Official AR Turntable Owners Thread

[matt2k]

Popped the wiring off the collar, lost the tiny tightening screw for the counterweight, and somehow managed to bend the neck.

I'm cute, but clumsy.

 

[sberger]

Wiring can be replaced, as can the screw. The neck being bent maybe a bit more problematic, although would love to hear how you did that. The resident AR turntable specialist Marc Morin should be around shortly to give you all the proper advice/help you need/want.

 

[matt2k]

Solid, thank you! Not ready to disclose how the arm got bent. Let's just leave it at improper technique.

 

[sfrost]

You can add almost any modern are but you will "hacksaw" the top and subchassis to accommodate the new arm.
Replacing the arm wand is easier but arm bearings and rewiring is also a must to get decent performance from the arm.

 

[matt2k]

You can add almost any modern are but you will "hacksaw" the top and subchassis to accommodate the new arm.
Replacing the arm wand is easier but arm bearings and rewiring is also a must to get decent performance from the arm.

That's the reality that I'm beginning to accept. Nothing a checkbook can't take care of, am I right? (Ha ha ha, gasp...)

 

[sfrost]

Anything can be done,

 

[matt2k]

Anything can be done,

I like it! I have the same cork platter thingy.

 

[4300]

Technics arm tube, rewired and reworked by MM. Should be your most practical option.

 

[sfrost]

Certainly easier to do a simple wand swap, rewire and bearing mod,

 

[Audiofreak71]

Anything can be done,

Where do you get the power switches for your XA'S? And how difficult are they to implement into one of these?. My table is already Modded so if it would require an cutting id be out I guess.

Audiofreak71

 

[sfrost]

It's a similar switch to the XB switch and can be found in most electronics shops. Does need a larger hole cut in the top plate.

 

[PROMITHEAS]

Beautiful Table Well done,congratulation for your different approach.

 

[fuzzywobbles]

Looks like I have some work to do...

Picked this up late last night. It has a couple issues but seems like it’s all there and a nice candidate for a restoration?







Read through about a dozen pages of this thread late last night and have to say I am excited to trick this puppy out! Will be reading the rest of the posts today. I have always been drawn to the AR tables and couldn’t resist driving an hour away last last night when it hit CList. Had to meet the guy at a Walgreens so couldn’t check it out to thoroughly but he was a flipper so don’t think he ever had it running anyways.

Came with the cart and dust cover and everything seems like it’s there and more or less functioning. Belt looks fine. Cart included. Has a war wound on the top nearside corner and the dustcover is cracked badly at the same spot.

Hooked it up briefly last night and it sounded bad and had a hum I couldn’t resolve by switching the polarity Of the plug or trying different outlets. As I was messing with it I noticed the tonearm was sagging. Pulled it, tightened it up and the tonearm seems solid now. Also looked inside and it looks like there are 2 grounds? One attached and one hanging loose? Where does that lead attach please?



Anyways, I am excited to join the AR XA club and appreciate any advise as to where to start with this one.





Cheers,

Fuzz

Edit: bah, this doesn’t look right. Looks like the pins on the head shell are fubared...

 

[cre009]

If I am reading the photo correctly the unconnected wire should be the connection to the top plate - You can use the screw in the corner which is visible on your photo.

The wire which has me confused is the blue and red wire connected to the t-bar.

 

[marcmorin]

the photo shows the RCA ground was removed from the wire tree and attached to the top plate ground bolt. the loose cable should be attached there, the cable ground should be reattached to the wire tree on the 5th lug opposite the arm ground, but connected to that double ground cable.

 

[Audiofreak71]

Added a couple subtle changes to the AR XA that I think brings it together a bit more. New feet, a Yamamoto cherry Headshell (which really makes the Grace f9e sound better) and Tan ish colored leather mat.

 

[AvFan]

Added a couple subtle changes to the AR XA that I think brings it together a bit more. New feet, a Yamamoto cherry Headshell (which really makes the Grace f9e sound better) and Tan ish colored leather mat.

View attachment 1089056
View attachment 1089057

Very nice additions! Who makes the feet? Did the Yamamoto head shell change the VTA/SRA of the Grace?

 

[Audiofreak71]

Thanks!, I got the feet from an Amazon dealer I'll have to look them back up of you want the info, there totally reversible so I can put the original ones back on if I want to. The headshell is lighter than the zupreme that I was using and I backed off the vtf a bit down to 1.5g and I believe the grace likes the lighter tracking and lighter headshell as it sounds much better this way.

Audiofreak71

 

[gkimeng]

Mine has little felt pads on it. Mostly to keep the table base from scratching anything it's set on.

 

[Audiofreak71]

Very nice additions! Who makes the feet? Did the Yamamoto head shell change the VTA/SRA of the Grace?

To answer the question about vta yes it did change it and looking through my magnifying glass the angle is better almost perfect which could very well be the cause of it sounding much better also.



Audiofreak71