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Acoustic Research LST Speakers $2250 Rare opportunity... AR LST speakers on custom made Jarrah stands. All speakers working perfectly and woofers have been refoamed. Tweeters are all genuine replacements. The Acoustic Research Laboratory Standard Transducer (AR-LST) is designed for those laboratory and commercial applications that require conveniently repeatable, accurately known spectral energy profiles, including one flat profile extending from 30Hz to 20 kHz. The AR LST uses a 12” acoustic suspension woofer, four 1 1/2-inch mid-range hemispherical radiators and four 3/4 inch hemispheri
At A$2,250, this is well above the typical used market for the comparable pool you gave me: it sits far over the A$603 75th percentile and is not a fair-price listing on those numbers. In other words, it reads as an ambitious asking price unless this pair is exceptionally complete, restored, or locally scarce.
That said, this is a genuinely respected vintage design with serious reputation for scale, dynamics, and the big, room-filling presentation AR LSTs are known for. For a buyer, the upside is in condition and originality: intact drivers, matching pairs, good cabinets, and any provenance or original hardware matter a lot here. At this price, I’d want unusually strong presentation and documented health before calling it a buy.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Acoustic Research (AR) emerged from Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1954, founded by audio pioneer Edgar Villchur and his student Henry Kloss. Villchur, an inventor, researcher, and educator, developed the groundbreaking acoustic suspension loudspeaker principle, patented in 1956, which enabled compact speakers with deep, distortion-free bass. Their debut AR-1 model, unveiled at the 1954 New York Audio Show for $185, revolutionized the industry by shrinking enclosure sizes by up to 75 percent while delivering superior performance, setting the stage for AR's rapid ascent.
The brand focused primarily on loudspeakers, pioneering acoustic suspension designs like the AR-1, AR-2, AR-3 series, and compact bookshelf models such as the AR-4, which appealed to students and families. AR expanded into turntables, including the enduring AR Turntable still prized by vinyl enthusiasts, alongside other stereo components. This emphasis on innovative speakers with flat response, wide dispersion, and extended bass defined their catalog, prioritizing engineering over aesthetics.
AR commanded peak dominance in 1966 with over 32 percent of the U.S. loudspeaker market—the largest share any hi-fi company has achieved—earning reverence for natural sound reproduction and robust build quality. Now owned by VOXX and shifted toward lower-end accessories, its vintage products remain collector icons, embodying mid-century high-fidelity excellence for discerning buyers seeking timeless accuracy.
See all Acoustic Research listings on RADAR.
