Official AR Turntable Owners Thread

[BlacknTan]

Yes, it's P-mount with the adapter. I'm sometimes astounded by the sound, and I'm aware of diminishing returns. My other thought is having the original Stanton D71EE stylus retipped, which omits all the negatives.. but also possibly limits the positives..

 

[mr_macgee]

Yes, it's P-mount with the adapter. I'm sometimes astounded by the sound, and I'm aware of diminishing returns. My other thought is having the original Stanton D71EE stylus retipped, which omits all the negatives.. but also possibly limits the positives..

You may also want to check your current overhang for the stylus, the standard overhang for a AR XA is 15mm-16.5mm. Looking at your pic above, from viewing at that angle and with p-mount adapter it appears you may have more than 15mm of overhang; but I could be wrong.

 

[BlacknTan]

You may also want to check your current overhang for the stylus, the standard overhang for a AR XA is 15mm. Looking at your pic above, from viewing at that angle and with p-mount adapter it appears you may have more than 15mm of overhang; but I could be wrong.

I will check it. The original gauge from AR has yet to be located, but I think I'll just purchase a replacement..

Thanks for your help!

 

[Blackdog61]

AR supplied gauges for two different overhang measurement, although I don’t remember the details. Marc Morin recommended 16.5mm for modern cartridges.

 

[Notdoc]

When I finally got my XA all setup awhile back. I set it with online alignment protractors "proprietary" one, 16.230 overhang. Thought it sounded great. Just recently, looking for any further improvement available, I set it to Baerwald and was knocked over by the improvement. Greater clarity high at low in the first grooves, with no noticeable loss or IGD in the last. This thing just gets better and better.

 

[AudioWaters]

Anyone know the machine screw thread size for the AR-ETL turntable feet?

 

[miles2002]

Got an XA a couple weeks ago, lucked out on the mechanical side, it looks like the original v15 II was snapped off and the table was stuck in a closet for the last 50 years, cosmetically a little rough a bit scratched up and banged around.

So far 210 arm tube, jewel bearings, kab wires and rca outs, replaced the springs with the standard vinyl nirvana set.

 

[Morgan D]

Awesome AR-XA!!
I didn't know you could run such a heavy Grado on that tonearm.
Where did you get that Que lift?

 

[miles2002]

Thanks, the updates were thanks to all the people that posted in this thread

The lift is from a denon da-50 that was broken in shipping, superglued to a 45 adaptor

That head shell is a 7 gram cheapie from amazon

finally got the replacement stylus for the v15 and giving that a whirl

planning on a few more upgrades like mass loading and a new base but really enjoying it for now

 

[StuartB]

Got an XA a couple weeks ago, lucked out on the mechanical side, it looks like the original v15 II was snapped off and the table was stuck in a closet for the last 50 years, cosmetically a little rough a bit scratched up and banged around.

So far 210 arm tube, jewel bearings, kab wires and rca outs, replaced the springs with the standard vinyl nirvana set.

Nice job!

 

[miles2002]

Did the mass loading upgrade, used 3/4 mdf for the triangle, got a mold off amazon to make the weights, 1 pound each for the top of the tee, 1 pound 2 oz for the bottom, 11 oz for the mdf for a total of 3 lbs 13 oz, linn springs and guides, worked well, after assembly the TA was centered, jounce was perfect didn't have to adjust anything but the height. much more stable than the vinyl nirvana springs.

 

[Hose53]

Nice!

 

[Pdrummer]

I'm happy this thread is still going!!! I have a few question I recently inherited an acoustic research (AR-XA) turntable (I won it on e bay for $126). I noticed my T shaped Suspension is right up against the metal plate? Is that supposed to be like that? & how do I adjust it? also where should the belt be in the center of the plater mins seams to be riding a bit lower? is that because the Suspension is right up against the metal plate? here are some photos, I will clean up the platter this week at work if I can. Thanks

 

[JediDude]

To check where the belt runs on the inner platter, you could put the outer platter on upside-down. You'll need to check things in the same state that the runtable will be in while in use.

There are specs/guidelines for "ride height" (couldn't think of the tecnical term at the moment), but no doubt someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in sometime.
Adjusting the platter height is done from the bottom, by adjusting the pre-load on the three springs that hold up the platter/tone arm assembly

Have you cleaned and powdered the belt?
Nice find, BTW.

 

[Notdoc]

Without the platter on, it will be up against the top, platter on around 1/8 or 3/16" gap at bottom is good. To get the belt higher you can pull up slightly on the pulley, if need be.

 

[Notdoc]

And get rid of that mat. Stock XAs like light thin mats.

 

[Blackdog61]

And get rid of that mat. Stock XAs like light thin mats.

Jake’s deerhide are very good.

 

[Pdrummer]

OK I downloaded the manual cleaned up the platter pretty good. I couldn't get the Head shell to to the proper over hang 15MM but I got it close it's pushed back all the way so it's looks more like 16MM. I posted this to a few other sites (vinyl engine, etc..) One person told me to make a stiff paper gage (which I did) but the arm doe's not go back that far. So I'm leaving it at 16-16.5 MM or what ever it's at. The music sounds great!!! so far. Today at work (I'm a machinist) I mad alu a gage coping the one that used to come with this table from a photo I saw but I still couldn't get it to 15 MM so I will live with what I have.. As you can see it hangs well passed the 15MM mark. they don't give you a lot of room to move the arm..

 

[Notdoc]

Almost everyone on here says 16 or a little over to work best. I think online protractors was 16.230 but I don't know how anyone can achieve that precision. I just align it to the two nulls on the arc and done.

 

[Hopfenmuller]

I have a stock AR XA with decent top plate. I would like to keep the texture and the paint color. It needs cleaning. What is the best way of cleaning the top plate without removing paint, etc. There appears to be glue from scotch tape and a chalk marking.
Thank you.