Acoustic Research 330

Not much is documented about the Acoustic Research 330 beyond a single period equipment listing. The record shows a three-way speaker from the mid-1980s, built on the acoustic suspension principles Acoustic Research helped pioneer.

A 1986 buyer’s guide entry in HiFI-Stereo (1986) lists the 330 as a three-way system with a computer-optimized acoustic-suspension enclosure. The drivers are a 10-inch woofer with a nylon-laminate composition cone, a 3¼-inch high-definition midrange, and a 2¼-inch extended-range tweeter. Frequency response is rated at ±4 dB from 40 Hz to 20 kHz, with a crossover at 5,000 Hz. Sensitivity is quoted at 91 dB SPL/W/m, minimum recommended amplifier power at 15 watts, and nominal impedance at 8 ohms. The cabinet measures 24¼ inches high and 8¼ inches deep. Width was not listed. The pair was priced at $290.

That one listing is about all that survives. No production years, no service manual, and no contemporary reviews beyond the directory entry have surfaced. The "computer-optimized" wording suggests AR used simulation tools on the enclosure design, but the crossover network, cabinet materials, and finish options are undocumented. Given the modest price and the plain three-way layout, the 330 likely sat in the middle of AR's 1980s speaker lineup.