Newer ARs (bookshelf + sub revisited)

So I was surfing CL the other day and ran into a posting for a 1998 (Recoton era) AR S112PS powered subwoofer in excellent shape for $50. I didn't need another sub but it met my base requirements (100+ watts, 12", sealed enclosure) and it said "AR" on it!

Ever since I heard Scott's AR9s the AR bug kind of bit me pretty hard. Finding quality with the AR badge on it can be pretty dicey at times and I guess I like the challenge? Anyway I run my own AR9LS as fronts in my home theater setup and thought it might be nice to try all AR and this sub would be a good place to start.

So I call the guy and make arrangements to pick it up. Before I hang up I ask him "Uh, I don't suppose you have any more AR stuff you want to sell do you?"

His reply was "Well, I have some AR bookshelf speakers I was thinking of keeping. I have four of them, two I've used a bit as rear surrounds and I have another two still brand new in the box. $50 for all four?"

Hmmmm! $100 later I had the sub and four of these little beauties, the AR 215PS (the "PS" stands for "Performance Series"). It was only after I got home that I started reading reviews on these and they seemed to be very highly regarded. It seemed that lots of owners had put a pair of these together with the aforementioned subwoofer to provide a very nice stereo and home theater "fronts" setup.

I had recently mentioned in another thread that I had never delved very deeply into smaller fronts with a sub for accent so I decided to give them a whirl. I called my wife into the living room and told her "That's just those LITTLE speakers... and a sub." She said "Hmmm...." and nodded approvingly. Our 12 year old came into the room and he was equally impressed with "Hey, those would be great in my bedroom!" Hehheheh. Out of all the speakers we've owned that he's heard these are the first ones he said he wants for himself

I'm impressed so far myself. So much that I wish I had another four! Not sure what I would use them for but they seem to be a hell of a value. Real binding posts for banana clips, etc. instead of spring clips too! Get a chance to pick up any of the "PS" series yourself at a good price I can highly recommend them.

The sub is slot loaded too. Much finickier than my forward firing M&K about placement and I'm not sure it's quite as articulate for music but actually works pretty well with the little bookshelf speakers! I think ultimately I'll try using them as surrounds and rear surrounds in a 7.1 system but for now they will get to stretch their legs a bit as two channel music speakers (with the sub). Now I just NEED to find a good/great AR center channel! Anyone have one???

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This post has been edited by Oktyabr on May 25, 2009 03:12 pm

not familiar with them but they looking pretty cool. by your description of the sound you made a very nice score.

Yeah, they actually have quite a bit more bass presence than their size would suggest. Curiously not very efficient but still sound quite nice for a speaker that was considered "budget" material when it was new.

I think MSRP was $179 a pair although I found a receipt from Crutchfield's in the box of the new ones for $99 and from reading the reviews they could have been had for as little as $50-60 a pair when they were finally discontinued a handful of years ago. Four of them for $50? Yes, I'm pleased! Wired up two in place of my Carver bipole surrounds which should outclass them but they look nice and it will give me an excuse to dig through my movie collection for good surround scenes again