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Official AR Turntable Owners Thread

Good job Richard. The XB looks beautiful in its new plinth. What type of veneer did you use, and did you put feet on the bottom of the plinth?
 
It's oak veneer with spikes for feet. I must say though that I didn't make the plinth, I bought it from someone. I just did the installation of the table.
 
guystp said:
As requested, here are the pics. The four little screws hold the main aluminum arm board,which is mounted to an acrylic base(built by Radgear). The third pic shows the mat, which a combo of cork and plastic(also built by Radgear)and works very well. The only thing I want to change is the power switch which I don't find very attractive. I just haven't found one I like yet.
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Thanks! Those pics are very helpful. I have an AR-XA that I picked up off of my local CL about a week ago that already had the sub-chassis cut and the top plate butchered up where it had once had a tonearm mounted directly to it. I plan to use it as the basis for a hot rod AR-XA build and am looking for solutions for mounting a tonearm to the sub-chassis. I'll post a build thread once I get started on it, which probably won't be until the fall when things cool off a bit. The weather is too nice right now to be spending a lot of time in the workshop.
 
I have an AR ES-1 with the straight Jelco arm. It came with a generic head shell. Generic straight arm head shells fit it, but I was never able to get the over hang set to 5mm, 5.5mm-6mm was as far back as I could get cartridge. After looking for several months for a original headshell that has that .5-1mm off set I needed I gave up. I re-drilled holes in the arm board barely behind the stock holes. Success, I then could run the generic headshells and change out cartridges at will.
After much experimentation I have decided my Shure ME97xe with the Jico super what ever it is stylus sounds the best. Everything people say about that needle are true, I hear things I haven't before in records I have owned for 40 years. Excellent investment. I even got the one with the secret resin painted on it. Best $200 bucks I ever spent!
 
Jelco headshells are available, and it should help you with cartridge setup, alignments, and tracking. I would never use a generic headshell on any of my turntables.
 
What a beautoful table! I love the distressed look of the top plate. It adds so much character to the XA. Hope you have many years of musical bliss. :music:
 
Here's another XA. Box stock. This could give my Pioneer a run for it's money'

 
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mkane said:
Here's another XA. Box stock. This could give my Pioneer a run for it's money'
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another nice XA. not quite box stock. you've got a rare AR "long hair" factory replacement headshell. these were a special order replacement part for cartridges with a protruding dust brush. black headshell would indicate later (post XB) production.



.
 
I had no idea there were different headshells. You have a beautiful turntable, and I hope it gives you many years of musical enjoyment.
 
Picked this AR XA up at a church rummage sale a few weeks
back.
 

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Your XA is a two motor, which I believe were on earlier ARs. It's in great condition considering its age. Congrats on picking up this beauty.
 
4Play said:
Your XA is a two motor, which I believe were on earlier ARs. It's in great condition considering its age. Congrats on picking up this beauty.
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Yeah.... I lucked out on this one. It is in pretty decent shape so I plan
on getting it brought back up to snuff. :thmbsp: I've got a whole $3 into
it so far.... :)
 
Damn!!! You guys are some of the luckiest people I know. There is no way of finding similar deals here. That is a major score on all levels. :music:
 
jleon92f said:
This one is rough looking but works fine..has new motor.

arxa_num_2 by jleon92f, on Flickr

John..:music::D
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Another beautiful example of simplistic sweetness. There is absolutely nothing rough regarding your turntable. Your XA is completely stock, and there is nothing wrong having a stock XA. I wished I had a stock XA but it wasn't to be. May you have many years of musical bliss with your XA. :music:
 
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