AR XA Headshell

[warsawian]

I just recently purchased an AR XA in good condition. I want to keep the stock tonearm but I want to replace the plastic headshell with a new headshell.

What aftermarket headshell fits/works best? I’m open to anything other than the plastic replacement.

Also any cartridge recommendations with the new shell?

 

[bob smog]

None - you’d need to do an arm swap or some some modding.

heard that you can swap the arm tube, but who knows?

 

[Hose53]

Tube can be swapped out for a tube and collar that can use SME head shells. Something that Marc Morin went through with me and AKer StuartB

 

[Hose53]

Also recall seeing something on another site that uses a sled and AR compatible head shell.

 

[MisterDK]

Many of the Technics arm tubes can be used in place of the AR arm tube. Those will let you use a conventional SME style headshell. The swap is fairly easy to do and looks almost exactly like the original AR arm - except for accepting a nicer headshell.

Here’s mine, with the Technics arm tube:



Edit: BTW, mine above is set up with a mid ‘70s Empire cartridge.
Many folks like Grado carts on the AR tables. I’d be tempted to try their Opus3 wood body…

 

[Hose53]

The Technics SL-220 is a clean fit.

 

[StuartB]

Yeah, what then others have said. If you keep the stock AR tube and collar, you are locked in to the AR headshell. I am not aware of anyone that sells metal head shells for the AR arm. There are several reproduction headsheels out there, but they are all copies of the stock AR headshell. As others mentioned, it is a pretty easy switch to change out the AR arm and collar for a Technics tube that opens up the whole world of SME type headshells. Many here have done that with good results.