Acoustic Research AR XA
Vintage & classic turntables · 1961–? Discontinued
$250–$500 typical US 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.
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, especially the belt, bearing and stylus.
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–? |
Cartridge and replacement stylus
The fitted cartridge is not mapped to a verified replacement part. See the model-specific stylus guidance →
Where to buy the Acoustic Research AR XA
4 US retailers handle used or discontinued decks like this — each outbound link searches the deck on that retailer’s site.
| Retailer | Type | Shipping | Product search |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guitar Center | music retail | Free standard shipping on most orders $25+. | View at Guitar Center ↗ |
| Reverb | used marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at Reverb ↗ |
| Upscale Audio | hifi independent | Free USA shipping on orders over $99 (exclusions for oversized items). | View at Upscale Audio ↗ |
| eBay | marketplace | Shipping set per seller; many listings ship free within the US. | View at eBay ↗ |
Compare it
AR XA vs Technics SL-150AR XA vs Technics SL-7AR XA vs Sony PS-X600 BiotracerAR XA vs Goldring Lenco GL75
Compare the AR XA against any other deck →
