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Advice needed on cart alignment for AR XB

gregj

gregj

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
My 1975 AR XB is one of my favorite turntables. It's next in line in my turntable rotation and I added it to my system last night. After setting it up, I double checked the cartridge alignment with the AR pointer tool that fits over the spindle. As you can see by the photo, the needle falls short of the dimple in the tool by about 3/16 inch. It should drop into the dimple when the tone arm length is correct. However, this turntable sounds great as is. I had it set up by an experienced professional about 5 years ago when I replaced the needle.

So, should I adjust the tone arm length to the correct alignment according to the guage to get ever better performance out of this turntable? Am I missing out on this AR's best output, or am I just being obsessive?

The cart is a vintage Stanton 500 that came with this TT when I bought it at an estate sale and my research says it was probably matched with the TT originally. Your advice is appreciated. Thanks.IMG_20170114_171756785.jpg IMG_20170115_195415450_HDR.jpg
 
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You probably should get the overhang right, although the 500 is not a terribly picky cart(but I like it!) so how much difference it will actually make to your listening pleasure is debatable. I'd say it's probably minimal at best.
 
You're not obsessive, you just want the best performance your AR, cartridge, and records can give you. And there is an overhang adjustment, find the XB manual somewhere and just do it, makes lots of difference in how it performs. I love the AR XA and XB, superb classics which perform great.
 
I assume this overhang gauge came with the table new? If not, and you picked this up later you might want to check the distance of overhang the gauge has.
 
I do not have the original overhang gauge but the tech that set it up 5 years ago did have it and set up the overhang so I assume it's correct. I will try adjusting the tone arm length and see if it sounds any better. Thanks for the input.
 
gregj said:
I do not have the original overhang gauge but the tech that set it up 5 years ago did have it and set up the overhang so I assume it's correct. I will try adjusting the tone arm length and see if it sounds any better. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...

which arm tube is on your XB? S or J shape? there were two gauges made. the original XA gauge was 15mm overhang. That was used for the early(er) XBs with the same S shape arm. The later gauge is 18.2mm overhang, and it looks like that is the one you have in the photo. That setting with the correct arm will get you to baerwald alignment, or real durn close. you can check that on a baerwald grid. If your arm is the "original" S, setting the overhang to 16.5mm will be a lot better than at 15mm.
 
marcmorin said:
That was used for the early(er) XBs with the same S shape arm. The later gauge is 18.2mm overhang, and it looks like that is the one you have in the photo.
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Hi Mark: I think mine is the earlier XB with the S-shaped tone arm. Please see attached photo and confirm. The 18.2 overhang guage is original with this table.

Thanks, Greg
 

Attachments

  • AR XB tone arm.jpg
    AR XB tone arm.jpg
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if you search google images you can find the acu trak alignment template for the ar xa & xb. print it to scale, it will make for quick and easy set up
 
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