CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Nashou66

I have this old AR XA sitting around for about 8 years and it got very little use till I began to build a retro
Audio system. It began over 15 years ago when i bought a pair of AR2 speakers and re did the cross overs and internal wiring with better parts and wire and removed the cross over pots and made it a fixed system. I haven't dabbled
with electronics again till I got into CRT and began P.O.O.G.Eing the Marquee. So After I got the H.H.Scott 299C
integrated Tube amp and hooked it all up with the AR gear i decided to spruce up the old AR XA. I decided to change out the wiring in the tone arm am cleaning out the bearing wells and striped the brown flat textured metal plinth and give a new color.

In the theme of being Greek and us using Paprika in almost everything when we cook, its the color I chose for the plinth. I have the Tone Arm all in pieces right now waiting for the wire to come for PartsConnexion in Hamilton Canada.
I could have drove there but just don't have the time.

Tell me what you guys think so far.

The tone arm rest is not original but it works for me as it is now.

I plan to add RCA jacks in the back instead of the interconnects just coming off
the hookup bus under the TT. They have lots of after market Parts for this that you could mod it to the point that only the plinth is original!!

I recently bought a second XA that looks like an earlier model that had a two motor system, one was a starter motor, but it was converted to a one motor system. That has the plinth in much better shape so not sure if I'll paint it.

Tat one came with an ACUTEX M312 III STR cart but no needle, from what I have read the Acutex was a highly regarded cart and still is today. But for now i am using the Denon DL110 and really like that Cart a lot.

The head shell on the AR's are not the best. And knowing how I am might try to build a new one
out of a combo of wood and aluminum.

Here is a of a typical AR head shell, as you can see its plastic and the thread nubs wear down and the shell cant stay
connected tot he arm. Its not a standard type collar on the arm to hold a standard shell. I think
a wood body with an aluminum sleeve with thread nubs replacing plastic one on the H-4 bayonet. The center would be wood with the spring clips . I am trying to source those clips/pins but am having a hard time.
I have something close being sent to me soon but not sure if they will work.

Which one of you guys could make an aluminum sleeve to work here ? Wink

Here is what my TT looked sorta like before the paprika paint job and you can see
the arm in this pic a took form AudioKarma. Also my paint was a textured variety.

At one point the AR XA was the highest selling TT of all time till the Linn LP12 took its place but that is still being produced today. They say to get the XA into production today it cost close to $1500.

Drags don't you work with metal CNC machinery? Wink

Athanasios

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 2:51 am Post subject:

AR, one of my favourite brands. Nice color too. Thumbs Up

Nashou66 · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:32 am Post subject:

Thanks Jeremy, I am thinking of buying and restoring these and re selling them. maybe even upgrade them with better arms etc.

I'll build one for you at a fair price if you want.

Here is a great history of AR and Edgar M Villchur founder of AR.

http://retrozound.blogspot.com/2009/07/history-of-passion.html

Athanasios

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 3:54 am Post subject:

I haven't spun any vinyl in a long time. I have a couple of odd ball turn tables here I wound't mind giving the once over.
Maybe add some silver wire to the tone arms.

Here's one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkMEZhkWsdM

Here's the other: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3jKpOx-d7U

Nashou66 · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:14 am Post subject:

Very cool, but I like Manual set ups. Keeps me active Wink

Athanasios

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:21 am Post subject:

I'll tell ya. When I got that Sansui the mixed tapes I made were so much easier. You like 2 tracks off a record? Just program them.

dvh99 · Joined: 25 Dec 2009 Posts: 1955 Location: nederland

just bought a lenco l75 that will be upgraded soon.

this is a highly tweakable table (call it the marquee of turntables) with a ptp4 plate jeremy clarke bearings and a slate plinth (which can be used for any tt for that matter of course).

here is 10 m mundorf silver wire for 40 usd.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270903323312#ht_500wt_970

for a killer tonearm you should check out thomas schick, it`s a guy that makes them on order.

Nashou66 · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:12 am Post subject:

**ecrabb** · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:48 am Post subject:

That thing looks great, Athanasios! If I had room for a two-channel setup, that would almost make me want to get one and play around with vinyl again!

OK, no it's not. Laughing

I really have almost no interest in it, save for the nostalgia, and showing the kids what it is - which I can do at the old man's place.

SC

Nashou66 · Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject:

nettwerkjohn · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:22 pm Post subject:

my wife bought me this...

Nashou66 · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:28 pm Post subject:

nettwerkjohn · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject:

it is a michell reference hydraulic. a late model transcriptor, as featured in clockwork orange. it dates from the early seventies...

Nashou66 · Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:53 pm Post subject:

Nice, how much it set her back if you don't mind me asking?

Athanasios

nettwerkjohn · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:05 am Post subject:

it was a steal - the seller didn't know what they had. i think she paid around $700NZD, so $500 ish USD...

they typically sell for around $2-$3k over here.

i've since put a very good ortofon low output mc (Kontrapunkt A) on it that cost more than the TT, but it now sounds better than a friends Oracle Delphi...

i've considered putting a SME V on it - as I have a full set of NOS spares (motor, bearings etc) that I have just purchased from the original manufacturer in the UK...

Nashou66 · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:01 am Post subject:

I am looking at an AIR bearing Linear tracking arm, the MG1 I think its called. its the least expensive I have seen.

But I'd need a TT for it as I don't think I could modify the AR suspension to hold it properly. I have a few Ideas though
that could make it work. It be a major rework of the plinth, or build a new one.

Athanasios

nettwerkjohn · Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:22 am Post subject:

how about a b&0 4002?