Acoustic Research XA
Little is documented about the Acoustic Research XA. The record shows a manual single-play turntable with an integrated tonearm, produced by the early-to-mid 1960s. High Fidelity (May 1971, p.54) listed it in a buyer's guide as a single-play unit with integrated tonearm, cueing control, and stylus overhang adjustment, priced at $129.50. Earlier, Radio-TV Experimenter (February 1965) published a test report on the AR turntable - identified in the period literature as the XA. High Fidelity (May 1965, p.69) noted that the American Record Guide's survey of sixteen turntables found the AR had the lowest rumble, with wow and flutter below the accuracy limit of the test meter.
Beyond that, the record is thin. No production years, original design details, or sales figures have been pinned down. The XA appears to have been Acoustic Research's single-play offering at a time when the company was best known for its earlier landmark turntable and its acoustic-suspension loudspeakers. If you have a copy of the Radio-TV Experimenter review or a period manual, the Archive would welcome a correction or addition.
Knowm specs and features:
- Manual single-play operation
- Integrated tonearm
- Cueing control
- Stylus overhang adjustment
- Price (1971): $129.50
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