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Acoustic Research AR-XA TurntableThe Acoustic Research AR-XA is a legendary vintage belt-drive turntable celebrated for its minimalist design and innovative three-point suspended subchassis that delivers exceptionally warm, isolated analog sound.This unit is in great working condition. Platter spins at correct speeds. On/Off switch works great. Very little cosmetic wear. There is no rubber or cork platter mat (easily obtained on the net) - aluminum platter surface has a bit of patina (see photos).No dust cover.Comes with Empire 880P Cartridge (cartridge & stylus work great).Comes with original factory shipping box, manual, & extras (see last 5 photos).NOTE - these tend to have a slight ground hum & this one is no exception. It is not distracting during play, but when silent it is noticeable. The AR-XA is internally grounded & some people choose to have an external ground wire added to reduce this light hum.Local pick up only at our Milwaukee, WI store.In the Milwaukee Area? Stop in our shop to inspect/demoBuy with confidence: See our feedback and thank you for considering. All the gear we sell is packaged with great care for safe arrival in the condition advertised and backed up by our 14 day full refund policy in the event you are not happy for any reason.
With a piece this classic, timing mostly matters because the AR XA is an older design that has already been long superseded in convenience, not in charm; the question is whether this example is clean enough to justify living with a manual vintage deck. At US$450, it lands right at your database median of US$450, so this is a fair-market asking price rather than a bargain or an overreach.
What makes it appealing is the combo of suspended-subchassis simplicity, strong mod/rebuild potential, and the included Empire 880 P cartridge plus original box, which adds collector and packaging appeal. For a buyer, that makes it a solid local-pickup candidate if the plinth, arm, and speed behavior check out and the cartridge is usable; at this price, a complete, presentable example is the kind of vintage deck that can be genuinely satisfying rather than merely cheap.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Empire is best known as a vintage American hi-fi brand that dates back to 1959, when it appeared as Audio Empire in the United States. It began under Dyna-Empire, a precision machine-shop manufacturer, before evolving into Empire Scientific; later history suggests the audio side changed hands and eventually faded as a consumer audio name. Because the brand’s classic era is several decades behind us, some details are unevenly documented, but its roots in mid-century U.S. hi-fi are clear.
In its heyday, Empire focused on analog playback gear, especially phono cartridges, styli, and tonearms. The company was particularly associated with turntable accessories and record-playback components rather than complete systems. That makes Empire a name most often encountered by vinyl enthusiasts, vintage-audio collectors, and restoration-minded buyers rather than shoppers looking for modern amplifiers, speakers, DACs, or headphones.
Today, Empire’s reputation is primarily that of a respected vintage brand with a strong collectible following. Its products are remembered for careful engineering and a place in the golden age of American hi-fi, but it is not a current mainstream audio manufacturer in the modern consumer market. For buyers, Empire is more a heritage name than an active high-end badge, valued for classic analog performance and historical significance.
See all Empire listings on RADAR.
