What's the difference between an AR XA and XA-91?

Z4N5H1N

Nooblet
I've been trying to figure this out for awhile now, but it's hard to find much info. I own an AR XA-91 that my Dad bought brand new in '71ish, and passed along to me. It's awesome, and it's...exactly the same as the AR XAs I've seen online.

Visually, I can't see any difference between the XA and the XA-91. Does anyone know what the actual difference is?

Anyone who has more info on the XA-91 in general please post it here too! I'm always curious to learn more about this thing. It's still bone stock, taken out of the box a couple months ago after sitting in storage for nearly 30 years, and it sounds fantastic!
 
XA-91 had slightly upgraded tonearm sleeve bearing. Otherwise, normal AR XA. My XA is also XA-91, mine I bought new in 1973. Excellent basic turntable, the Thorens TD-150 and newer and the Linn LP 12 owe their genesis to the AR Turntable by the way.
 
I thought the XA-91 was an AR-XA with a Shure M91ED included. I didn't know there were other differences.
 
I've been trying to figure this out for awhile now, but it's hard to find much info. I own an AR XA-91 that my Dad bought brand new in '71ish, and passed along to me. It's awesome, and it's...exactly the same as the AR XAs I've seen online.

Visually, I can't see any difference between the XA and the XA-91. Does anyone know what the actual difference is?

Anyone who has more info on the XA-91 in general please post it here too! I'm always curious to learn more about this thing. It's still bone stock, taken out of the box a couple months ago after sitting in storage for nearly 30 years, and it sounds fantastic!

As mentioned, tonearm post is bigest give-away. The XA 91 will not have the contraption at the top of the arm pivot post to control drop. The arm post is also longer on the XA-91. I believe the XA-91 is the only one with caps soldered into the arm wire tree to get the overall capacitance to what the M91 cart wants to see.
 
As mentioned, tonearm post is bigest give-away. The XA 91 will not have the contraption at the top of the arm pivot post to control drop. The arm post is also longer on the XA-91. I believe the XA-91 is the only one with caps soldered into the arm wire tree to get the overall capacitance to what the M91 cart wants to see.

So that's why you were asking me if my AR was an XA-91!
 
Cool, thanks for the info guys. Any thoughts on upgrades for this thing? It's bone stock right now, and it sounds pretty good, but I know these things are popular for modification. I'm thinking a new belt at the very least would be good for it.

What else can I do to it for not much money that will help it out?
 
interesting info. i've never seen an XA91. always curious about the variants. my TA is indistinguishable from any of my XA's. never been able to get a grip on why it has a different model designation.


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Cool, thanks for the info guys. Any thoughts on upgrades for this thing? It's bone stock right now, and it sounds pretty good, but I know these things are popular for modification. I'm thinking a new belt at the very least would be good for it.

What else can I do to it for not much money that will help it out?

Calling Marc Morin to the rescue! He can hook you up. :yes:
 
interesting info. i've never seen an XA91. always curious about the variants. my TA is indistinguishable from any of my XA's. never been able to get a grip on why it has a different model designation.


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The early days, and what things were called was a bit confusing. The TA I owned was the first model to use 1 motor, and the cast subchassis. The original AR turntable was simply called The Turntable I believe.

Years later (1983) when AR re-introduced turntables, the middle line model was called The Turntable here in the States, and called the Legend in England.

Anyway, back to topic. I really know of no difference between a TA and an XA in the years when the XA was single motor, cast subchassis, solid walnut base, with the possible exception that my TA top plate was probably left over enventory of the two motor top plates. Finished in gun metal gray paint instead of the lumpy rubbery crap. Oh and it was in like new condition. Really hated selling it.
 
The early days, and what things were called was a bit confusing. The TA I owned was the first model to use 1 motor, and the cast subchassis. The original AR turntable was simply called The Turntable I believe.

Years later (1983) when AR re-introduced turntables, the middle line model was called The Turntable here in the States, and called the Legend in England.

Anyway, back to topic. I really know of no difference between a TA and an XA in the years when the XA was single motor, cast subchassis, solid walnut base, with the possible exception that my TA top plate was probably left over enventory of the two motor top plates. Finished in gun metal gray paint instead of the lumpy rubbery crap. Oh and it was in like new condition. Really hated selling it.


my TA is also like new. top plate has the textured surface and its definitely a one motor top plate. i'd been told several times that the TA predated the XA, but studying production serial numbers confirms the models were produced concurrently. my TA came with the original packaging, accessories, and documentation. the AR docs had 1967 dates on them, but as best as i can determine the table dates from 73. also, the box and sticker inside the plinth said "solid walnut" but it was a walnut veneer unit. box serial number and unit serial number matched, so i know it was all original. came with both the regular and "long hair" headshells too. great table, but i do prefer my modded XA to my stock units.

since there is no difference between my TA and XA's that fall in the same serial number range, i've wondered if the TA's were perhaps units returned for a factory referb. could TA stand for "try again"?



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my TA is also like new. top plate has the textured surface and its definitely a one motor top plate. i'd been told several times that the TA predated the XA, but studying production serial numbers confirms the models were produced concurrently. my TA came with the original packaging, accessories, and documentation. the AR docs had 1967 dates on them, but as best as i can determine the table dates from 73. also, the box and sticker inside the plinth said "solid walnut" but it was a walnut veneer unit. box serial number and unit serial number matched, so i know it was all original. came with both the regular and "long hair" headshells too. great table, but i do prefer my modded XA to my stock units.

since there is no difference between my TA and XA's that fall in the same serial number range, i've wondered if the TA's were perhaps units returned for a factory referb. could TA stand for "try again"?



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Odd, I didn't know the TA was produced with the later XA finishes such as veneer plywood and the lumpy top. Maybe somebody changed out the base with a later venner version. As the bases aren't numbered like the top plate and base board. I do have several bases that have numbers etched into them......anybody in the market for a SSN? :D <~~<< Really that was a attempt at humor, not a sales pitch.
 
A TA was a 33 1/3 only AR turntable. The first AR turntables were TT models, the XA followed as an improvement. The TA could be converted to an XA by changing the motor pulley to a 2 speed pulley.
 
Odd, I didn't know the TA was produced with the later XA finishes such as veneer plywood and the lumpy top. Maybe somebody changed out the base with a later venner version. As the bases aren't numbered like the top plate and base board. I do have several bases that have numbers etched into them......anybody in the market for a SSN? :D <~~<< Really that was a attempt at humor, not a sales pitch.

my wood base has the original label with the serial number (TA220795) and says "oiled walnut" still glued to the inside of surface of the wood. the packing box has the same serial number and "oiled walnut" stamped on it. mine came originally with a two speed (33/45) pulley. and the original receipt dates it to 1973.

i was curious about production and compiled some info AR folks might find interesting. it was compiled from ebay auctions over a period of six months in 2011. it documents production changes based on serial number. i cataloged various attributes, but was limited by what could be seen in the auction photos. the info documents that the TA and XA were produced concurrently, and for the same number of years, as you will see, although differentiated by TA or XA prefixes, they both were part of the same serial number sequence, and did not have separate serial number runs. these are arranged sequentially by serial number. its a lot of info. i'll need to split it into multiple posts. first post will document up to the change in base top texture.

AR turntable production database by serial number.

XA36261 (ebay, nj)
motor: double
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA23408 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: black
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA38001 (ebay, ma)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA36924 (ebay, oh)
motor: double
base: walnut veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA43143 (ebay, oh)
motor: double
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?

XA44992 (ebay, pa)
motor: double
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
t-bar: notched
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?

-----------------------------change to single motor------------------->

XA46741 (ebay, co)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?

XA49408 (ebay, il )
motor: single
base: ?
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA51462 (ebay, mi)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?

XA55180 (ebay, nj)
motor: dual
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: rust brown
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?
t-bar: notched

XA55785 (ebay, ca)
motor: single (converted?)
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: rust brown (extra holes/tabs)
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?

XA58379 (ebay, ca)
motor: double
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year


XA61904 (ebay, ca)
motor: double
base: solid walnut
headshell: ?
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: brown
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA64333 (ebay, tn)
motor: double
base: solid walnut
headshell: ?
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: brown
base bottom: ?
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 year

XA72994 (ebay, wi)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 years

XA73116 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 1 years
t-bar: notched

-------------------------------change in warranty to 3 years------------------>

XA74801 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA77449 (ebay, pa)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA80174 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA90250 (ebay, nj)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA92873 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: smooth gray
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years



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AR turntable production change database by serial number. part 2 starting with


-------------------------------change to textured plinth top------------->

XA95847 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
(nos? blue XB034469 box, XA number altered to 195847, logo on dutcover)

XA99995 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
t-bar: un-notched
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
(m91ed)

XA111045 (ebay, va)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA117441 (ebay, tx)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA119378 (ebay, ky)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA120067 (ebay, ?)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA121508 (ebay, il) (1969)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA126262 (ebay, mi)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA128405 (ebay, xx)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: ?

XA129061 (ebay, mn)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA132566 (ebay, il)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

TA133335 (ebay, ha)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
M91ED
address: 24 thorndike st. cambridge, mass 02141
warranty: ?

TA134128 (ebay, mo)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: 24 thorndike st. cambridge, mass 02141
warranty: 3 years
bought 1/30/1970

XA152492 (ebay, tx)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA152548
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished

XA160236 (ebay,ny)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA164796 (ebay,de)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XAU165367 (ebay,can)
motor: single (universal - adjustable motor)
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XAU174219 (ebay,wa)
motor: single (universal - 2 pulleys)
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st. (10 american dr on blue box)
warranty: 3 years

XA183934 (ebay,va)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA186551 (ebay,va)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: slot vents, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA193199 (ebay, ca) '67 docs.
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
blue box

XAU199113 (ebay, co)
motor: single (universal, 50/60hz)
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: slot vents w/hole, varnished
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA201690 (ebay, az)
motor: single (universal)
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: ?
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
blue box

XA205105 (ebay, in)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: ??
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA205449 (ebay, or)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA206109 (ebay, oh)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA208008 (ebay, md)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA210602 (ebay, ma)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: slot vents, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

--------------------------------change to solid bottom cover---------------->

XA211828 (ebay, nj)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA214143 (ebay, pa)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA216141 (ebay, ca)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

TA220795 (ebay, colorado) (1973, '67 ar lit)
motor: single
base: walnut veneer (tagged oiled walunt)
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown (stamped BG)
plinth bottom: green
base bottom: solid, waxed
M44ED
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
red box

XAU239455 (ebay, mi)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
(international, 2 pulleies and switchable motor. orig sold in germany)


XA241428 (ebay, ca)
motor: single
base: solid walnut
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years
blue box

XA246789 (ebay, ny)
motor: single
base: vinyl veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: black
base bottom: ??
address: ??
warranty: ??
t-bar: unnotched

XA247162 (ebay, wa)
motor: single
base: real walnut veneer
headshell: black
plinth top: ?? (covered in birch vemeer)
plinth bottom: ??
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

XA248769 (ebay, az)
motor: single
base: vinyl veneer
headshell: ?
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: black
base bottom: solid, waxed
address: thorndike st.
warranty: 3 years

------------------------address change------------------>

XA249719 (ebay, can)
motor: single
base: real walnut veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: solid, varnished
address: 10 american drive, norwood, mass 02062
warranty: 3

XA256272 (ebay, mn)
motor: single
base: vinyl veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: gray
base bottom: solid, cardboard
address: american drive
warranty: 3

XA260712 (ebay, ma)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: solid, masonite
address: american drive
warranty: 3

XA264517 (ebay, ml)
motor: single
base: veneer
headshell: gray
plinth top: textured brown
plinth bottom: ?
base bottom: solid, masonite
address: american drive
warranty: 3




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A TA was a 33 1/3 only AR turntable. The first AR turntables were TT models, the XA followed as an improvement. The TA could be converted to an XA by changing the motor pulley to a 2 speed pulley.

you might be thinking of the TX, which followed the TT. my TA, and every other i have documented had a 33/45 pulley.


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TX being single speed. Interesting. Some TT and TA were also single speed. My TA was a 3300 ish serial number and single speed only when I got it. I later converted it to 2 speed operation.
 
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