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Fix up my old AR or get a new table?

I bought an AR turntable back when they were riding high in the 80s as a great budget table. I still have it, and it still works, but (contrary to the predicted end of vinyl) there have been quite a few advancements in analog design over the last 20 years, so I'm wondering how the old workhorse holds up to some of the newer budget tables. Is it worth holding on to the AR and maybe look at a new arm and cart, or have budget tables gotten so much better that I should just start fresh? If the advice is to find something new I'd like to stay in the 1500-2000 range for the whole thing (table, arm, cart). Or would I be better off investing that money in just a very good arm and cart?
tonyptony
maclogan
49 posts
 
If it has the original "AR" arm (actually a Japanese OEM arm), replace it with a Rega RB250 or 300 arm, or modifications thereof. Then buy a new drive belt (around $12) and you're on the way to a tt that can compete with most modern mid-priced tt's on the market.
76doublebass's avatar
76doublebass
254 posts
 
the acrylic platter opened up the top end,but the outer ring clamp semmed to help the most.The clamp really stabilized the sound field and locked it in with precision.The Rel Cap replacement was the original value
that I has on my machine.
iopsc
2 posts
 
Fix it up. New motor, belt, arm, armboard. Either new springs or a carefull adjustment of what you have. Discard the bottom plate and either run naked replace with 1/2" baltic ply. Look into an external power supply or try with an isotap to reduce the AC to ~85watts. This reduces torque- so you have to give the platter a nudge when you turn it on, but the lower voltage also results in much smoother motor rotation (less vibration transmitted to the TT). The difference is audible.

Denon 103 cartride, Shure V-15vmr, Grado Wood bodies are a few of the favored cartridges.

Seriously for the money and very little effort, this isn't another table out within $1000 that can touch it sonically.

Good Luck !
tonyptony OP
617 posts
 
Iopsc, where would I get a new motor?
sundry8d66
1 posts
 
Needledoctor or ARguy (audioasylum)sell motors, I use a Goldring 1042 on a Linn Basik and sound is still great
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