| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Cable Monkey
senior member
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 369
Location: UK
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 5:05 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
|
| ChrisMM wrote: | | Alec124c41 wrote: | For £500 I would probably go for the P5. However, the Planar 2 or 3 can sound better for much less. Cheers,
Alec |
For £500 your best bet would be the P3-24 with the TTPSU. The PSU takes the decks to a new level of performance, and the RB301 is a significant improvement over the earlier cheaper arms. Fantastic deck which I hav in my study and never tire of listening too!! (mind you, I have got a DV10x5 fitted - the deck's worth it).
It would be great if Rega could provide an upgrade kit for the older decks to use this PSU. |
3 issues with above:
P3-24/TT-PSU availability.
That plastic sub-platter.
The 301 is undoubtedly better than the 300, but still a way off an Audio Origami upgraded arm. The issue with that of course is you have to hear one to appreciate it! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
ChrisMM
member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 20
Location: Glos
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
| howlindawg wrote: | The TTPSU version of the P3/24 costs £600 new, although you do get a glossy plinth for that. 
|
Standard P3-24 plus TTPSU bought separately = £546, though I must admit that if I'd known I was going to get the PSU I'd have gone glossy (possibly blue). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
howlindawg
senior member
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 87
Location: Ireland
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| Cable Monkey wrote: | | The 301 is undoubtedly better than the 300, but still a way off an Audio Origami upgraded arm. |
Agreed.
An RB300 with an upgraded counterweight, Cardas Rewire, better external wiring & Phonos is a notch above a stock 301 in terms of performance. Even if I bought a new RB301 I'd simply have to make those mods to it having heard the difference they make.
I'm actually amazed that Rega don't offer their arms with cardas wiring and something like a technoweight as an option. Mind you, it'd probably put the 301 too close to their own arms higher up in the range.
_________________
The Squirrels talk to me. They say "Koochie Koochie Koo!"
=====================================
Townshend Elite Rock II,Excalibur,Merlin / Pioneer PL-71 / Tweaked Rega P3
Musical fidelity X-A2 & X-LPSv3
Aurum Cantus Leisure 2 Signature / Mission 783 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wobbleu
senior member
Joined: 25 Aug 2003
Posts: 189
Location: Sheffield
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
I went to a 'Rega Day' at a dealers in Cheshire on Thursday - took along my deck for a free check-over. I returned the sub-platter/platter to stock for the trip, but left my counterweight on the arm.
The Rega technician reckoned that after-market counterweights do nothing other than change the sound, and said I'd be better going back to the original at £19.
The explanation for this was
" The arm bearings in the RB301 are roller bearings with 0 tolerance so that each ball is in contact with the bearing surface of the horizontal pivot, adding a counterweight where the centre of gravity is lowered means uneven pressure is put on 2 of the balls (top & bottom) which gives room for lateral play which translates into instability at the stylus end - so less detail from the groove"
I'm no scientist/engineer but that sounded pretty plausible to me - I'm re-evaluating my small collection of weights over the next few weeks.
On another note - has anyone else seen these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TP1-.....19b772cce6
I had an idea to do this last year (copying Michell of course) but struggled to find suitable weights. These look interesting but 'bloody expensive' - in the mean time I've found a bag of lead counterweights from piano keys in my dads garage (he never threw anything out) and I'm looking at gluing them into equally spaced holes drilled underneath an mdf platter off the NAD rega clone  .
rgds
Chris |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Alec124c41
vinyl addict
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 2806
Location: Toronto, Canada
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 3:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| wobbleu wrote: |
The explanation for this was
" The arm bearings in the RB301 are roller bearings with 0 tolerance so that each ball is in contact with the bearing surface of the horizontal pivot, adding a counterweight where the centre of gravity is lowered means uneven pressure is put on 2 of the balls (top & bottom) which gives room for lateral play which translates into instability at the stylus end - so less detail from the groove"
|
What a load of bushwah!
Cheers,
Alec |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Frank_Sm
member
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
Posts: 34
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 7:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| wobbleu wrote: |
I had an idea to do this last year (copying Michell of course) but struggled to find suitable weights. These look interesting but 'bloody expensive' - in the mean time I've found a bag of lead counterweights from piano keys in my dads garage (he never threw anything out) and I'm looking at gluing them into equally spaced holes drilled underneath an mdf platter off the NAD rega clone .
rgds
Chris |
Chris, You must make sure the holes are "timed" perfectly, otherwise you will just introduce more wow into the fold. Any deviation will make it an unbalanced rotating mass.
FWIW, Our 26mm thick acrylic platter weighs 2kgs. which is the same weight as the Rega 12mm glass platter.
_________________
http://www.groovetracer.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cable Monkey
senior member
Joined: 16 Mar 2008
Posts: 369
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 10:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| wobbleu wrote: | | I went to a 'Rega Day' at a dealers in Cheshire on Thursday - took along my deck for a free check-over. |
I would fully expect a Rega technician to discourage modification of their decks. Apart from anything else, it is his job. But some great minds have come up with alternatives to the standard weight and I am loathed to think they are wrong. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wobbleu
senior member
Joined: 25 Aug 2003
Posts: 189
Location: Sheffield
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
I thought I'd just throw his comments into the thread - to see what people thought.
I reckon I've tried probably all of the aftermarket counterweights for Rega arms (apart from a couple of recent additions) and still have most of them.
When I've fitted them I've heard difference but can't say I heard improvement (unlike the sub-platter upgrade) which is why I'm going to repeat the process to see If I can hear improvements now.
Rega's 'policy' over VTA adjustment is a clear indication of their views on upgrades - so I wasn't surprised by his comments on the weight - it was the explanation as to why theirs was best that caught my attention.
Both were really nice friendly guys - I'm hoping to go on a factory visit in the new year and will report back anything interesting.
Frank - I've got a 'full depth' acrylic platter and am pretty pleased with it. Unfortunately, I like to spend time 'tinkering' when I should be just sat listening to the damn music - a symptom of the HiFi curse I guess  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ChrisMM
member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 20
Location: Glos
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
|
| I'd love to go on a factory visit to Rega - how do you go about arranging that? Cheers |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
davelong
junior member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Sutton Coldfield
|
| Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
First post here. Last week I received a new subplatter from Groovetracer for my P3-24. First impressions were what a well manufactured product. Installation was a breeze following the clear instructions. I have to say the difference this subplatter makes is definitely not small! I would say it takes the deck into another class. More detail, more refined, soundstaging improved.
You just know it's a good upgrade when it makes you want to listen again to all your old lp's. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ana-log
junior member
Joined: 03 Nov 2009
Posts: 1
Location: UK
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject: ISOkinetik ISOsub sub platter upgrade for Rega |
|
|
|
| Cable Monkey wrote: | Hi jenkovix, I had a long hard look at the various options. I know you are in Ireland but I made the choice to stay in Britain for my upgrades. I watched Acryltellers prices go up by the day until the difference between his product and the ISOkinetic platter went from £5 to £15 plus postage. This means a UK priced item is going down for you.  Likewise the weak Pound made Groovetracer items exceptionally pricy when factoring in the possibility of import costs. These things are relative but I would advise you to look at what you get for your money shopping this side of the pond.
http://www.cabezon.eu/product_.....a0dbb771f3
At £99 the ISOSub GT is an excellent buy and comes with brass inserts, replacement ball bearing (ruby), oil and a magnet for removing the old bearing. I opted for the 25mm acryllic platter from the same company, purchased via the eBay shop which discounts over the website price. Thus I pretty much got both for the price of the US item. Now I will freely admit that both the Acrylteller and Groovetracer items are probably that little bit better finished (but I have seen neither so cannot say for certain). However, ultimately it is the listening experience that is the final test and I would say this has been passed with flying colours.
 |
On the advice of the users here i purchased the Isokinetik isosub sub platter
I have to say the improvement of this aluminium sub platter over the plastic Rega original is nothing short of gobsmacking
Pitch , dynamics , soundstage , control of sub frequencies incredible
I cant believe how good my old Rega sounds with this one simple upgrade
i think i will try their cardas tone arm upgrade next and report my findings
peace out!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Frank_Sm
member
Joined: 03 Jun 2008
Posts: 34
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| davelong wrote: | First post here. Last week I received a new subplatter from Groovetracer for my P3-24. First impressions were what a well manufactured product. Installation was a breeze following the clear instructions. I have to say the difference this subplatter makes is definitely not small! I would say it takes the deck into another class. More detail, more refined, soundstaging improved.
You just know it's a good upgrade when it makes you want to listen again to all your old lp's. |
Hi David, Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you're enjoying your LP collection even more after the Groovetracer upgrade and it's also nice to hear comments from satisfied customers.
_________________
http://www.groovetracer.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
davelong
junior member
Joined: 30 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Sutton Coldfield
|
| Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
| Quote: | Hi David, Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you're enjoying your LP collection even more after the Groovetracer upgrade and it's also nice to hear comments from satisfied customers. Smile
|
Thanks for the welcome Frank. The more I listen to the more I'm impressed I am. I would say this is the most effective upgrade I've made to my system. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Articles 
Log in
