AR-XA or Kenwood KD-2055 turntable?

[gcrimmins]

I've been using a Kenwood KD-2055 turntable and have been quite happy with it. It sounds fine, and with it's heavy Corian base it's less likely to skip than my Sony CD player. It runs at 33 and 45rpm and has an anti-skating setting. Today I bought an AR-XA turntable because it was very inexpensive. I don't really need two turntables so I'm probably going to sell one of them. Any thoughts on which one these turntables would be best to keep? Thanks,

--Geoff

[dynaco_dan]

I've been using a Kenwood KD-2055 turntable and have been quite happy with it. It sounds fine, and with it's heavy Corian base it's less likely to skip than my Sony CD player. It runs at 33 and 45rpm and has an anti-skating setting. Today I bought an AR-XA turntable because it was very inexpensive. I don't really need two turntables so I'm probably going to sell one of them. Any thoughts on which one these turntables would be best to keep? Thanks,

--Geoff

Hi Geoff

I would like to speak about the AR-XA turntable.

The basic design is quite simple.

It has a machined and balanced aluminum platter that will spin at exactly the correct speed.

It is impervious to acoustic feedback, when mounted on a solid surface.

The motor is a small cute syncronous motor that runs at 300 RPM, it looks like a clock motor.

It uses a rubber type belt to connect the motor pulley to the platter.

The basic suspension system is well thought out and is suspended at 3 points.

It is adjustible if absolutely needing any adjustment.

The arm post is a simple single wire reinforced plastic stem, pushed through the top and it has a nut threaded below the top plate.

New clone arm post stems are sold on ebuy.

The later arms were installed with nylon pivot bearings points and conical pointed pivot screws.

The arms were without anti-skating.

The adjustment for the arm pivot, screwdriver adjustable, is very critical, too much and the arm will hangup, too little and the arm will wobble.

The cartridge shell is usually beige coloured plastic, if the mounting nut is, overtightened or cross-threaded, a rib or two can be broken off, necessitating a

replacement cartridge shell.

Black ones were sold on later B model's, they are interchangeable physically.

Early cartridge shells had no insert and the plastic could strip real easy, especially if a few cartridges are changed often.

Later cartridge shells had brass threaded inserts cast into the body.

I would suggest avoiding the headshells without the metal inserts, even at a good price.

It takes a gentile touch and small finger to lift the smallish cartridge shell lever to cue the record.

There was no cueing devices installed on the AR-XA's

The only specification that the turntable did not meet, when new, was the platters start up time.

It makes a funny low level grinding sound, belt slippage, when staring up, sprinkling some talc powder on it will rejuvenate it.

Likely the original polyurethane belts have long deteriorated, needing replacement.

The motor pulley has a very slight vibration when it is plugged in, but not running.

AR acknowledged that fact but there is no cure or audible problem with this.

The plexiglass top was about $5.00 Parcel Post Paid direct from AR back in the days.

There is a clone plastic lid that I've seen advertised on ebuy recently, for about the price of an new turntable cost.

I saw a suitable, Hurst motor replacement advertised on Vinyl Nirvana in the recent past, again not cheap, but compatible.

The cartridge shells are usually available on ebuy, as well as, mint tops, for $50.00+ each when available.

If you are buying a used cartridge shell, be certain that none of the wings are worn down or broken off.

Tops usually have edge chips and cracks.

The earlier AR turntables had Delrin bearings for the arm stem, arm bearings and platter well bearings.

Stay clear as these as they have too much friction.

Earlier AR turntables also were sold with dual motors, one for starting in the correct direction and one for running.

The arm cannot be setup for sub gram cartridges because of the arm friction so 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 gram and higher tracking force is best.

The equivalent belts may be carried by any service shop that still services tape drives, and are less than $5.00 each.

Be careful lifting the arm out of the well, as the wires are very tiny and fragile, and specifically 125 pf capacitance.

Often we hear of Sally Ann buys for less than $5.00 complete, dumpster or curbside finds.

The platter mat had foam rot and I have seen replacement mats on ebuy.

I saved a few rubber platter mats off Dual or similar turntables.

AR had quite an elaborate cardboard packaging system for the turntable.

The turntable and all of it's contents were well protected.

Using the same carton even without the pre-formed packaging inserts spells serious damage or total disaster.

Vinyl Nirvana has some photo examples of how not to ship an AR turntable.

Amazingly bad packaging as is some of my experiences.

Most older AR turntable parts are physically interchangeable, if required, post the questions here and receive the best advice possible, FREE.

UPDATE 20110914 3:00 PM I added another writeup yesterday but I hit the oops key and all was gone.

AR included a small bottle of oil for the arm and platter well shafts, a 45 record adapter, a scale balancing kit, a stylus alignment gauge, hardware kit and

information for mounting a variety of cartridges, base, top, arm, cartridge shell, less cartridge until the later M-91E cartridge was supplied and

complete packing and unpacking sheets and operators manual.

A rather complete package at an attractive price.

Also free for the asking was a heavier brass couterweight for the heavier cartridges and a cartridge headshell with the front beveled to accommodate the brushes used

on some cartridges.

Not only were they free but postage was paid by AR, now that is customer service never to be seen again.

Likely sold millions, worldwide.

There was at least one adapter made for another arm installation.

Rabco made an adapter for use with their SL-8E tone arm.

I'm likely the very first with the adapter and the only person with one here in Canada.

The heavy arm required adjusting the suspension screws, not a problem.

There have been several third party companies that have made upper grade parts if you want a $500.00 turntable.

Risky but there has been articles on replacing the headshell with another style.

If you search the net you will find several DIY mods.

There was a few third party add-on cueing devices to lift and lower the arms.