Acoustic Research 312HO (1975)

A 3-way, 4-driver floorstanding loudspeaker system designed by Carrie Christie for AR's HO series.

Overview

The Acoustic Research 312HO is a floorstanding loudspeaker system introduced in 1975 as part of AR's HO series. Designed by Carrie Christie, it features a slim "Tall Boy" cabinet with a magnetically shielded design, making it suitable for use near video displays. The speaker uses a 3-way configuration with four drivers and was offered in Black and Maple finishes.

Specifications

Design	3-Way, 4-Driver, Floorstanding (Tall Boy) Type, Magnetically Shielded
Woofer	30 cm (12") cone type, long-stroke
Midrange	13 cm (5") cone type x2
Tweeter	2.5 cm (1") dome type (Aeroform Tweeter)
Frequency response	30 Hz to 20 kHz ± 2 dB
Sensitivity	97 dB / 2.83V / 1m
Impedance	8 Ω
Recommended amplifier power	25W ~ 250W (RMS)
Crossover frequencies	120 Hz, 2.5 kHz
Dimensions (W x H x D)	265 x 1,093 x 478 mm
Weight	33.3 kg per speaker

Design

Designed by Carrie Christie, the 312HO incorporates AR’s Aeroform Tweeter, Focused Array Configuration, Energy Control Contour Baffle, and Voice Balanced Tone Matching technologies. The cabinet uses a slim profile enabled by built-in mirror-image subwoofers and is magnetically shielded for placement near video equipment. Available finishes include Black and Maple.

Context

The 312HO was part of Acoustic Research's HO series introduced in the 1990s, with this model originally launched in 1975. It sits within the same product family as the 310HO, a lower-positioned model in the HO lineup.

Market

The 312HO had an original price of ¥270,000 per pair around 1997. Current used market listings indicate a new price equivalent of $325, though actual resale values may vary.