Look, 500W Amp

Sound

I was going to mail order this AR1 pair on the net for $1700. Seem like a good deal based on their Specs. I always have to listen to the speakers before buying it, so I took a trip to my local dealer and I'm glad I did. It sounds okay, nothing's great. For $1700, one can do much better than the AR1. I mean a pair of Paradigm monitor or Monitor Audio book self + a good power subwoofer for the same money can easily outperform this AR1 for the overall performance. Or if one likes floor standing speaker, Mirage OM6 can be had for the same money now and it sounds lots lots better. One word for someone thinking about buying this speaker: Invest your money elsewhere.

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Mirage OM-6, Def Tech BP2000TL, JMLab, Paradigm

Sound Quality,Home Audio/Home Theater Versatility

None Yet Found

Great Speakers at a GREAT price www.soundpros.com has them for $1495.00 and they were very helpful in my upgrade to these speakers.I am pleased not to have a seperate subwoofer in my system do to space restrictions,since the 500W 15" built in is way more than adequite vs. the Infinity Overtures I had.My system is in continuous change and this has been the best upgrade for the dollar yet!!!

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Infinity Overture 3

I have bought the sleek and slender Acoustic Research AR1 online for only $665 which I found at YourInsider.com. One listen and you'll agree, Acoustic Research Ar1 is no ordinary powered tower. The bass levels are driven by a built in 500 watt Bob Carver Sunfire amp. A massive 15" woofer is side mounted in the slender enclosure. This Ar1 is perfect for music and movies, this acoustic suspension 3 way delivers true sound, with superb frequency response, power handling, and efficiency. They enjoy the crystal clear highs, and warm, detailed mids. We hear a wide, balance sound stage from the dual focused array design. We have also found out its available in black ash and cherry vinyl finish.

None that would make me buy any more AR product!

Won't handle anything closed to the claimed power handling!

Just thought I would post a update to my previous review.

I GOT A REFUND ON THESE AND I AM THRILLED TO GET RID OF THEM!

I then picked up a pair of Definitive Technology BP2000TLs for $2100.00. They retail for 3000.00 a pair which is only $200.00 higher then the AR1s but they are much harder to find at a discount.

The Def Tech speakers blow the AR1s away in every imaginable category. They are a bargain IF they were 3x the cost and they are NOT! They handle every bit of the 500 watts per channel of INPUT power claimed. They have better bass, better highs, better midrange and just far far better sound. The Def Techs have 4 mids and 2 tweeters per speaker and a built in 500 watt amp subwoofer system. The difference is astounding and I can't believe anyone would even consider a pair of AR1s if they see these.

As someone who still likes to "crank it up" quite a bit I can say without reservation that the Def Tech speakers go as loud as my ears can handle and then some without any distortion what so ever.

Acoustic Research - JUST SAY NO!!!

Buy some BP2000TLs today! You will NOT regret it.

anothersucker@acousticresearchsucks.com

Similar Products Used:

Tons

bass is strong, tightness can be achieved with room placement experimenting. good value 299 per speaker on close out!! good construction and footprint. great sound, exspecially for the price

zip so far

i bought 6 ar1's at 299 each, so I am very satisfied with the value. they do have a warm up time of around 4 to 5 minutes. good sound, great bass. tightened up the bass and lost the direction by experimenting with room placement. i have a 6.1 denon and I am using all 6 with an ar2c center in a 22 by 30 room. It is extremely overwhelming. could have settled for 2 with smaller rear speakers, but the price was too good to pass them up.

Similar Products Used:

def tech, paradigm, klipse,

cherry finish, side firing woofers, design

lacks really tight bass, but plenty of bass present

I started my speaker hunt looking for a kickbutt pair of speakers that were very versatile with music and DVD. I am very pleased with the look, and functionallity of these speakers. Add the price and I dare anyone to compete, I looked! I will say that most of the negative reviews below were correct when I was using a less than ample amp. I recently purchased an onkyo 777 receiver and what a surprise. This receiver really erased most if not all of the negative things that are said below. I have never noticed a problem with warm up or a sweetspot. The best experience I can give you so far is Fleetwood MAC the dance DVD, cranked. It rocks with these speakers! I will say I am looking for a external powered sub to add a real tight bass. Once I choose this I will let everyone know how it turns out.

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infinity, polk, JBL, cerwin vega

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This is not a review at all. I apologize for that, but I am interested in purchasing these and would appreciate feedback from anyone who would take a minute to send me a note. I'm pretty much sold on these based on the specs and reviews, but there's not a pair in Canada that I can actually listen to and look at before I buy over the net. I did see a pair of AR9s; they were nice, but I was concerned about the foam surround on the sub. Is the 15" on the AR1s foam as well, not rubber? Does it make a difference? I have a pair of Polk RT2000Ps currently, and I'm not sure if the ARs would be a worthwhile upgrade?? Any advice/opinions would be appreciated.
Thanks

Similar Products Used:

Polk, Paradigm, Nuance, Mirage

Everything

Takes a LONG time to warm up---weeks of loud playing and requires the best associated equipment.

I have had these about 8 months and can understand some of the negative reviews as these take forever to warm up. They also need top cables, amplifiers and other source equipment. Your home theater receiver and cheap cables, and CD players are revealed in all their non glory. After warm up these are extremely revealing with a seamless sound stage and wonderful musicality from the highest to lowest frequencies, as well as great depth and imaging. Even now they have to warm up 5-10 minutes for top sound quality. Give them a try. They are the best buy in speakers

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Many

Awesome bass, very efficient

Directional, highs are slightly on the tinny side, trouble installing carpet spikes.

Phenomenal, clean, rib cage thumping, bass for the money. I unplugged my existing subwoofer 'cause these speakers put them to shame. The highs on the other hand seem a little weak but in all fairness this is probably due to my corner placement of my entertainment center (I have to use the balance to even out the speakers due to lousy placement options). The workmanship on the AR1's was above average, although the carpet spikes require pliers to install and remove. My AR2C center had an annoying problem with wet glue oozing from its bottom seams though. With a relatively crappy 100 watt per channel JVC receiver I can turn the volume up ALL THE WAY without any trace of clipping or burping.

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Bose, Fisher

Loud! and Deep!...WAY DEEP!!

Like everyone else says...best bang for the buck.

I'm very new to the whole stereo scene, and these are my first pair of speakers. I was working within a budget of around $2,000, and these couldn't have made me happier. I just got them yesterday and can't believe the amount of power and clarity they put out. I read reviews on this site for months before buying them, and will be using them solely as music speakers and not home theater. Many people are so critical about every detail of sound and can pick out all the flaws in just about every speaker. But if you're just like me, and want the best speaker under two thousand, then these are the ones. I'm running them on the Kenwood VR-2080 and the Kenwood CD3260M cd changer. It's a beautiful setup and for a first system, it sounds great. I listen to all kinds of music ranging from classical and opera to alternative, rap, techno, and heavy metal...you name it, i listen to it. These speakers sound incredible with ALL types of music.
I live in a dorm, and these speakers are a little too big for the room, but man, does it make every beam and support in the building shake!! My books fall off my shelf when i crank these things.
Like i said, i'm not into all the specifications, and details of what is wrong with these speakers...but one thing is for sure. If you want full range (heart stopping bass to ear scorching highs)for a great price, BUY THESE!! You won't be disappointed.

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first set of speakers