Acoustic Research AR9 Main / Stereo Speaker

The AR9 is a basic model in the Hi-RES series...well, it's basically loaded. For $1300/pair list, these 43-inch towers offer most of the perks of higher-end speakers, with only slight compromises made to keep the price down. The entire line of Hi-RES speakers follows a specific feature protocol that luckily the AR9 doesn't miss out on. Consider the standards included in each system's package: plasma-transferred, diamond-hardened 1-inch titanium dome tweeter; 5-1/4-inch MagAlloy Monocoque midrange drivers (two per speaker, in the AR9's case); magnetically shielded transducers; and side-firing woofers for big bass from a slim cabinet. What sets this particular system apart from the rest is just a matter of overall size, frequency response (32 Hz to 23 kHz), and woofer size (10 inches).

To move up the Hi-RES ladder to the AR7 gets you only larger side-firing woofers. If size doesn't matter and you want to spend less, the AR11 (with a list price of $900/pair) is a solid option.

The AR9 is also available in Black, besides the picture here on epinions which is in Cherry.