AR-XA tonearm conversion to Technics??
- Thread starter Singlecinch
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Marc Morin surely will be by shortly. It doesn't look hard but if I ever go down that road I'll probably just have him do it because he's got some other mods to the tonearm pivots that are getting good reviews. I believe most of the original XA bits are kept, only the arm is changed, so you can use more inexpensive headshells and swap them without resetting the overhang each time. Don't know if there's any sonic improvement to be had.
It'd ruin the look (for me; I like old stuff and the looks of the XA in particular) but I wonder if you couldn't fit a counterweight that'd be a little easier to adjust as well.
It'd ruin the look (for me; I like old stuff and the looks of the XA in particular) but I wonder if you couldn't fit a counterweight that'd be a little easier to adjust as well.
Singlecinch
Member
Thanks, I'll see what shakes out.
Rygen
I can break any motor.
I changed my wand from a technics and rewired it with cardas 33 wire. For what its worth my build thread here...
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....y-ar-xa-w-technics-wand-and-headshell.285916/
http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....y-ar-xa-w-technics-wand-and-headshell.285916/
Singlecinch
Member
WaynerN
Addicted Member
The Technics tonearm requires a 215mm spindle to tonearm pivot distance to get things right. Measure your AR and see if its close. The Technics is also made from 3/8 aluminum tube, so it can be used as a substitute for the AR arm tube. The you can use a regular headshell and actually put your AR into some kind of real alignment.
Singlecinch
Member
First Thank you for all the responses! I was thinking of replacing the wand but now I'm thinking maybe upgrade the entire tonearm. I have had several Technics over the years and well, the tonearms although not high grade always seemed to work well and had little to no issues. Any one ever tried that??
I dunno... the AR is a nice design and the tonearm design is kind of integral to what makes it an AR.
If you wanted to transplant another entire arm, you'd probably want to mount it on the suspended subchassis not the top plate which would involve cutting a big hole in the plate and some irreversible mods.
If you wanted to transplant another entire arm, you'd probably want to mount it on the suspended subchassis not the top plate which would involve cutting a big hole in the plate and some irreversible mods.
AvFan
Super Member
One of the best changes Marc Morin made to my XB was replacing the original arm wand with a Technics "S" version. Besides the ability to easily swap out headshells/cartridges the tonearm wire was replaced with Cardas wire and Marc added damping at key locations. The elegantly engineered tonearm can reach its potential with the improvements Marc employs so it isn't necessary to force fit a different tonearm onto an XA or XB.
To answer the initial question, yes it will work.
http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=17092
http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=17092
marcmorin
RIP 1953-2020
The armtube will work fine. I use those in my builds too. The overhang set pin in the AR arm pivot block won't work, you need to get a #5 x 40 set screw
OK, I'm not the OP but you definitely have my interest now. Keeping that original look is the main reason I have not ever really considered doing that conversion, but depending on cost, that might be a permanent solution to the stripped headshell thread issue. Not a big deal ATM as I have two and both look near NOS in that area, but something to think about.
Maybe even go full plaid and mill off the threaded bosses underneath and cut slots in the headshell? Wouldn't look 100% original that way but then you would never have to mess with the screw back at the pivot block again.
Plenty of stripped ones out there, just lob off and drill out the pins and wire and insert the new SME bayonet with wires attached.
If you make the fit tight it can give you azimuth adjustment of headshell also. The insert was +- $10 but you can steal one off another shell also. The black AR shells are a softer plastic and are easier to work with, the tan ones like to crack and split easily.
If you make the fit tight it can give you azimuth adjustment of headshell also. The insert was +- $10 but you can steal one off another shell also. The black AR shells are a softer plastic and are easier to work with, the tan ones like to crack and split easily.
Singlecinch
Member
Thank you good to know.
