You Must Get The White Belts!

[weegee]

With the white belt and TT-PSU, my RP3 is still ever so slightly slow. I only know that because I time it with a CD. But my ears don't notice it. I never tried it with the stock black belt, it had a visible joint.

[tapajeurs]

With the white belt and TT-PSU, my RP3 is still ever so slightly slow. I only know that because I time it with a CD. But my ears don't notice it. I never tried it with the stock black belt, it had a visible joint.

just turn back to black belt, my white belt became oversize after 2 years using them on my p9, platter to heavy and starting and playing lp evevery days strech it t'il it is unusable!

[tapajeurs]

With the white belt and TT-PSU, my RP3 is still ever so slightly slow. I only know that because I time it with a CD. But my ears don't notice it. I never tried it with the stock black belt, it had a visible joint.

so if more than a tear and frequent use white belt are oversize!

[MusicallyBiased]

The greatest strain on the belt (and motor) is getting the platter from 0 to 1rpm, so-to-speak. A gentle nudge of the platter before pressing the button can make a big difference over time (However, some platter materials don't respond well to finger grease, especially any kind of lacquered finish).

Changing records 'on the fly' also helps, although I've seen a few damaged styli caused by an out of control record (always ensure the spindle top is through the record hole before letting go...)

BTW, I'm curious about he variable quality of 'white' belts described here. Are all of these arriving in Rega packaging?

[Etnier]

I bought a 'white' (tan) "Rega Turntable Belt Upgrade" in mid-November. This week it has started slipping badly: groans coming up to speed and can be all but stopped by my Discwasher, which wasn't the case before.

ON EDIT: A gentle cleaning with pure isopropyl on Kimwipes did the job, just as it would on tape deck rubber.

[satanfriendly]

A gentle cleaning with pure isopropyl on Kimwipes did the job, just as it would on tape deck rubber.

As with any drive belt, and clean the sub/platter (if no sub) while at it

[mr.datsun]

I bought a 'white' (tan) "Rega Turntable Belt Upgrade" in mid-November. This week it has started slipping badly: groans coming up to speed and can be all but stopped by my Discwasher, which wasn't the case before.

ON EDIT: A gentle cleaning with pure isopropyl on Kimwipes did the job, just as it would on tape deck rubber.

Etnier. My theory is that using a Discwasher (I do) can not only slow/stop the platter but also stretch the belt. Since I bought a white belt, I now swap in the old black belt that I kept just for cleaning. I can only think that this lengthens the life of the white belt.

[Etnier]

I habitually clean almost every side before play, (and I'm lazy, LOL) so that won't work for me, but thanks. The cleaning put things in order nicely.

[MadMax]

I'd stopped reading this thread a while ago as worrying about belts was one headache I didn't want to give myself...

Just had another read up, and one thing that sticks out is that if there are variations in belts, how would that affect the Limm double pulley set up (not that I have that, just posing the question)? If different belts give different platter speeds, then surely one would be better off with one belt turning at a constant speed than two belts trying to turn the same platter at different speeds?

And to be honest, I still can't fathom how different belts result in different speeds, surely that is purely down to the sizes of the pulleys and the speed of the motor? It's all too much for me!

[Etnier]

I'd stopped reading this thread a while ago as worrying about belts was one headache I didn't want to give myself...

...and what kind of neurotic audiophile do you think that makes you, Mr. Max??? Eh??? Not much of one at all!!!

[cairns4me]

FWIW I am using belts from Michael Lim for Planar 3. Excellent quality, spot-on diameter for accurate speed. They are of the same quality IMHO for US$20.00 as the infamous Rega branded "white belts" for a lot less than white belt pricing.They're the natural material colour-not coloured white or black. Probably due to no additional retail seller involvement plugging another $xxx.00 profit margin on top... Also I highly recommend the Michael Lim double pulley for 33 1/3RPM. Huge improvement in speed stability over the original plastic pulley. Cheers all.

[MadMax]

I'd stopped reading this thread a while ago as worrying about belts was one headache I didn't want to give myself...

...and what kind of neurotic audiophile do you think that makes you, Mr. Max??? Eh??? Not much of one at all!!!

Nope, not neurotic just yet, and trying not to be either!

[denti alligator]

Got the white belt. No real noticeable difference.

[denti alligator]

My white belt came with an alcohol wipe. Should I have used that to wipe the belt clean before putting it on? Out of the package the belt has a powdery feel to it.