Bargains on ebay?

**Canetoad** · 08-08-2011, 10:41

Picked up a pair of AR 28s speakers last night. My brother had a pair in 1982 running off a Luxman amp and I always remember how sweet they sounded. He upgraded and traded them in for peanuts. I was gutted! I would have bought them off him given the chance. Missed out on the Luxman amp too. Doh!

These will need new surrounds fitted but seller has confirmed that the enclosures are in good condition. I'm really pleased for £16.

**Rare Bird** · 08-08-2011, 11:21

Hi Bernie
Aye those old AR's were great..I'm in the same position as you now with the Bass units need for foam surrounds, i've seen a guy in the Netherlands selling em cheap enough, it's getting the dust caps thats the thing.

**Canetoad** · 08-08-2011, 11:31

Hi Andre, I did a set of AR18s 8" drivers a while back. Couldn't get a set of 28s. I've already ordered the surrounds from the Dutch seller on ebay.

On the 18s I used pegs to hold the surround in place to check that they were centred, so didn't remove the dust cover to do it properly. In the case of the 28s I might try using a razor blade to cut them open and glue them back when done. Delicate job but should be do-able.

On the AR18s the crossover was a single cap across the tweeter. Couldn't get the right value so went as close as I could. I think I went for a value that gave a bit more protection to the tweeter than stock. I know my brother had to replace the tweeters in his 28s at one point. They don't like too much power. Mind you the amp that blew them was only 20 watts.

**Marco** · 09-08-2011, 06:30

Just landed a lovely matched and fully tested pair of NOS 1945 Tung-Sol 6SU7GTY tubes (6SL7 equivalents):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I left a very hopeful bid of $100 for them last night ($99.00 was the seller's minimum bid!), and woke up this morning to find out I'd won them as the sole bidder....!!

They normally go for anything between $250 - $400 a pair. Indeed, there is a near-identical pair for sale on eBay now for $399.00:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Result!!

Marco.

**Ali Tait** · 09-08-2011, 09:37

Nice one mate, it's not that often now you get a real bargain on the bay.

**Ali Tait** · 09-08-2011, 09:43

Originally Posted by Canetoad

Hi Andre, I did a set of AR18s 8" drivers a while back. Couldn't get a set of 28s. I've already ordered the surrounds from the Dutch seller on ebay.

On the 18s I used pegs to hold the surround in place to check that they were centred, so didn't remove the dust cover to do it properly. In the case of the 28s I might try using a razor blade to cut them open and glue them back when done. Delicate job but should be do-able.

On the AR18s the crossover was a single cap across the tweeter. Couldn't get the right value so went as close as I could. I think I went for a value that gave a bit more protection to the tweeter than stock. I know my brother had to replace the tweeters in his 28s at one point. They don't like too much power. Mind you the amp that blew them was only 20 watts.

That would make sense, as it's more likely for a low powered amp being driven into clipping to damage a tweeter. Better to use a higher power amp to provide a clean signal if you want a bit more volume. It's usually clipping that causes the damage.

**DSJR** · 09-08-2011, 09:52

The original AR18 was everything good about FE thinking, but also everything bad too.. The bass unit was run practically wide open, losing bass at the expense of midrange efficiency and with a ragged performance right where the ear is most sensitive. The cone tweeter on original ones could behave quite tolerably with a decent capacitor feeding it and chunky wiring inside for both drivers also helped no end. Wonderful with a vinyl source and a NAD 3020/Creek/A&R A60 amp though

**Beobloke** · 09-08-2011, 11:49

Originally Posted by Andre

Hi Bernie
Aye those old AR's were great..I'm in the same position as you now with the Bass units need for foam surrounds, i've seen a guy in the Netherlands selling em cheap enough, it's getting the dust caps thats the thing.

http://www.speakerrepairshop.com/ind..._id=12&lang=EN

I've bought foams and dust caps from them several times and the quality is excellent.