ACOUSTIC RESEARCH THE AR TURNTABLE

Second-hand. In good conditions. Shows signs of wear as shown in the photos. Equipped with Grado Blue 3 Prestige cartridge and SME 3009 III TITANIUM arm. Without original packaging.

The AR turntable is a precision instrument capable of providing accurate reproduction of recorded music. Its structure, although simple, has been designed to ensure impeccable performance, with a three-spring suspension that separates the subchassis from the rest of the structure, minimizing vibrations and improving sound quality.

In 1982, a group of British hi-fi journalists, during a dinner at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, raised the issue of a quality turntable at a mid-range price. The answer became clear: the AR turntable, with its belt-drive motor powered by an AC synchronous motor and its subchassis suspended on springs, was exactly what the market was looking for. A product that could compete in terms of price and performance, thanks to the experience the company had accumulated in the field.

Acoustic Research, a brand synonymous with research and innovation, has always focused on precision engineering. When it decided to introduce its turntable in the early '60s, its designers, including Edgar Villchur, Roy Allison, and Bob Berkovitz, focused on what a turntable really needed to do to offer optimal performance. The conclusions they reached are still valid today: proper separation between moving components, isolation from motor noise, and a design that reduced structural vibrations.

The motor is carefully chosen, and the rubber belt that connects the motor to the platter acts as a low-pass filter, absorbing high-frequency noise. The subchassis suspension on springs is not only an aesthetic feature but an engineering solution that ensures isolation from structural vibrations, making the vinyl reading more stable and precise.

The platter of the AR turntable, reminiscent of the construction of models like the Linn and Thorens, is made of an aluminum alloy base with a smaller part that supports the motor and a second, heavier part, which is the actual rotating platter. The felt used as a mat adds an extra layer of protection and isolation, while the walnut veneer construction of the base gives the turntable an elegant and refined appearance, suitable for sophisticated environments.

Sound quality is optimized by the careful selection of materials and engineering design, which minimizes motor noise and vibrations, making the listening experience rich in detail and precise. With its stability and reliable performance, the AR turntable remains a classic in the world of high fidelity.

Technical specifications:

• Drive system: one-step belt drive
• Motor: 24-pole synchronous motor
• Speeds: 33.33 and 45 rpm
• Platter: 1.8 kg
• Suspension: 3-point spring suspension with damping
• Wow and flutter: 0.04%
• Rumble: -73 dB
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 462 x 179 x 387 mm
• Net weight: 8.2 kg