McIntosh AR4x

Here is the problem with this page: the research record has no evidence that McIntosh ever made a model called the AR4x. Every source that turned up under that search refers to the Acoustic Research AR-4x, a compact two-way acoustic suspension loudspeaker introduced in 1964 and sold until roughly 1967. No source links McIntosh to this model in any way, and the page won't invent a link. The likeliest explanation is a mix-up between two very different New England audio firms - McIntosh (amplifiers, preamps, tuners) and Acoustic Research (speakers).

Here is what the record does show for the Acoustic Research AR-4x. It was designed as an affordable, compact alternative to the AR-3a, and it became one of the best-selling speakers of the 1960s. It used a cloth-surround 8-inch woofer and a 3-inch cone tweeter in a sealed, acoustic-suspension cabinet, with a crossover at 1,400 Hz. Later versions included a tweeter level switch from the factory. Frequency response was rated at 48-20,000 Hz, impedance 8 ohms, sensitivity 90 dB, and recommended amplifier power 15-50 watts per channel. The original price was USD 63.00 in 1966. Audio (November 1967, p.24) ran a photo feature showing a Kansas City installation that paired a McIntosh MC240 power amplifier with other components. McIntosh gear was commonly used to drive AR speakers, which may be the root of the confusion.

Type: 2-way, 2-driver acoustic suspension loudspeaker
Frequency response: 48–20,000 Hz
Crossover: 1,400 Hz
Impedance: 8 ohms
Sensitivity: 90 dB
Woofer: 8 in (203 mm) cloth surround
Tweeter: 3 in (76 mm) cone
Power handling: 50 W max; 15–50 W recommended
Original price: USD 63.00 (1966)

No dimensions, weight, or production-end year are documented in the available sources. If you own a pair, or know more, the Archive would welcome corrections.