Interesting that the AR TT has come up. MF included a very favorable mention of the AR TT in his most recent column in SP. Prices will probably rise going forward.
The AT TT has to be one of the most influential TT designs sold over the past 60 years. Very inexpensive, built to a reasonable standard, and it still outperforms many tables with much higher prices of entry.
What many don't realize is that AR was not the first manufacturer to use spring suspension isolation combined with a T Bar subchassis for location of the platter bearing and tonearm.
The London Scott TT from the mid-late 50's used a very similar suspension design, but also used a very complex worm gear drive to control speed and platter rotation.
The Weathers TT and integral tonearm were highly regarded in the late 50s. It also used a spring suspension and a lightweight clock motor for power. It differed by using rim drive through a very soft rubber tire mounted on the motor spindle, and then driving the platter through contact with the inner edge surface.
Mr. Villchur was no doubt aware of these TT when he designed the AR. His focus on isolation let him to decouple the motor from the platter through use of belt drive, which simplified the drive mechanism. He included an integral tone arm that could track lightly and made the package very affordable.
Many point to the tonearm as the weak link. In some ways it is. It seems simple, even crude. But it is capable of excellent performance when carefully adjusted. The horizontal bearing was simple, well engineered and worked as need. Vertical bearings were delrin needle points that screwed into the arm yolk and could be adjusted for tension. I can tell you from experience that adjusting these bearings "just so" is crucial for best performance. Adjustment of these bearings is what located the arm in the vertical plane. A minor deviation from dead center would have audible consequences. Get it right, and you have an arm of surprisingly good performance. It is capable of accurate tracking at 1g, without inner groove distortion. Cartridge alignment can be difficult because the entire arm tube has to be adjusted to set alignment, but that is easy enough if you know what to do and have patience. The real problem is most people (and techs) did not know or care enough to carefully adjust the bearings ! Simple, surprising, and true.
How good and influential was the AR TT ? It directly led to the Thorens TD150, which led to the LINN LP12, VPI and many other decks that are remarkable similar to the basic AR design. Differences are in parts quality and execution- not design changes.
The AT TT has to be one of the most influential TT designs sold over the past 60 years. Very inexpensive, built to a reasonable standard, and it still outperforms many tables with much higher prices of entry.
What many don't realize is that AR was not the first manufacturer to use spring suspension isolation combined with a T Bar subchassis for location of the platter bearing and tonearm.
The London Scott TT from the mid-late 50's used a very similar suspension design, but also used a very complex worm gear drive to control speed and platter rotation.
The Weathers TT and integral tonearm were highly regarded in the late 50s. It also used a spring suspension and a lightweight clock motor for power. It differed by using rim drive through a very soft rubber tire mounted on the motor spindle, and then driving the platter through contact with the inner edge surface.
Mr. Villchur was no doubt aware of these TT when he designed the AR. His focus on isolation let him to decouple the motor from the platter through use of belt drive, which simplified the drive mechanism. He included an integral tone arm that could track lightly and made the package very affordable.
Many point to the tonearm as the weak link. In some ways it is. It seems simple, even crude. But it is capable of excellent performance when carefully adjusted. The horizontal bearing was simple, well engineered and worked as need. Vertical bearings were delrin needle points that screwed into the arm yolk and could be adjusted for tension. I can tell you from experience that adjusting these bearings "just so" is crucial for best performance. Adjustment of these bearings is what located the arm in the vertical plane. A minor deviation from dead center would have audible consequences. Get it right, and you have an arm of surprisingly good performance. It is capable of accurate tracking at 1g, without inner groove distortion. Cartridge alignment can be difficult because the entire arm tube has to be adjusted to set alignment, but that is easy enough if you know what to do and have patience. The real problem is most people (and techs) did not know or care enough to carefully adjust the bearings ! Simple, surprising, and true.
How good and influential was the AR TT ? It directly led to the Thorens TD150, which led to the LINN LP12, VPI and many other decks that are remarkable similar to the basic AR design. Differences are in parts quality and execution- not design changes.