AR the Turntable - worth it?

Great tables though I don't know what you are going to have to pay for it. I bought a ARXA as a kid in High School. 1971! Couldn't afford a new one at all of $79.00 so bought used. Still have it today in the living room system. Still sounds great, and still captivates me even though I am used to the Well Tempered Super in the listening room. I did though design and build a proper arm for it years ago. The early AR arms were not so great. Your's is a later model that I believe has a Japan sourced arm. Careful implementing of mods can turn it into a true, modern, High End contender. I now have 3 in various states of mods. No matter what, these tables are always musical and involving with a very accessable sound. For a similar design with a modern approach, check out Merrill's "replica" table. I bet it is a killer for $1000. Just saw an ad for it here the other day.

Schubert, I had the same experience when my friend brought his new B+O pride and joy over. A musician (Rock/Stratocaster), he always liked listening at my place and wanted to try the B+O out there. Remember, this was then the late seventies. I probably wasn't even using a "real" cartridge, not to mention no knowlege of cables, etc. Just two poor factory worker kids that were enthusiastic about music. Back then we were listening to the Dead, Return to Forever, Allman Bros, etc. He couldn't believe the difference. B+O: thin and strident, almost unlistenable compared to the AR.
So Cat, as you can see, the praise here for the good old AR is unanimous. I still scratch my head when I think of how old this thing is and what it can do.