AR Holographic Imaging speakers.....

bwkendall · « **on:** 29 Aug 2003, 05:11 pm »

Anyone out there own a pair that you're still using? How do you think they compare to other similarly priced speakers today?

dogdog49 · « **Reply #1 on:** 31 Aug 2003, 03:44 pm »

Quote from: bwkendall

Anyone out there own a pair that you're still using? How do you think they compare to other similarly priced speakers today?

i have a pair of m4 floorstanders. i just replaced them with gallo nucleus reference at $2200.00 used. i found them very hard to beat until i got the gallos. stereo review raved about them, i actually still have a copy of the review around somewhere. if you are interested i ws going to post these on audiogon for $200.00, but i'll wat to hear from you for a cou;ole days to save me the hassle.

rkapadia@ROOP · « **Reply #2 on:** 31 Aug 2003, 06:08 pm »

Russell,

I owned the Reference, and then the Ultimates (4 balls per side) - those speakers are truly something special. That CDT tweeter made for an enormous sweetspot.

If you don't mind me asking, what's your system matched to the Gallo's?

Regards,

Rup

dogdog49 · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Sep 2003, 03:12 pm »

Hi Rup.
i just sold my Stratos and i am putting together the $ for a Van Alstine FET 550-EX and Transcendance 7 combo. Right now i'm using my backup NAD 320BBE and, much to my surprise, it sounds astonishingly close to the Stratos. What a bargain that is. My source is a Sony 777ES SACD. Speaker wires, interconnects and power cords are all from a little outfit called Signal Cable - also among the best bargains i've found. i'm in human services so every dollar counts.
So i gather you no longer use the Gallos. What have you found that you prefer. Speakers i've had in my house that the Gallos have beaten out to my ears are:
Tyler Acoustics Taylo Monitors
Quad ESL 63's
Reyneaud Trentes
Spendor S3/5's
Morel Renaissance Preludes
Michael Greene Rev 80i's
Vandersteen 2CE Signatures
Magnepan 1.6's
VMPS was on my short list, but i could never get an audition. How do they compare?
Thanks, Russell

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Sep 2003, 06:12 pm »

Quote from: bwkendall

Anyone out there own a pair that you're still using? How do you think they compare to other similarly priced speakers today?

More details please?? I've lost track of AR speakers (Is the 3A still made??

) so I'm totally lost which ones claimed or were labelled "holographic imaging". A quick search doesn't turn up anything.

dogdog49 · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Sep 2003, 07:16 pm »

no, the 3a has not been made for many years. the m series is the only holographic series i am aware of. the m2 is a standmount and the m4 is a floorstander.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Sep 2003, 08:03 pm »

Thanks for the info,
found one pair of M1's on eBay in a completed auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3040049599&category=14991

michael w · « **Reply #7 on:** 2 Sep 2003, 01:11 am »

I've got a pair of AR M1's.

A great little speaker that works amazingly well with High End gear.

Back when I was in a much smaller place I used mine with everything from an AMC CVT-3030 to a Jadis DA-60.

To these ears they still sound very good with good clarity, imaging/soundstaging and surprising bass from such a small enclosure. But can get a bit nasty when partnered with less salubrious ancillaries.

cheerio

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #8 on:** 2 Sep 2003, 01:16 am »

Quote from: michael w

I've got a pair of AR M1's.
Back when I was in a much smaller place I used mine with everything from an AMC CVT-3030 to a Jadis DA-60.
cheerio

Now that you mention it, I believe Jadis voiced their gear with the M1's!!

michael w · « **Reply #9 on:** 2 Sep 2003, 01:38 am »

That's news to me

I think it was Mark Levinson (the man) who first discovered these gems and used them to demo his Cello amps.

Around 1992 TAS gave them the thumbs up with a great review and a strong endorsement from HP himself.

cheerio

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #10 on:** 2 Sep 2003, 10:35 am »

michael,
I was just funnin' you about the Jadis, but you're serious about the TAS??

bwkendall · « **Reply #11 on:** 2 Sep 2003, 06:09 pm »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

michael,
I was just funnin' you about the Jadis, but you're serious about the TAS??

TAS did in fact give them a highly favorable review. That review was on the M1 to the best of my knowledge. I am unaware of any reviews covering the M2 through M6 versions.

bwkendall · « **Reply #12 on:** 2 Sep 2003, 06:10 pm »

Quote from: dogdog49

Quote from: bwkendall
Anyone out there own a pair that you're still using? How do you think they compare to other similarly priced speakers today?

i have a pair of m4 floorstanders. i just replaced them with gallo nucleus reference at $2200.00 used. i found them very hard to beat until i got the gallos. stereo review raved about them, i actually still have a copy of the review around somewhere. if you are interested i ws going to post these on audiogon for $200.00, but i'll wat to hear from you for a cou;ole days to save me the hassle.

Email sent. Let me know if you don't receive it.

michael w · « **Reply #13 on:** 3 Sep 2003, 12:40 am »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

michael,
I was just funnin' you about the Jadis, but you're serious about the TAS??

You got me good.

Yes; serious about TAS.

HP was quite taken with them, putting the M1's ahead of other small speakers like the Rogers LS 3/5, Sequerra Pyramid and ProAc Tablette.

He did use High End gear (a JVC 1050 CDP and Symphonic Line amp) and concluded:

"...the M1's are something else. That rarest of all audio pleasures, High End performance at human pricing. "

cheerio

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #14 on:** 3 Sep 2003, 12:54 am »

bwk & michael,
NOW you tell me about the M1's!!! I think there was a pair at a local pawn shop for quite a while, but I never even looked at the price since I assumed they were post-AR-glory days.

The pair I mentioned above (completed auction on eBay) went fairly cheap--guess others were as in the dark as I WAS.

bwkendall · « **Reply #15 on:** 3 Sep 2003, 05:13 pm »

Quote from: Tonto Yoder

bwk & michael,
NOW you tell me about the M1's!!! I think there was a pair at a local pawn shop for quite a while, but I never even looked at the price since I assumed they were post-AR-glory days.

The pair I mentioned above (completed auction on eBay) went fairly cheap--guess others were as in the dark as I WAS.

I got here as soon as I could.

michael w · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Sep 2003, 03:25 am »

Hey TY you shudda asked us !

The only downside to uncovering these little gems is that it tends to fuel speculation and drive prices up.

Recently there was some discussion down under on an older Pioneer Stable Platter CDP, as the praise flowed the price climbed markedly.

The trick is to nab one of these under-rated items before mentioning it on forums etc.