the OP, I think he should seriously consider refurbishing and I believe there are several avenues there.

cheers,

AJ

[JLM]

Hi (Again) JLM and all Audio Circle members.
More (BIG) changes in the audio and video are to come and I don't really like it.
I am more or less an old fashion guy, I don't like the speed at which that changes happens.

Guy 13

Yes, speed of change can be a problem.  Recently had to replace my cell phone and the old one was so ancient that couldn't transfer the old contacts/photos.  I do like the move to computer based audio, it should be cheaper/better than CDPs while also taking care of EQ while enabling other features such as remote play/networking.  As my cadre of CD/DVD players die I'm slowly moving to computer sound.  Seems to me too that this should an opportunity for folks to wake  up to the realm of powered/active speakers (moving from desktops to full room use).  Note that powered speakers simply have an amplifier built inside upstream of the crossover, while an active design has one channel of amplification per driver downstream of the (low powered) crossover.  Either way they typically are smaller/simpler/less expensive than separate power amps with passive speakers for comparable qualities.

With powered/active speakers a system can be made very simple.    I'm big on active designs after an A/B audition years ago between Paradigm Studio 20 and Active 20 (same cabinet/drivers) and it was NO comparison, a true epiphany.  The active design was extremely dynamic, exhibited flat frequency response, and had unbelievable amounts of deep/tight bass.  Unfortunately most actives are primarily used in the studio and most don't cater to audiophile tastes.  Plus the ones that are best known to audiophiles are expensive (Meridian and PMC come to mind) or are simply powered (like Audioengine), not truly active.  One quality exception marketed for home use is the British AVi ADM-9RSS.  For $2300 USD/pair you get scan-speak drivers, 250/75 watts per channel, 24/192 Wolfson DAC, two digital/one analog inputs, subwoofer output, grills, and simple remote control.