I Got The Unicorn of Speakers! AR18s Speaker Review

[@Producelikeapro]

What are YOUR favourite speakers? Comment below!

[@axil7146]

Wow Acoustic research AR18s - I actually had a set myself at some point (I also had a set of AR8's as well). Myself I started with Goodman's Maxim 2's gone through quite a few speaker sets since then including original BBC LS3/5a (wish I'd kept those but they were absolutely battered), Heybrook HB1s, and Tannoy Revolution R3's , Currently I run two sets - Monitor Audio Bronze 2's for near field listening and Tannoy Revolution 8XTF ( main listening)

[@williamspencer6743]

Do you use calibration software like sonarworks with your speakers?

[@citytonightproductions]

Love my ADAM A7X MONITORS, they are sick!

[@tomassundberg11]

Carlsson OA-52! Bought them in 1984, still in use. They are continuously renovated.

[@OddScienceHarry]

Bose 301 very old ones heavy as a brick as explained I my general comment

[@muccica9598]

I bought AR18 as a student in the early 1980s because they were all I could afford at the time. Never knew they would sort of rise to stardom, like you describe it!

[@davidmatthewwilkins9615]

I love My AR'9s , AR'90s , AR92'S, AR91'S , AR10'S, AR11'S & LARGE ADVENTS ! THANK YOU HENRY KLOSS !!!

[@antcall6779]

So happy for you warren! Great to see you like a kid at Christmas

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing Ant! Yes, Christmas!!

[@benjaminedwards9751]

I bought the last pair of AR-18s on eBay, in America, that are in good condition. Like you, Warren, I'm a HUGE Hugh Padgham fan, and those videos you made with him I can't get enough of. I was excited to finally learn what studio monitors he uses, and I was saving money to get them ever since you did the videos with him. Then I saw you post this video, and I was like, "It's either now or never", so I took the plunge before they got gone. They'll now proudly be my main set of studio monitors, relegating my Adam F5s to my 2nd pair.

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks for sharing! Happy for you! Yes, Hugh is the man!

[@kevinmichaelgreen1162]

I can understand your joy Warren. In 2000 I bought a pair of AR Pi Four speakers from a pawn shop and I've loved them ever since. I agree, the middle has a special kind of clarity. I've got mine about 11 feet apart and they give a warm and weighty sound, nowhere near Eastlakes but something along those lines. Have fun, Kev.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Warren, you showed your passion for music here, a true producing archaeologist. Loved seeing your grin of boyhood excitement as you played Melt on the ARs.

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing that Craig, it means a lot!

[@CraigHollabaugh]

@@Producelikeapro Hey, have a great weekend.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@CraigHollabaugh you too my friend.

[@ericcarpenter3263]

Yeah. Warren, you look like a kid on Christmas. Congrats. It’s making me smile really big just watching you.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@ericcarpenter3263 thanks ever so much!

[@neocollective]

Your enthusiasm and excitement is infectious, had me smiling throughout and that first drum sound gave me chills too !!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much

[@jackbrowning8549]

Wow!!!, The AR18s cut throughout the mixes and sound so realistic and refreshing compared to the reference monitors we all mix through! Love it, thank you for the demo’s ✌️❤️😎

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Jack!

[@erictimothyanderson7469]

I can hear the clarity even through headphones so I can only imagine what they sound like in person.

[@nickwallette6201]

@@erictimothyanderson7469 I was thinking the same thing. The dynamics are fantastic just listening to this through a room and a mic and a pair of iPhone earbuds. Can’t imagine what it’s like having my head stuffed between them (which is how I listened to the entire Synchronicity album more than once as a kid.)

[@MiximusMaximus]

As a kid, my dad had some AR2a speakers. As I recall they sounded wonderful. As a teenager, I finally blew enough Motorhead at stupid levels through them to destroy them. I still remember the glorious sound well all these years later.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@tripwillie2]

Hi Warren so cool to see your excitement, I didn't know about Peter Gabriel until much later. My favorite songs are Down side Up and Sky Blue, the live versions. Enjoy your new speakers !

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Earl!

[@kennethhughmusic]

Congratulations on the acquisition! Many happy hours!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much Kenneth!

[@zoundsic]

I got a set so eager to hear this review, couldn't resist treating the surrounds first after listening to hughs warning on the interview.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@Joey-rp5vg]

Warren, great straight forward reasoning over all the ads. Many thanks for the video. I shall never complain about ads again on your channel....I feel a bit guilty now about complaining some time ago. Sorry. Big thumbs up

[@Producelikeapro]

It’s quite alright! As a Producer and Engineer I make money form the Artist and getting the Artists paid is very important for our industry!

[@mr.m325]

This were my first big stereo purchase in high school. The knowledgeable salesman told me the AR18 was used as studio monitors and I was impressed enough buy them.

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Nicely done

[@hitechrr]

I have four AR-16 speakers that I bought new in 1977. I still use them today.

[@cabinfever1386]

Absolute delight! I believe Mike Pela (Rip🙏🏽) also used them.. the Sade masterpieces. I ended up down this rabbit hole researching Sade’s engineer and found that Mike and I had the same birthday and these speakers were mentioned in the article. Just another confirmation that it doesn’t always take million$ to make magic ! Great frikkin’ channel.👊🏽

[@valleywoodstudio7345]

I've had a pair for quite a few years on recommendation from Ian Caple. I did a session for him where I was playing loud guitar in the control room (amp out on the live floor) and was standing right up front to the console to the left. I thought I was working off the big Tannoys but was gobsmacked it was his little AR18s on the meter bridge I was working to! You can pick them up cheap if you are willing to redo the foam surrounds - which is not that difficult. As long as the paper tweeter has not blown. There's no crossover except a single capacitor as a HPF to the tweeter. My mains are Genelec 1030as which are lovely - but the great thing about the AR18s is you know straight away if you've messed up the upper midrange - the Genelec are a little soft and forgiving in that area . Essential for getting that initial balance right. Love them, they rock! Running with an Amcron D-75 amp.

[@delvenhamric1200]

My first good stereo speaker system was the AR-2ax. They sounded a little dull until you pushed them a little. At a good level, they sounded great.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing Delven

[@Darrylizer1]

I'd forgotten about Peter Gabriel's third album. I used to love that record and saw the tour for it. I think I'm gonna play it again. Hugh Padgham is one of the greats as far as I'm concerned and congrats on finding the ARs!

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, Hugh is amazing!

[@paulscott4870]

11'out of 10 for enthusiasm. I got a pristine pair of Rogers LS1"s last year. Now I get excited about music. Keep up the good work my man.

[@Producelikeapro]

That’s amazing to hear! Congratulations

[@briankingart]

Sir Warren, your joy was WONDERFUL to witness! Thank you so much friend.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Brian! I appreciate it

[@Jeffbrewermusic]

Just wanted to thank you for your videos. Lifelong musician, live and session. Recently getting into recording/mixing my own stuff. Your videos have been so helpful and I completely enjoy your approach and knowledge of your craft. Thank you

[@philcollis100]

I had a pair of these, but when I left the UK for the US in 1990 I gave them to my parents along with my stereo system. I got them because they were the only monitors at Pathway Studio, a very small place in North London. They could have taken the place of NS-10s!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@nicksamardge5601]

I still have a pair of these that I bought new in '81. I have had the woofers refoamed twice. The tweeters are original. They sound as good today, as they did decades ago. I now run them through an older Bose sub, and the pairing is unbelievable!

[@rockstarjazzcat]

How exciting for you! Love those albums!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks! Yes, masterpieces!

[@TheAgeOfAnalog]

A few decades ago, I bought a second hand system for my grandad, so he could play his old big band records in his den. I inherited said system when he passed in 2011, which included the AR18b speakers. The foam surrounds were rotten, so I replaced them, otherwise they were in excellent working condition. I used them for a few years before both tweeters failed, so I replaced them with a similarly voiced model. They’re outstanding speakers, especially in a near-field environment.

[@jimshomestudio]

Now there’s a smile you don’t see everyday on Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks! Thanks Jim!

[@warthogstudios9784]

Had a pair of these in 1982 in my bedroom hi fi. Lol. Beautiful speakers

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous!

[@erikkroll2154]

AR speakers were known in the late 60's early 70's as the best audiophile speakers ever. Even in the 80's they would reference AR speakers to new speakers. My favorite speakers are Thiel. B&W makes some very nice speakers as well. They are quite different. But I like them both. The speakers I build are better than both.

[@Studio31Zero]

Melt is one one my all time favorites! It's beyond incredible!

[@Producelikeapro]

Agreed 100%!

[@davidburne9477]

still remember the first time I heard ‘Making plans for Nigel’ at a mate’s place and being blown away by the production. A gleeful vid, and rightly so.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! And yes, XTC are amazing

[@JimGardner]

Just to say, it's really genuinely heartwarming to see someone like yourself appreciating this music. Hearing Melt again reminded me that my sadly no longer with us friend Kev, an amazing musician, would often ask if I'd listened to it "properly" yet and while he was with us I never did. I have of course listened to a lot of Peter Gabriel, and he is of course absolutely incredible, but thank you for reminding me to get into Melt in particular, for Kev. The last time you prompted me to explore an album I hadn't previously heard I discovered XTC, and I am now thanks to you a huge huge fan. No Thugs in Our House. xx

[@TheThotfulspot]

Hello from 2024! Stumbled upon this as the AI gremlins popped it upon my KZbin feed. Fortuitously, as I have a pair of mint AR18S speakers, that are probably my most listened to speakers out of my 3 stereo setups in my listening room. I keep on coming back to them, that’s how much I love them. They are not the most revealing, or give you the greatest soundstage or pinpoint imaging, but they dig into the soul of the music that just puts a smile on my face every single time. Such effortless balance. And I have it set up to a Fosi V3 class D power amp, fed by an Omnitronic TRM 202 MK3 rotary preamplifier and an Aune X8 Magic Dac. Nothing fancy, but love it to bits.

[@HitTheRoadMusicStudio]

Like A Big Kid, and that's the inspiration we get from you every day Warren, it's positive & contagious 😀 Thank you for this amazing review!

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks Ady!

[@Stevenkozar]

At a garage sale, I recently picked up a pair of AR M4.5 Holographic speakers (from the early 90s) and they sound so good I can hardly believe my ears! So it was really fun to watch this video and learn a bit more about the background of this great speaker company. Thanks so much for the great content on this channel!

[@SirEggbertfartalot]

Acoustic Research (AR), also made Turntables (good ones), and Amplifiers. ;0)

[@bensharp4164]

I've been searching for a pair of AR18's ever since watching your Hugh Padgham interview. I'm a massive Gabriel fan and discoverd XTC from the Padgham interview (thanks!) I love that late 70's/early 80's production. I've been building a (budget) hardware based studio over lockdown, I can mix in the box but there is something about the old school work flow that just gets a better mix out of me. Your videos have been invaluable, thank you Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Wishing you all the best on the search Ben!!

[@bensharp4164]

@@Producelikeapro Thanks :) Once money is a little more free I intend to sign up to the academy, it would be great to get involved with the community and get some feedback on my mixes (once i've had a little more practice XD) and thanks again, currenty listening to Drums and Wires as I type. All the best from an overcast english summer evening!

[@gteltschik]

My first pair of speakers were a pair of the original AR-18’s; still have them in perfect condition and refoamed once. Maybe that first decade with these is why I hear things in a mix the way I do.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!

[@mikenewton200]

Hi Warren I got my AR 18s speakers and amp record player off a guy in 1982/3. Loved them and just found them, getting them cleaned up and redoing form surround. Will listen to Melt on them when fired up. Cheers for reminding me about them. Mine

[@tonye9045]

I had a smaller pair of ARs many years ago, great speakers. Lovely to see how excited you were with these. 👍

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much!!

[@jharloe]

My first speakers were AR 4X in the 1960’s. They were a killer in their day. If you want to duplicate or exceed the AR15’s look at ADS. I’m sporting Sonus Faber Aida’s now but your selection is doing your viewers a great service.

[@glenesis]

Look at you, listening to my favourite albums on the speakers they were cut on like a kid in a candy store 😁 Speaking of unicorns, today I scored anew old stock pair of Yamaha NS-044 speakers! They're NS-10's with a smoother tweeter. They were in the owners closet since he bought them new in the 70s. Next I will find a pair of those AR18S!! 🥳🥳🥳 Congratulations! I had to stalk the right pair of NS-10 speakers for 30 years to find them. I know the feeling well! Happy music-making, Warren!

[@derrickbaranowsky5715]

How great to see someone so happy! Good for you, Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! Yes, I’m very happy indeed

[@mevdinc]

OMG! Thanks for sharing this Warren, it brought back some wonderful memories for me. :) AR18s were my first ever speakers, which I bought them in 1983 when I lived in Southampton, UK. I loved them so much and they set the standart for me. I bought another pair a few years later. Then I discovered the ATC speakers (actives) and have been using various models ever since 1998. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@johnhricko8212]

A great period in music. Digital had been around enough to begin to be understood, matured, 'got better'. AND the engineers smart enough to NOT over-do things.... I was an XTCer, buddy was Gabriel....

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks for sharing! I love both of those artists!!

[@robertbobotkac7914]

I got them right after the interview and I absolutly love them

[@Producelikeapro]

That’s fantastic

[@normanleroy1874]

Cool. They sound great. Enjoy! I heard a story once that in the 60s some producers had teeny-tiny speakers to hear how records would sound on the transistor radios that kids would listen to their music on. I much prefer these!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Norman!

[@colinjackson3662]

Couldn't agree more, my first set of proper HiFi speakers, bought new. Still got them in great condition. Nice to hear a pro giving them some love👍. My favourite speakers a set of Ruarks from the same era. Take care and thanks for a great channel.

[@keithmclean9304]

Ha! I have a pair which I picked up in a 2nd hand store near Notting Hill back in the early 90's. Friends are always amazed to hear things they've never heard before in familiar recordings. Not going to shake the room, but the detail is brilliant

[@Producelikeapro]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing

[@Producelikeapro]

Very cool Keith! Thanks for sharing!

[@thechrisricci]

I enjoyed watching you geek out listening to those classic songs through the speakers they were mixed on. It's always a great feeling acquiring a piece of gear that has been used to make the music we love.

[@distortion_plus]

I worked with Hugh at his studio from late 2006 to 2010/11ish. He used to mainly work on KRK V6s, which I think he still uses, and there were NS-10s (the original ones with the harsh tweeter) which we would swap for AR-18S (the same model you've bought, with the centred tweeter) from time to time when he fancied a change. They were run off a Bryston 4B (or could have been a 3B).

[@kowa1-everellphotographic306]

ive just put a pair of AR 17s in my home studio great sound they are slightly bigger cabinet than the AR18 (deeper) but same components, the AR18s were also used by delpalmer and kate bush while recording hounds of love , sensual world so good enough for me , love the channel

[@gotyor]

I remember one of my family members had a set of powered wedge shaped speakers by AR. I was like a tween age when they got them. And they were the most amazing sounding speakers I ever heard. I remember playing some of the first CD's through them and just being transported into sonic bliss. There was a power and crisp solidness to their sound!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!

[@johnvcougar]

I have a pair of those: the woofers are very shaky, won’t take much bass. Wondering if there are any sources of NOS stock somewhere for replacements.

[@Mrrealtoreal]

Nice! You reminded us all why we do what we do. So happy for you!!!

[@Producelikeapro]

Aw shucks! Thanks ever so much

[@larx4074]

Had a pair of AR 18s for many years; an inexpensive upgrade was to replace the inner cables to the cones with some main Amp to speaker cable, this produced a very audible improvement.

[@buzzichino]

Hey Larx , could you specify better your mod ? I have AR 18s from decades and they're amazing, but don't know much about elecytronics, in which way they sound better with this mod ? Mids, Highs, Lows? What amp did you pair with? Thanky you

[@mlimbolimbo]

Fantastic. I had a pair of B&W DM110s that I paired with an Alesis RA-100 power amp for years. I produced hundreds of hours of video and film content with those. I blew one recently and found out just how good they are when I tried to find a replacement. They are like the guitar that you sold and wish you hadn't.

[@blzebub2]

I used AR18s in the early '80s for a few years, great speakers. Currently running ATC SCM 150ASLTs.

[@Producelikeapro]

Marvellous! Thanks for sharing

[@trailwayz]

my brother in law in 1973ish bought a hifi system Pioneer tuner amp with set of AR18s but the black spongey grilles i think... i used to lay on floor ( they were postioned low as they had Habitat large cushions instead of sofa!) and I was mesmerised by sound of these speakers, especially Beatles records , vinyl...later reading SOS magazine interviews in early 90's I realised that these were used in studios and it made perfect sense to me. I got a pair from X electrical in 1996 Hammersmith ( still there...great shop)... I also have a pair of AR8's which are similar but less refined and i have refoamed the surrounds .. My AR18's need refoaming which is fiddly job but satisfying to accomplish. I also have a pair of very large AR94s in exellent condition...these are very rare giant sized floor standing AR18s and to be honest you need a large room for these... Warren, how come the surrounds on yours are pristine ? Are they foam rubber not smooth rubber? If yours are old and original the surrounds would have perished by now... Where did you get them and how much? You can still get them in UK on ebay at reasonable price but usually with perished surrounds... Do you not think they flatter the programme material though rather than indicate problems ? Try doing a mix on them and compare maybe with same on NS10s would be interesting if mix comes out different... Good you highlight these ... now all the prices will go up lol

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing! These speakers were gone through and the surrounds were replaced! Apparently there is a company in the UK that refurbishes them!

[@MisterBurtonshaw]

@@Producelikeapro It's cheap any extremely easy to it yourself. The foam surrounds and glue are available for not a lot of money and it can done easily with a little care and research.

[@kennethsalter9998]

That is really cool bro! Congrats! So amazing when you find gems!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@robinspat]

Love my mid 1970s AR14s 2 way - 10” and 1” tweeter I use Adam a7x daily but love to listen to those 10”

[@KimboH55]

Just remembering particular recording that we used to highlight the transients and clarity - "I don't wanna talk about it" from Atlantic Crossing. Customers bought BOTH speakers and album on their way out the store! Such a lovely small package compared the huge JBL boxes with a Klipsch horn on top which very popular at the time. The other big sellers were the 'electret' speakers (can't remember the brand - north European) and the small bookshelf Bose. Love the ARs - been telling people about them for years - even made a suggestion to Warren via the channel several years ago.

[@derekevans1932]

I was a typical late teen bought basically the hifi that I use today from Audio Exc in Cardiff, AR18BX speakers on stands, Arcam Alpha amp. Have Melt and Syncronicity on vinyl and CD. Have managed to replace deteriorating rubber some years ago but have not touched them otherwise and still sound pretty good.

[@jordanshreds747]

This was such a cool video. I love the passion for music and the equipment used to make music. I love that you're a gear aficionado and not a snob. Thanks for what you do

[@Producelikeapro]

Glad you enjoyed it! I really appreciate it

[@Timoconnorsongsfrance]

just wanted to say thanks for this video Warren , I've just bought some Acoustic research AR18LS and they are certainly great, ive set them up in my little vintage cabin studio in Savoie, France , very best Tim

[@christopherward5065]

Intruder was probably the first track I ever heard on AR18S and the imaging and dynamics shocked me! I bought the album and was a Peter Gabriel fan from then on.. they were on floor stands against the wall and the soundstage was huge. That creaking tense rope at the start crossed the soundstage ominously. They would sound great laid on their sides, probably better than standing them upright.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, that sound at the beginning is phenomenal!

[@andytullis8736]

I certainly love the kid in you Warren. It was like Christmas morning watching you here! Love it!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Andy!!

[@stupendousmusic4190]

Nice Warren❗️👍🏻 They sound tremendous ‼️ The AR18s was quite popular amongst hi-fi enthusiasts in New York, in the '80s. thanks to you and Hugh, the value of the beauties is about to double. 😎 Notice a very important factor about the AR18s': like the NS10's and the 5c's, they're non-ported. As always, thank you❣️🙏🏻

[@akagerhard]

LOVE your perspective on copyright and ad-money going to the creators of the music you use in your videos. Thank you! We need more voices of reason like this!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks Gerhard! Yes, as a Producer I get paid by the artists! I want them to make money!

[@akagerhard]

@@Producelikeapro indeed and when you get songwriting-credits you get cut in too. Everybody who is creating original content should be aware how vital copy-right is to art being economically worth it and the right to use creative property linked to and depending on the say-so of the creator. There are some contexts and groups that I don't want to use my work, because I don't want to be mixed up with them. Sadly many people are shortsighted or simply uninformed on this topic and only think about themselves. I think it's very important that real education happens concerning this in order to raise awareness for the implications of ignoring or changing copyright.

[@timoti2]

What many won't know, and i only found out a week ago as it happens (despite having owned some ARs when young) vis that AR introduced the first compact speakers with a relatively extended bottom end. This was done at the cost of efficiency - but they essentially invented the bookshelf speaker.

[@timoti2]

and Melt - yeah - now we're talking groundbreaking - on so many levels

[@jedeyetown]

I only listened to the Hugh interview yesterday so good timing...

[@Producelikeapro]

That’s great to hear

[@quietwyatt4045]

Congrats on a banner unicorn hunt! I scored a pair of ‘em myself on Ebay _DURING_ the first airing of your interview with Hugh Padgham! (That’s right. I jumped on it *immediately* as St. Mark would say). 80 bucks for the pair. And yes, the pair with the “S”! If Hugh could get the last couple of _The Police_ records they ever recorded to sound that good using _those speakers…_ again I say, who needs subwoofers?

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! That’s amazing!! Good job for being so quick!

[@toddgreenwood9631]

I don't need to go listen to this particular album. 40 years later, so permanently imprinted in my brain, after hearing you play a few bars, it will now be on repeat in my head for the rest of the day. Could be worse ... you could have played Echo Beach. OH DAMN! Why'd I say "Echo Beach"? Now I really do have to go listen to The Gabe at high volume.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha Thanks for sharing Todd! I appreciate it!

[@sspbrazil]

I remember those speakers. Beautiful Warren.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@3m63r3]

I had a pair of AR18s (my first speakers). Got them from Amazon studios in Liverpool in the early 80s. Had to retire them after many years of use because the rubber on the woofers deteriorated and it was impossible to get them fixed. I'm using PSI Audio these days - can't complain. Enjoy!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing!!

[@MrBurtonshaw]

You can get the rubber (foam actually, rubber will change the speed) from a firm in the Netherlands for about 20quid... they even give you the correct glue. I repaired mine in the kitchen... they are now good for another 30 or 40 years.

[@KimboH55]

ARs - I used to sell these in the early 70s - simply the best speakers of the type - beat the sox of Large JBLs. They used an oil dampening system. Lovely to see them again.

[@weschilton]

Kinda feel the same way about my old 90s Infinity reference speakers. Congrats Warren!

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much for sharing

[@vincentbull]

I had a pair of these in 79 ,my first proper Hi-Fi

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic

[@OddScienceHarry]

Got really excited watching you getting hyped up! I do my production on Highfi speakers still, luckily I know them very well (Old First serie Bose 301 heavy as a brick filled up the ports) to zoom in I use beyerdynamic 990 pro headphones. Sometimes I get comments like you can’t really work on those but the final results always sounds good even when listening on all sorts en types of speakers so I was never really worried by those remarks. Now seeing this makes me confident that I need to keep this path until there is money voor monitor speakers but my trusted Bose will stay there as well. And I want to say thanks for al your great content means a lot and brightens up my days every time! Hope you enjoy the speakers marvelously well ☺️

[@babk289]

Very interesting. I bought a pair of AR-18 (not S) back in high school circa 1980. Good to know that I had good taste at one point in my life.

[@Producelikeapro]

Very cool!

[@timbuktew]

I love the AR18s speakers! I have four AR Rock Partners, which are essentially AR18s in a wedge shape, on my back porch. Sure, you have to refoam them every now and then because of the outdoor elements, but it is well worth it. Also, you couldn't go wrong with the Boston CR8 or CR9.

[@stevejeffries5403]

A friend of mine Pete Hammond also exclusively mixes on these and has done throughout his amazing career. Slightly different area of music but Pete famously mixed Never gonna give you up, one of many no.1s he was involved with ( Pete actually came up with the baseline on that too!)

[@KievitRob]

Lovely to see the joy that good speakers bring! Some producers used to monitor their mixes on puny little AM radio speakers, in order to hear the music the way the fans would. I had a lovely evening last night, with my son and my wife taking turns playing music on their smartphones. You hear it all the time: great music coming out of those horrible tinny smartphone speakers. How on earth can you mix effectively for listeners like them?

[@garywalker7493]

I had some AR8BX speakers back in the day. They were the home hi-fi "baby brother" of the AR18s (smaller woofer than the AR18s) that cost me a princely £50 back in 1989, and they sounded great. I'm currently using MAUDIO BX5 D2, which are fine in my small room, although adding a sub at some point could be on the horizon.

[@hifijohn]

AR was a very big speaker company back in the 70's.

[@Producelikeapro]

Yes, they were

[@hifijohn]

@@Producelikeapro I was in high school back in the 70s and subscribed to all the audio magazines and remember seeing their ads in there all the time.

[@Producelikeapro]

@@hifijohn Thanks for sharing! That's very cool

[@bjorn2run]

And in the 50s & 60s. Founded in 1954 by Ed Vilchur and Henry Kloss (Kloss is the 'K' of KLH), AR invented the "acoustic suspension" speaker. In the early 60s, the company conducted a series of live vs recorded demonstrations which compared the sound of a live string quartet to the sound of the quartet being played through their AR 3 speakers. Audiences were largely unable to tell the difference. AR also manufactured an integrated amp and a turntable, which were praised for their simplicity, high quality and good performance.

[@damirhlobik6488]

had ar 17, great speakers, natural sound , wow

[@Producelikeapro]

Excellent

[@Mishkacat123]

I bought these in the UK when they first came out! Then I bought a second pair - no powered speakers for home recording back then! and they sounded great for making music on my TEAC 4 track reel to reel! only stooped using them when the rubber on the cones disintegrated - ahh happy days.

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks for sharing David!

[@lokmanmerican6889]

I had a pair of AR speakers over 35 years ago, I think the 48. They sure sounded good powered by a simple receiver.

[@sinepilot]

HaHaaa!!! New gear! Happy Friday Warren, I'm in the same boat unboxing my Shure mic & boom today. Gonna plug it into a vocoder and get weird this weekend. BTW Intruder and Games Without Frontiers were two of the best songs of the 80's IMO, along with Senses Working Overtime. I never thought about how the compression is key to the unique sound of Intruder, but hearing it again now, it's so obvious it's what made this song so electrifying and eerie. Thank you for pointing that out

[@producemusicathome]

Great video! I love how genuine u are about your passion

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much! That’s very kind of you

[@mattwinegar527]

I'd be so excited I'd find something to mix even if I didn't have a mix to do. Really curious what starting a mix on these would be like.

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha exactly!!

[@SirEggbertfartalot]

@@Producelikeapro I know you are super busy, but if you can find a bit of time in the future, As Anita would say "DOO EEET". One of your "on the spot" made up ditty's, a minute or so long, just for the fun of it. As an experiment, don't use correction software for the AR's, do the mix, then do the mix again on the Genelec's or Kali's (again no correction software), and let us compare the results with downloadable tracks for each mix. Oh yeah and no cheating with Subwoofer for low end extension ;0) Many people struggle without correction software, unable to afford modern "studio" monitors etc. It's not about testing you, you can only mix what you can hear. I honestly don't think the mixes will be too far apart overall, down to your years of experience, knowing your room, ability to adapt to different situations / environments etc etc. But I am a curious ole fart, and I trust you to be fair, and to try and get the best mix possible on both mixes. Even if it was done for Academy only, due to possibly upsetting business relationships IF the old AR's win ! LoL

[@nickwallette6201]

@@SirEggbertfartalot I would love this.

[@SirEggbertfartalot]

@@nickwallette6201 So would I, but Warren is so busy, I won't be holding my breath ;0)

[@Producelikeapro]

@@SirEggbertfartalot I'm currently tracking vocals with Marc Martel on the speakers!

[@michaeltablet8577]

So happy for you! Absolutely Awesome!!😁

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@michaeltablet8577]

@@Producelikeapro You are welcome.

[@michaeltablet8577]

@@Producelikeapro You are very welcome!

[@butterfly2385]

You totally exposed your inner music nerd....lol...love it...you are like 'OMG, OMG, OMG, I have the found the beeeessst speakers'....I am like...'ok, cool , turn em up then'....🤣🤣🤣🎤🎸

[@Producelikeapro]

Haha thanks! Busted

[@TheMildperil]

I really enjoyed your review of the AR18s. I have refurbished many pairs of these, for what its worth, here are a few things to look out for: The original foam rubber surrounds will all be perished and crumbling by now. Re-foaming ins't hard on these but make sure you get surrounds that are on the flexible end of the spectrum, too stiff and they lose bass. Older pairs will have a 5uf Elcap electrolytic capacitor in series with the tweeter. These can dry out and increase in capacitance as they get older. That shifts the filter frequency down, lower than the tweeters were designed to play. If they sound a bit shouty that'll be why. You can replace like for like with another bi-polar electrolytic, but replacing it with a polypropylene film capacitor will give more clarity and detail to the high frequencies (to keep the balance it is best to put a 0.5ohm resistor in series as well to compensate for the lower ESR of the film cap).

[@Producelikeapro]

Wow! Thanks ever so much for sharing! I might have to get your info for when mine need to be refurbished

[@ScottGrammer]

IN 1983, I mixed my first album. The producer brought in his NS10's, which I hated. I chucked them off the meter bridge and mixed the album on my own AR18s's. I loved those speakers. And by the way, NS10's were also originally home stereo speakers. They're just bad ones. BTW, check out the massive and complicated crossovers in those AR18s's. Oh, wait. It's just a single capacitor. Sorry, I forgot. AR18s's were sold in pairs, both speakers in one carton, and they sold for about $89 a pair.

[@Producelikeapro]

Fantastic! Thanks ever so much for sharing! Haha yes, I know about the crossover! Amazing

[@lawanedavis7818]

I love the passion you have for music.

[@Producelikeapro]

Thanks ever so much

[@davidhilderman]

I had AR18s as speakers in my studio from 1983 until around 2005. Crazy that I am learning now that my favorite albums were mixed on the same speakers that I listened to them on. The surrounds disintegrated in 2000, I replaced them, then a tweeter died. I tried replacing it but couldn't get a good balance. The AR18s are incredible at revealing detail, but are not good at bass. It's not possible to know what is happening at LF with them so you really need a second set of monitors along with them. I have done loudspeaker development at TC-HELICON. When working on the VoiceTone personal monitor, I put some 6.5" dual concentric ICT tannoy drivers in sealed cabinets filled with fiberglass insulation. I had these in my office and listened to a lot of albums. With these speakers I could hear where voice comps happened. I could hear the edit points. They had much less LF than my AR18s, but like the AR18s, they revealed amazing detail.

[@Ddraig62SPD]

Wow!! I had a pair of the AR18s back in the early 80s and recall playing the early U2 albums (Boy, October) as well as other Steve Lillywhite produced LPs (XTC, Psychedelic Furs, Talking Heads) back in my student flat. Great bookshelf speakers and a fantastic period for music IMO. If my memory serves me correctly I traded them in for a pair of Heybrook HB1s ... which had pretty much disintegrated after I unpacked them from long-term storage a few years ago :( Thanks for the nostalgia trip :)

[@dpinskey]

Oh man I can only imagine how good this must sound on those speakers. I know how thrilled I was to have been able to listen to those CDs when they were released back in the 80s on my humble Cerwin Vega D5s amped by a very lovey Luxman L430 - which I still have btw - but unfortunately is in need of service for a power supply issue. Enjoy the goosebumps!!!

[@mickdestiny6542]

Ha ha, i have these AR speakers i bought from a tip shop for $10 aud about 4 years ago. Stunning sound quality. Only just checked then and they are AR18s. There are some records where it sounds like you are literally in the room with the band. Their size belies their performance.

[@jamesearley5062]

I just found this - I have my father's old pair of AR18's which I grew up listening to music through. They've sat unused for many years and need refoaming and I'm thinking of replacing my current hifi speakers with them. They're quite slim boxes so easy to use on a shelf rather than speaker stands.