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Restored Acoustic Research AR77XB Belt driveBelt turntable. Unit has been fully cleaned, disassembled, greased and had its dust cover fully polished. High speed polishing on platter as well as custom aluminum anti vibration feet. Custom cork and rubber mat. Brand new Belt. Comes with Ortofon cartridge as shown. This turntable pairs incredibly well with Vintage Gear such as Marantz, Pioneer, Sansui, Luxman, McIntosh & More ! Be sure to check out our other items listed in our shop to create the perfect system today ! Unit will be professionally packed tracked and fully insured to your address within the lower 48 states. Local pickup on Long Island NY also more than welcome
Is $1,000 the right number for a restored AR77XB? Against your recent comps, it’s clearly ambitious: that sits well above the US$975 75th percentile and far over the US$302 median, so I’d treat it as a top-end ask rather than a bargain. It’s not absurd if the restoration is truly documented and done to a high standard, but it’s priced for a buyer who wants a finished example, not a project.
What makes this worthwhile is the AR name and the belt-drive charm: these are respected vintage tables when properly sorted, with a solid design and real collector appeal. The upside is convenience if the work is genuine and the deck is complete, so you’re paying for saved time and known operation. I’d still want specifics on what was replaced, whether the arm and speed control are healthy, and whether any original parts or dust cover are included before leaning in.
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.
