New Table Coming Based on the Classic AR-XA!!!

[enricosonic]

This is just false. Restoring an XA is not 'inexpensive'. There are not 'dozens' out there in easy to restore condition. And the name plate issue is silly. It's a prototype, it's the guy's name, and he's an AK member! Have some respect folks, come on.

Some of this carping reminds me of when the father of one of the U-Turn guys joined years ago and posted to share how proud he was of what his son and friends accomplished with getting the company off the ground and he got nothing but insults. I don't get it.

"Dozens", perhaps I overstated that but here are 10+ XAs on eBay alone right now between $300-$500. And a couple of modded ones for more.

I guess we can argue over whether restoration is expensive, that of course depends on how far you’re going, mine was less than $250, I spent more than that on a custom wood base.

I appreciate your defensiveness on his behalf - though the Salad name welcomes some degree of ribbing. This was the link you provided :

 

[enricosonic]

You can count on insults on darn near any audio forum.

I wish them luck. That's a tough price point.

Ours is modded to the max. Speed box and all.
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I'm not really up to speed on the subject, is that an acrylic platter mat?

 

[mkane]

Yes on the mat. I use it because it gets VTA more or less in the ballpark with the cartridge hardshell combo in the picture.

 

[sound hound]

As a teenager, with an "audio consulting business" I was once invited to design a price no object system, for an engineer I knew. Of course, I was excited. Armed with my Stereophile magazines, I picked an Ampex Model 960? tape deck, a McIntosh tuner/preamp, and an AR/XA turntable for program sources. My father drove me to New York City to buy the components.

I remembered the turntable. Over 50 years later, I picked one up at a sale for sentimental value. It definitely is a classic. Today, even with its somewhat cracked cover, it brings a feeling back to me of an era in history, where innovation was primary, and creativity captured our attention.

It has been said that "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". Certainly the AR turntable was a tremendous achievement, admired by many of us.

 

[Bone Yard]

I don't know, it's probably a great table to copy, out of my TT collection it would be my choice with the machine/woodworking tools I have. I'm not the target market, I own the original, but I can see some excitement for something different than what is currently offered new.

The Sound-Burger did so well in limited release a few years ago, they brought it back out last year.