In Dec 2021 I rebuilt and tested my 1977 XB1 - basically all the same innards but with the added advantage of a stylus lift system and more substantial on off switch. The most important thing was to get hold of a new milled belt to the AR spec and then clean out all the main bearing and the arm. It works perfectly now having set it up with a great cartridge - AT540 ML - and checked all the alignment and tracking (2g). It stands up really well after all these years in a vinyl analogue only system ($5k amp and stand mounted speakers + two REL subs). As per the original spec, there is no audible rumble or wow and flutter as it is built to the US broadcast standard. You will not find any TT under about $2.5k with the same spec on those key aspects. The arm remains a brilliant design and the rationale for the boxy black headshell spot on (light and rigid). I will only consider a Linn LP12 as an upgrade at they are $4.5k as the base model.
Thanks for the comments. It's great to hear from other AR turntable owners and get their opinions and experiences. I still listen to the AR XA almost daily even though I have 4 other turntables connected to the system. Here is a link to the original service video in case you haven't seen that one yet. czcams.com/video/azVCRmsPY70/video.html
Some guys rave about these. I prefer Dual 1229 /1219 and 1019. You should get a dark cork mat for it. It would spruce it up substantially. As for the missing piece.....you could fill it with epoxy and sand and polish it to fill it in. I like your channel. We both love fixing old gear. I particularly like turntables and speakers. Amps sometimes when Im in the mood for a brain teaser.
I like the AR XA for it's simplicity. I'm also a big fan of Dual. I have 5 turntables connected to my main audio system and 3 of them are Duals, 1019, 1209, and a 1237.
If you want a decent device that will not break the bank to auto lift the tonearm up at the end of the record buy The Q Up. I just installed it on my AR XA and it works great. Takes a little fiddling with the lift installing wise but once you get it adjusted it is wonderful not having to bolt to the turntable when the last song is over. Needles are expensive these days so The Q Up will save your stylus from wear. Especially if you were to fall asleep while listening.
Thanks for the tip. I actually have 5 other turntables connected to my system all of which have at least a tonearm lifter. I just use one of those if I'm feeling sleepy.
The AR XA is a very simple turntable yet preforms very well. I recently worked on a Phillips 212 which in some ways is similar to the XA. It's not as simple in operation but has a similar suspension system.
Usually the speed is close enough, in fact it measured as being the best in the industry (of non-adjustable) turntables at the time, by some reviewer with measurement gear, but the service manual does mention a trick way to adjust the speed if necessary: you loosen the screws holding in the motor and place a shim either under the screw near the platter or near the back of the turntable, depending on if you want it to run faster or slower. I tried and found it worked but was too awkward, so instead I set up the turntable with its bottom cover removed and elevated so I can reach under it during operation [Danger: there's live AC voltage down there.] Instead of tilting the plane of the motor in relation to the platter as they advise, I reversed it by tilting the platter in relation to the motor, ever so slightly, by adjusting the front suspension spring's nut tighter or looser. [Keep in mind you simultaneously are tilting the tonearm, unlike with most turntables, because the T-bar holds both the platter bearing and tonearm bearing, and you are tilting the entire T-bar assembly with the suspension spring nut] It took some time but using a strobe app (True Note) and a strobe disc I downloaded and printed out from vinylengine, I was able to dial it in exactly. AR even once had an ad showing the inventor holding a pencil tip over a strobe disc and counting how many lines would drift by within 60 seconds to determine the accuracy this same way.
This was the first real hifi turntable ever made. Thorens and others copied AR's suspension designs. The AR was even used by record companies to give the go ahead on mass production of said records as I understand it.
In Dec 2021 I rebuilt and tested my 1977 XB1 - basically all the same innards but with the added advantage of a stylus lift system and more substantial on off switch.
The most important thing was to get hold of a new milled belt to the AR spec and then clean out all the main bearing and the arm.
It works perfectly now having set it up with a great cartridge - AT540 ML - and checked all the alignment and tracking (2g).
It stands up really well after all these years in a vinyl analogue only system ($5k amp and stand mounted speakers + two REL subs).
As per the original spec, there is no audible rumble or wow and flutter as it is built to the US broadcast standard. You will not find any TT under about $2.5k with the same spec on those key aspects.
The arm remains a brilliant design and the rationale for the boxy black headshell spot on (light and rigid).
I will only consider a Linn LP12 as an upgrade at they are $4.5k as the base model.
Thanks for the comments. It's great to hear from other AR turntable owners and get their opinions and experiences. I still listen to the AR XA almost daily even though I have 4 other turntables connected to the system. Here is a link to the original service video in case you haven't seen that one yet. czcams.com/video/azVCRmsPY70/video.html
I still have mine in the original box that I bought in 1977.
Excellent! Is it an XA or XB?
Some guys rave about these. I prefer Dual 1229 /1219 and 1019. You should get a dark cork mat for it. It would spruce it up substantially. As for the missing piece.....you could fill it with epoxy and sand and polish it to fill it in. I like your channel. We both love fixing old gear. I particularly like turntables and speakers. Amps sometimes when Im in the mood for a brain teaser.
I like the AR XA for it's simplicity. I'm also a big fan of Dual. I have 5 turntables connected to my main audio system and 3 of them are Duals, 1019, 1209, and a 1237.
If you want a decent device that will not break the bank to auto lift the tonearm up at the end of the record buy The Q Up. I just installed it on my AR XA and it works great. Takes a little fiddling with the lift installing wise but once you get it adjusted it is wonderful not having to bolt to the turntable when the last song is over. Needles are expensive these days so The Q Up will save your stylus from wear. Especially if you were to fall asleep while listening.
Thanks for the tip. I actually have 5 other turntables connected to my system all of which have at least a tonearm lifter. I just use one of those if I'm feeling sleepy.
great TT, in Europe almost impossible to find, if I would ever again decide to buy TT, it will be this one
The AR XA is a very simple turntable yet preforms very well. I recently worked on a Phillips 212 which in some ways is similar to the XA. It's not as simple in operation but has a similar suspension system.
Usually the speed is close enough, in fact it measured as being the best in the industry (of non-adjustable) turntables at the time, by some reviewer with measurement gear, but the service manual does mention a trick way to adjust the speed if necessary: you loosen the screws holding in the motor and place a shim either under the screw near the platter or near the back of the turntable, depending on if you want it to run faster or slower. I tried and found it worked but was too awkward, so instead I set up the turntable with its bottom cover removed and elevated so I can reach under it during operation [Danger: there's live AC voltage down there.] Instead of tilting the plane of the motor in relation to the platter as they advise, I reversed it by tilting the platter in relation to the motor, ever so slightly, by adjusting the front suspension spring's nut tighter or looser. [Keep in mind you simultaneously are tilting the tonearm, unlike with most turntables, because the T-bar holds both the platter bearing and tonearm bearing, and you are tilting the entire T-bar assembly with the suspension spring nut] It took some time but using a strobe app (True Note) and a strobe disc I downloaded and printed out from vinylengine, I was able to dial it in exactly. AR even once had an ad showing the inventor holding a pencil tip over a strobe disc and counting how many lines would drift by within 60 seconds to determine the accuracy this same way.
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to give that a try. By the way, I really enjoyed your video on the AR-XA, especially the hammer test!
Thanks @@mguess
No hole drilling or anything like that. It goes between the platter and the tonearm.
This was the first real hifi turntable ever made. Thorens and others copied AR's suspension designs. The AR was even used by record companies to give the go ahead on mass production of said records as I understand it.
I agree. It's an amazing and very simple little turntable.