Acoustic Research AR XA
Vintage & classic turntables · 1961–? Discontinued
£220 typical UK used price
Edgar Villchur's AR turntable of 1961 pioneered the three-point spring-suspended sub-chassis with a low-torque motor and belt drive, sold at a deliberately low price. Its design principles underpin the Thorens TD 150, Linn LP12 and every suspended deck since.
The granddaddy of all suspended-subchassis belt-drive turntables.
Who it suits
Best suited to: buyers comfortable assessing used condition and budgeting for servicing (drive mechanism, bearing, stylus). Less ideal for: a no-hassle purchase with a manufacturer warranty — buy a current model instead.
Good to know
- No built-in phono stage — use an amplifier with a phono input or add a separate phono preamplifier.
- This is a used-market purchase. Ask about condition, originality and service history — for this drive type, check the drive belt (often perished or stretched with age) and bearing, plus the stylus regardless.
Specifications
| Drive | belt drive |
|---|---|
| Speeds | 33/45 rpm |
| Operation | manual |
| Built-in phono stage | No |
| USB output | No |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Platter | aluminium, two-piece |
| Tonearm | AR low-mass arm |
| Years | 1961–? |
Where to buy the Acoustic Research AR XA
2 UK merchants handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that merchant’s site.
| Merchant | Type | Delivery | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| eBay UK | used marketplace | Varies by seller | Search at eBay UK ↗ |
| Vinyl Revival | music retail | UK delivery | Search at Vinyl Revival ↗ |
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