RADAR is a price search engine. We link to the original listing — we never sell direct. Transactions happen on the source site.
*FOR PARTS OR RESTORATION*Untested barn find, for parts or restoration only - no returns and sold as is. Priced accordingly!FREE UPS Ground shipping with $100 insurance included
Is this one of those rare vintage tables worth jumping on? At US$199, it lands well below the typical used market for this model: under the US$248 25th percentile and far below the US$297 median, so it reads as a strong deal rather than a merely fair ask.
That makes it especially attractive for someone who wants a classic suspended-subchassis deck with a serious following among vinyl enthusiasts. The XA is prized for its simple, musical design and tweak-friendly nature, and at this price the upside is in the platform itself—especially if the arm, platter, and suspension are complete and the motor runs quietly. Since condition is unknown, the real check is whether the bearing, plinth, and top plate are intact and whether it includes any original hardware.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Acoustic Research (AR) emerged from Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1954, founded by audio pioneer Edgar Villchur and his student Henry Kloss. Villchur, an inventor, researcher, and educator, developed the groundbreaking acoustic suspension loudspeaker principle, patented in 1956, which enabled compact speakers with deep, distortion-free bass. Their debut AR-1 model, unveiled at the 1954 New York Audio Show for $185, revolutionized the industry by shrinking enclosure sizes by up to 75 percent while delivering superior performance, setting the stage for AR's rapid ascent.
The brand focused primarily on loudspeakers, pioneering acoustic suspension designs like the AR-1, AR-2, AR-3 series, and compact bookshelf models such as the AR-4, which appealed to students and families. AR expanded into turntables, including the enduring AR Turntable still prized by vinyl enthusiasts, alongside other stereo components. This emphasis on innovative speakers with flat response, wide dispersion, and extended bass defined their catalog, prioritizing engineering over aesthetics.
AR commanded peak dominance in 1966 with over 32 percent of the U.S. loudspeaker market—the largest share any hi-fi company has achieved—earning reverence for natural sound reproduction and robust build quality. Now owned by VOXX and shifted toward lower-end accessories, its vintage products remain collector icons, embodying mid-century high-fidelity excellence for discerning buyers seeking timeless accuracy.
See all Acoustic Research listings on RADAR.
