The AR Turntable - worth upgrading?

[gowiththeflow]

I have one of these turntables, the one called "The AR Turntable", which I bought new in the early/mid 1980's. It has the original dealer fitted Linn Basik LV X arm with the Linn Basik cartridge of that time. This turntable is the one with the smooth rounded plinth top edges, finished in a Walnut veneer.

It had frequent use during the 1980's, but from around 89/90, it saw very little action, as by then our CD collections had become quite large and children had started appearing on the scene. By 92/93 it saw almost no use at all and since we moved house in 96, the turntable has just sat there, set-up but unused apart from on about three or four occasions when I fancied giving it a whirl.

It has never been serviced, but appears to work well and near silently. It's also in near perfect cosmetic condition, apart from some very light/faint swirl marks on the acrylic lid, as a result of light dusting.

I still have a collection of nearly 400 vinyl albums, mostly in pristine condition, neatly stored behind doors in a large IKEA storage unit. It seems a shame not to use these albums, although I have listened to a lot of them via various streaming services (Spotify etc).

I've been putting off doing something about this situation for years. For quite a long time, hoping to somehow digitise the vinyl, firstly with CD recording and in more recent times using a digital music format such as FLAC or ALAC. The intention being to just sell the turntable. More recently, I've wondered about buying a new turntable, but haven't done anything about it.

After all these years, I'm finally upgrading and updating my HiFi and have almost completed the process of purchasing a new amp, CD, steamer and speakers. Apart from choosing new speakers and disposing of some of my old kit, the last issue will be what to do with the turntable?

Do I sell the AR t/t and buy a new one, or is there any merit in looking at upgrading the deck?

I'm aware of an American upgrade kit, that was available some years ago, which if memory serves me right included new suspension springs and a new motor, but it all looks a bit crude compared to most modern mid to high end equipment.

Would it be worth asking a respectable turntable dealer to rebuilt the deck with a new or upgraded suspension, new motor and bearing, new arm and cartridge etc, when I could probably buy a brand new turntable for the same or less money?

Very occasionally these decks turn up on ebay, but prices vary wildly and for those fitted with the Linn arm, I'm not sure it's the arm that adds value and what buyers are after?

I haven't done anything about it yet, but I'm interested in what others might think?

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[gowiththeflow]

Not my turntable, but a couple of images I found via Google, showing an identical deck with the Linn arm.

acoustic_research_ar_the_turntable-2.jpg

 

[friendly_ghost]

I think it looks gorgeous! If you like the sound, why would you switch it?

Do you know the model number, I'd like to know more about this...

 

[nopiano]

I remember it, and it still looks fine today. If it as good as you say I very much doubt that an expensive rebuild is needed or justifiable. Either use as it is, just checking the stylus is good and the arm properly balanced, treating it as a vintage item. Or sell as it is, and use the funds towards something newer.

The Basik cart was pretty naff though, and a newer Audio Technica would be an obvious upgrade.

 

[gowiththeflow]

I think it looks gorgeous! If you like the sound, why would you switch it?

Do you know the model number, I'd like to know more about this...

It’s “The AR Turntable”. That’s the model name of this particular turntable, produced from around 1982-84.

Other AR turntables around that time were “The Legend” , “ES-1”and the cheaper “EB101”.

For anyone who knows the details about various AR models and production upgrades etc, the serial number is OX 502137

The turntable isn’t connected up at the moment and quite literally hasn’t been used for at least a couple of years. From what I remember, all I can say about the sound is that it was a little bit lightweight, lacking in bass depth and not particularly engaging.

When I bought this deck, I auditioned it alongside an Ariston (RD11 ?), a Thorens (poss. TD150 or 160 ?) and some small British company’s turntable (I can’t remember the name, but it was well known at the time). Having spent a couple of hours listening to the four decks, I asked to listen to a bog standard LP12, just as a reference. The AR Turntable had a similar tonality, so it got the job.

Incidentally, IIRC I believe those four decks cost something between £190 and £250, complete with a fitted cartridge. The LP12 was something like £430 complete IIRC. How times change!

I was quite happy with the turntable for a number of years, but later on, after starting to use rather less frequently, I guess I must have just fell out of love with the sound.

Children, a busy life, work and the convenience of CD’s, rendered the turntable to ornament status.

Now 20 years on.....Crikey ! where did that go !!!

If I am to keep it, my thoughts are that at the very least it’ll need a new cartridge and a new phono stage (my new amp doesn’t have one). Maybe that’s what I should try first, before buying something else; or would it be good money after bad?

 

[gowiththeflow]

....If it as good as you say I very much doubt that an expensive rebuild is needed or justifiable.....

....The Basik cart was pretty naff though, and a newer Audio Technica would be an obvious upgrade.

A new cartridge is something I think it definately needs, but I'm wondering about things like the condition of the main bearing and suspension, after all these years.

I don't really want to throw good money away on a cartridge if these items are in need of attention, replacement or even if there's nothing that can be done about them.

There's an independant dealer in a nearby town who services and rebuilds LP12's and other "specialist" turntables. I might ask him if it's worth him looking at the AR and if it's cost effective to keep it going. After all, it might just need a service and lubrication and if he's interested in looking at it, he can fit a new cartridge and get it set up for me while doing that work.

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[nopiano]

Well someone who rebuilds LP12s will be a safe, if expensive, bet. But if the table revolves the bearing isn't seized, and unless it wows terribly, the drive still works.

Similarly, if the whole thing sags terribly then the suspension has collapsed. If it doesn't it hasn't!

A secondhand Rega fono mini will get you a pre-preamp for under fifty quid, and an AT95e for £25 will at least get you going, but the arm can justify £100 plus in today's prices for a cartridge.

See if the dealer can let you listen to it versus a Rega RP1 or 3 to get a reference point on how it performs.

 

[gowiththeflow]

See if the dealer can let you listen to it versus a Rega RP1 or 3 to get a reference point on how it performs.

In fine fettle, I would rather hope it should be outperforming those budget Rega turntables.

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[Jim-W]

I'm pretty sure that it will outperform the budget Regas. If you ever need one, I've got an A+R alignment protractor for this deck; others will no doubt work equally well but it's an easy thing to post should you need one. I think that they're lovely record players and the Linn arms work well with Audio Technica and Nagaoka carts.

 

[gowiththeflow]

I'm pretty sure that it will outperform the budget Regas. If you ever need one, I've got an A+R alignment protractor for this deck; others will no doubt work equally well but it's an easy thing to post should you need one. I think that they're lovely record players and the Linn arms work well with Audio Technica and Nagaoka carts.

Thanks for the offer, but I've got one of those protractors somewhere. I'm beginning to think a new cartridge is the first thing to try, but I'll have a chat with the turntable specialist beforehand.

 

[Al ears]

Lovely decks these. I am not sure they are suspended or solid plinth.

The Linn arm is ok but could be improved on this deck. The cartridge will need upgrading depends on what you want to spend really. I suggest you clean out the old bearing oil and replace with suitable equivalent likewise with drive belt.

 

[nopiano]

See if the dealer can let you listen to it versus a Rega RP1 or 3 to get a reference point on how it performs.

In fine fettle, I would rather hope it should be outperforming those budget Rega turntables.

I agree, it "should" but a RP3 is rather better than the term 'budget' implies. If it were as good I'd be pretty content, in your shoes.

Do let us know how you get on!

 

[gowiththeflow]

They have a suspended subchassis. The spring suspension assembly is similar to other decks, like the Linn LP12, but is rather basic.

The motor is attached to the solid plinth.