Next project, AR-XA..

[marcmorin]

The metal thrust discs and jewel cups sound like excellent improvements. I've been pondering ball bearings and needles for the arm also.

As your arm now sits, you have 3 bearings in play. the two vertical delrin cups, and the ball on delrin bottom pivot. Bearings make noise, the more bearings, the more noise. The play needed in a ballrace type bearing is greater than the amount of travel the stylus goes through in playing vinyl above 4K. In a ballrace/needle set up, the needle cannot be in contact with all the balls at once, or no movement can occur. The original delrin cups are quiet, but the finish is absurdly poor. The existing pivot pins when viewed under magification show a very poor finish. The sapphire V jewel cups keeps the bearing noise down to 3 points instead of 10-14 (depending on bearing design). The brass barrel holding the delrin cups is also a loose fit to the arm pillar boss. Lots of rattle there as well. Keep the bearing numbers at 3. fuse the brass barrel to the collar. Polish the pins.

 

[jleon92f]

The Technics arm wand swap really does address all those issues. It's just a bit shorter so that overhang is correct with the longer universal headshells. The weight and tube outer diameter are the same as the AR. I've used a wide variety of headshell/cart combinations and have never had to move the counterweight much outside the center of its range.

I agree that Steve Frost (sfrost on AK/snfrosten on VE) is the wand swap expert as well as an artist with these tables, that's where I got (stole?) the idea.

The metal thrust discs and jewel cups sound like excellent improvements. I've been pondering ball bearings and needles for the arm also.

That looks great!:thmbsp:

 

[12ax7]

As your arm now sits, you have 3 bearings in play. the two vertical delrin cups, and the ball on delrin bottom pivot. Bearings make noise, the more bearings, the more noise. The play needed in a ballrace type bearing is greater than the amount of travel the stylus goes through in playing vinyl above 4K. In a ballrace/needle set up, the needle cannot be in contact with all the balls at once, or no movement can occur. The original delrin cups are quiet, but the finish is absurdly poor. The existing pivot pins when viewed under magification show a very poor finish. The sapphire V jewel cups keeps the bearing noise down to 3 points instead of 10-14 (depending on bearing design). The brass barrel holding the delrin cups is also a loose fit to the arm pillar boss. Lots of rattle there as well. Keep the bearing numbers at 3. fuse the brass barrel to the collar. Polish the pins.

That makes perfect sense, no more pondering.

I do have the brass barrel wrapped with teflon tape to prevent movement. I want every change to this table to be reversible if desired.

 

[sfrost]

Changing out the bearings and arm wand are defiantly great improvements.
Remember your changing weights so other modifications need to be made.
Also adding Marcs perches and locators to the springs is the best upgrade for the money.


This table has a pioneer arm wand that has been rewired and damped inside and out.
A larger counterweight was also fashioned to work with the heavier headshell.
The table now resides in a fellow AK members home.

 

[12ax7]

Oh, did I mention that he's an artist? That table is stunning. That cueing device looks so correct with the other mods.

 

[sfrost]

Or you can change out the arms for even more of an upgrade,

Hope you don't get tired of looking at these,

BTY thanks for the comps guys, much appreciated.

 

[mech986]

Very very nice, one and all. Love the way these look updated and original all in one.

Too bad that AR couldn't have continued to make the table sans tonearm available for modders. OTOH, there are tons of them still around so finding one is not difficult.

Mod on!

 

[jleon92f]

WOW, (sfrost) some Really nice examples there! Thank you. You do great! work!:thmbsp:

 

[marcmorin]

WOW, (sfrost) some Really nice examples there! Thank you. You do great! work!:thmbsp:

And that's exactly why I pointed him out to you.........besides being a super great guy to deal with.

 

[MWalt]

:yes:Wow! I love modded retro turntables, and some of the examples given here are super nice, both with upgraded arms and modded arms. That is the spirit of AK!

 

[cc43fan]

Hey Steve, post some pics (I would but notebook is out for repair) of the "Frosten Edition" XA You built for me. (it arrives at my house next week) and it's going to be a ball listening to it with my Fisher!!
I also second the comment about Steve being a great guy to work with!!

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[sfrost]

Ok here you go;

[/IMG]

 

[cc43fan]

Ok here you go;

[/IMG]

Hope you like it, guarantee you will when you get it:thmbsp:[/QUOTE]
Steve,
I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it for many years. A big thanks for the great work!

Chuck

 

[jleon92f]

Not finding the time to devote to this project, it is getting sidelined for now.:scratch2:

Thanks,
John.

 

[skandl]

Looks like a Thorens motor. Maybe from a TD-150? The 160s and 165s I've seen have brass or plastic pulleys IIRC. The AR pulley has flanges for a narrow belt.

I just did a rebuild on a stock AR XA. Put a brand new Shure M97xe on it and it sounds great. Nice little tables.

Dave at Vinyl Nirvana has a nice video of AR XA maintenance.

Ditto!
Could not be happier with that set up!

 

[jleon92f]

Project will start up again in April.:thmbsp:

 

[KrisM]

Sorry for the thread hi-jack, but is there a thread on that table sfrost? I'm curious about the black "base" and feet. I'd like to do something similar, and that looks pretty sharp.:thmbsp:

 

[jleon92f]

Sorry for the thread hi-jack, but is there a thread on that table sfrost? I'm curious about the black "base" and feet. I'd like to do something similar, and that looks pretty sharp.:thmbsp:

I am sure there is, I remember him doing it. Do a search.

John.

 

[sfrost]

Check out this thread,

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=14435