Thanks for the video I have three AR turntables I found them in the garbage on the curb about 8 years ago wow somebody was dumb but I'm happy I got them going there niceHave a great day:eyes-pink-heart-shape:

Great video! I inherited a late-production XA from its original owner: excellent condition, essentially needing a new headshell (found a third-party clone w/preinstalled Audio-Technica V95E), drive belt and platter mat; re-oiled the spindle/bearing, made a few tweaks, and the thing sounds seriously good. As a reference, I also have, in another system, an 80-era Mission 775SM, a Dreadnaught-class 'table utilizing the Brute Force method of mechanical isolation: super-dense/heavy plinth/platter, mated to massive shock-absorbing feet. That turntable is seriously great, but doesn't entirely leave the AR in the dust. Proving that Ed Villchur got it pretty much right at the beginning.

When you started your XA XB videos I said just get a vintage direct drive. But now I see the fun of it. Even though I probably won't get one of them. I got a 100 buck Micro Seiki mr611 100v and did a lot of work on it, including machining the pully down from 50hrz to 60. It's very rewarding!

Don't forget....there is another version of this TT before they changed the entire look of it.  It is the AR77-XB with the hinged dust cover. It was made in 1977 and ended the iconic  look of the AR TT.  Mine sports an NOS Ar headshell with a new At-VMN95ML cartridge.  The sound is superb and will challenge any modern tT today.

My 1.99 goodwill ar i got in 84 has a hum with a eico st. 70 tube amp. Got one of those zen air things and cured the problem. Hell, the aux goes thru 12ax7's just like the phono section. Win win.

There's a few other possible issues with the classic AR table that beginners may encounter and if they dont like "tinkering" will drive them crazy. If its been sitting in closet for years, you just scored at yard sale, scooped up off curb etc..... you might have to deal with motor noise, mystery hum from headshell/tonearm/cartridge and I have even come across some outter platters that have a counter weight bonded/epoxied underneath that has fallen off. ( think wheel weight when balancing car wheel) You can also sink ALOT of cash into restoring one before you realize how much you've spent. My favorite looking tt of all time even in stock form. 👍

I paid 500 for mine and it’s pretty nice I’m not going to lie it’s out of this world and it was pretty mint right out of the box

I bought my XA brand new from a Lafayette Radio store in Sacramento in 1971 for $78.00. For a penny more you got a Shure M91-E cartridge. I added an aftermarket tone arm lift which was only about $8.00 if I recall correctly.

Excellent work. I have a forty+ year old Dual CS505, another simple turntable, that still works fine. If anyone is looking for a modern budget equivalent to an AR try the Electrohome Montrose ($100 at Amz). It looks like an AR & comes with an excellent AT3600L cartridge. Cheers!

Yeah the only negative I can find for this turntable is the fragile oem dustcover it came with. I only slightly and accidentally knocked the corner on my countertop and it fractured… Thank god that JnB has a gorgeous aftermarket cover seen in this video.

Thorens ,linn and Phillips copied it. I am still using my td 150 mk2 just needed a new belt and a drop of oil. Bought it in 1969 for £50. Live in uk

Hello. I am renovating an AR XB turntable. I would like to change the headshell to use the SME type model. My question is about the overhang adjustment. Could you help me?

Interesting video … Have an opportunity to get an XA for $90, mostly all there, no cart or stylus or cover  - has original belts and motors -  not sure if that’s too much money

I really want to buy this JnB dustcover.  the plinth on my XB looks similar to yours and I want to make sure the cover will fit properly.  My plinth is 17.25 inches by 13.25.  Is that what yours is by any chance?

Who puts a turntable on a speaker?  Even a suspension system that perfectly isolated the platter from base (the AR does this better than nearly all others) would still have issues as the LP itself would vibrate and act as a microphone. Ideally, LP lovers should put the turntable in a different room than the speakers.

I just got an AR XA and I’m super excited to bring it back to life! I also have a two motor unit. Did you replace the motor so it has enough torque? If so what motor did you use? Cheers. Can’t wait to hear mine after it’s restored.

you can make it real stiff. that's what she said