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Acoustic Research XA Platter Too Low

G

Geoff AR XA

New Member
Hi everyone,

I love my AR XA deck with it's heavy metal platter, but have a problem. When playing newer records that have been recorded on 180 gm vinyl and above in weight the platter starts to drag and grind as it spins. The weight of the vinyl literally pushes the platter down on the spindle causing this problem. I don't have any such problem with older records, but it seems that most new stuff is pressed on "audiophile" heavyweight vinyl, and I have plenty! I hope that someone will know how to adjust the platter so that it sits a little higher.

Thanks!
 
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I had an XA many years ago and was frustrated that I had to use a discwasher brush with the platter stationary. I pulled the platter /spindle off and dropped in a small diameter ball bearing. I did not consider the table height with respect to arm height / VTA. I used a BO MMC20EN cartridge that came with tapered shims, but never worried about it. A similar sized ball bearing in the arm socket may work.
 
Sonus Fabber said:
I had an XA many years ago and was frustrated that I had to use a discwasher brush with the platter stationary. I pulled the platter /spindle off and dropped in a small diameter ball bearing. I did not consider the table height with respect to arm height / VTA. I used a BO MMC20EN cartridge that came with tapered shims, but never worried about it. A similar sized ball bearing in the arm socket may work.
Click to expand...

Do not do this !!

As stated earlier adjust the springs a bit to raise the platter do each one the same amount of turns.

There are other solutions but they includes new springs and added mass loading.
All that info is in the huge AR thread.

nashou
 
Geoff AR XA said:
Hi everyone,

I love my AR XA deck with it's heavy metal platter, but have a problem. When playing newer records that have been recorded on 180 gm vinyl and above in weight the platter starts to drag and grind as it spins. The weight of the vinyl literally pushes the platter down on the spindle causing this problem. I don't have any such problem with older records, but it seems that most new stuff is pressed on "audiophile" heavyweight vinyl, and I have plenty! I hope that someone will know how to adjust the platter so that it sits a little higher.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Your suspension is sagging. An AR problem with age. Vinyl Nirvana can help you.
 
I know the recommendation to the sagging springs is to replace with Linn springs and add 3.2 LBS of lead weight. I am curious if you go with the vinyl nirvana springs, do you still need to add weight?
 
jamesc760 said:
I know the recommendation to the sagging springs is to replace with Linn springs and add 3.2 LBS of lead weight. I am curious if you go with the vinyl nirvana springs, do you still need to add weight?
Click to expand...
I only added Dynamat
 
I have three AR XAs with the replacement springs from Vinyl Nirvana installed by me. I consider this to be the single best upgrade to these great vintage tables. Prior to replacement I had serious issues with platters contacting top plates and footfalls causing playback skips. Those problems are now gone.
 
The fact that older records do not suffer from the problem is a tell that there is no "spring sagging" happening here. The newer, heavier records are simply exceeding the weight the table's suspension was designed for.

You can adjust the springs to raise the platter, but then you'll be riding high when you play older records. A denser mat that you can swap out when you switch between old and new records may be needed.
 
gkimeng said:
The fact that older records do not suffer from the problem is a tell that there is no "spring sagging" happening here. The newer, heavier records are simply exceeding the weight the table's suspension was designed for.

You can adjust the springs to raise the platter, but then you'll be riding high when you play older records. A denser mat that you can swap out when you switch between old and new records may be needed.
Click to expand...
Thanks gkimeng.
 
gkimeng said:
The fact that older records do not suffer from the problem is a tell that there is no "spring sagging" happening here. The newer, heavier records are simply exceeding the weight the table's suspension was designed for.

You can adjust the springs to raise the platter, but then you'll be riding high when you play older records. A denser mat that you can swap out when you switch between old and new records may be needed.
Click to expand...
Yes. A pragmatic solution to a minor problem that maintains the integrity of the turntable.
 
Geoff AR XA said:
Thanks, Chief. I have fixed this problem and now need to work out the optimal tension.
Click to expand...
IIRC, there is an optimum height, measured by the clearance between the top of the top plate and the bottom of the platter. The exact measurement escapes me, but no doubt, one of our resident experts will chime in.
 
It's 1/8" for the XA and models that preceded it. The XB has a recessed top plate, so you'd need to measure up from the plinth.
 
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