donated AR Turntable

kappclark

Has been a while since I was here on this forum, but felt I must share what the universe gave back to me - a stock AR XA in super shape...had been in storage at a friend's work. He found, and called me about "some old turntable .." Needed some coaxing to get the motor to start up, but I have been listening to it all weekend ! What makes this so sweet is that is the same turntable that was the first I ever owned back in late 60's ... I think I won't change a thing !
!

BlueFox

I had the AR in the mid 70s with a Shure cartridge, and it sounded great. Later I replaced it with a 'better' Yamaha table, and I noticed the sound degraded. I couldn't believe it was the table, since the Yamaha cost a lot more. That was my first good experience in how gear can affect the sound.

[Deleted User]

A friend described the AR XA turntable as the grand-pappy of good sounding record players. Enjoy the classic.

Moose68Bash

I used one of those AR TTs from about 1972 to 1989, when I went digital. I moved it from Princeton, NJ, to Columbus, IN, to Palo Alto, CA, to North Hampton, NH.

After the move to Palo Alto in 1989 I used it for only 3-4 months, when I "retired" it. Last year I gave it to a friend who is deeply into vinyl. He says it still sounds great.

I think he replaced the cartridge (an old Shure M91ED, if I remember correctly), but he did not even have to replace the belt.

For the price it was a fantastic piece of equipment.

You've acquired a real classic, @kappclark. Congratulations!

oldrocker

Nice find, enjoy...

honestaquarian

That is definitely a classic of classics!

I'm just wondering what kind of job would someone have where such a thing would be sitting in storage for years???
I think that only the Thorens tables and the Infamous Linn Sondek LP12 could rise as high on the classic scale
Welcome back to the forum btw

kappclark

Turns out it was a school for the Deaf, and they had a speech therapy office...property got sold, and the equipment was discovered...they hadn't used the equipment in years with the entrance of computers etc..... (he also discovered a McIntosh mc-250, which must have made the AR sing ! He was going to test that, but I bet it still worked, just like the AR) You can all tell that the cartridge is a Pickering (the model is V15 / AM3 ..) I will be replacing, (maybe a AT 95E), but I think, for now, that is the only change I will be making to this classic. Thx for all the + feedback.

2-tall

Still have my AR that I purchased new for 70.00 back in the Stone Age. Sounds good just prefer my Harman Kardon ST8.

erniejade

That pickering cart. Is no slouch. Why replace it?

kappclark

As for the Pickering cart - it is probably 15 years old --- but not like it has had bong juice spilled on it, or otherwise abused... It does work. Thinking "does a cartridge wear out over time ? " Maybe the cantilever stiffens up a bit ? When I was playing records "back in the Stone Age" as @2-tall says, I would replace the cart about every year .. should I be concerned about the ravages of time on that Pickering ?

Dawgfish

Congrats! That's a great score! As far as the cartridge, if the needle is still in good shape, the only thing you need to worry about is the suspension. If it hasn't collapsed and you would know if it did, you're golden. In fact it will probably continue to sound better and better as it loosens up.

kappclark

Thanks, Dawgfish -- I think the suspension is done ... general raspiness has crept in, appearing at random...esp towards the end of the disk..have cleaned the stylus, of course, increasing tracking force no real remedy ...similar output on a variety od clean LP's. As I have no $$ in this beast, I am going to shop for a decent cart under $100, that has the correct compliance for the AR arm ...suggestions are welcome ! I was thinking the AT 95E (which I have on a Philips TT downstairs).. Still new to this game, after 30 years away ...

Nightfall

http://www.amazon.com/Shure-M97xE-High-Performance-Magnetic-Cartridge/dp/B00006I5SB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462135059&sr=8-1&keywords=m97xe

kappclark

I was looking at that -- thanks for the link... is the compliance a good match for that arm ? I don't see the AR as a "low mass" arm ... experience is the master here, I guess..

Nightfall

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=5618

http://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?t=6153

Vinyl Engine doesn't state the effective mass of the stock XA arm, I'm unsure.

kappclark

Many thanks for the links -- case closed !- Vinylnirvana's opinion is final !

kappclark

Psyched to see what came in the mail today -- hope to get it singing this weekend ...

MrBuhl

I have one and love it (the m97xe)!

kappclark

Just got this puppy hooked up - headshell screws just long enough..Decided to try an old standby, with superb results ... wonderful detail and balance ... not "hot" by any stretch..final movement was a real treat.