RP3 hums with tonearm movement

[j88888888]

I don't understand the probs you have had with the xpression. As you described it (IGD), this sounded like a cartridge misalignement to me. In general, the xpression is a fine table, the problems you described are not typical.

The cart was misaligned initially. I had it realigned by the dealer, which improved things quite a bit, but not completely. The dealer I bought it from doesn't carry Pro-Ject anymore, so I took it to an authorized repair shop for warranty service to solve the problem. That's where they discovered that the original dealer had actually repaired the RCA outputs (it was a floor model), which voided the warranty. It was sold to me under the assurance that it had a full warranty from the date I bought it, so I returned it. The dealer offered me an RP3 at cost in an attempt to keep my business and avoid having to cash me out on the Xpression III. I was really happy with the Xpression III, but the Oyster was lacking. It seemed like he was offering me a far superior table in the RP3 for about the same price as a new Xpression III plus a cart upgrade. Unfortunately, I prefer the Xpression III overall.

I guess what it comes down to is that I preferred the sound of the Pro-Ject over the Rega on good recordings. On worn records or lower-quality recordings, the Rega edges ahead. And (when it's not humming) the Rega is much blacker. Does that reveal anything to any of you about my listening preferences? I know what I like, sound-wise, but I don't yet have the knowledge or experience to know what to look for or ask for to get it.

[j88888888]

My advise if your going to get the RP3 and don't want to spend a lot of money on it would be; buy one without the Elys2 and get a better cartridge. Also spend £20 on a Rega white belt.

What cart would you suggest? I'd really like to get a combo that will keep me content for the foreseeable future. I'm done messing around and trading out tables. I just want to listen to music.

[j88888888]

Trust your ears.

Exactly! I do trust my ears (maybe to a fault). The problem is that I don't have a lot of resources in my area to listen to different decks/cartridges to find the proper fit. I'm not one who's inclined to tweak and upgrade. I just want the perfect rig (within a price range, of course), and then I want to stop worrying about it and enjoy my vinyl.

I guess I've been trying to talk myself into digging the RP3, so I can be done with the search. And when that failed, I guess I hoped to get on vinyl engine and have somebody tell me about a magic button on the RP3 I can press to make it sound the way I want it to. But it just ain't working.

[j88888888]

On a sidenote: I bought a used Audio Technica LP120 for $100 and threw an M97xe on it, hoping it would be good enough for now. It actually sounds great for a $200 set up. I'd say it's 90% of the RP3's performance for less than 20% of the price--even running on the built-in preamp. It's dead silent spinning with the needle up, and it's very close to the blackness of the RP3 when playing. The soundstage is narrow, with all of the instruments stacked on top of the other. And the Shure cart is definitely thinner--although that could be the preamp. I think I'll swap the Elys 2 to the Audio Technica before I return the RP3, just for kicks. I'm mostly sure I'll be flipping the AT, but if I can put a reasonably priced cart on it and reach 98% of the RP3/Xpression III, I might keep it. Sacrilege, I know. But if it gets me contentedly spinning records...

[kalypso]

Does that reveal anything to any of you about my listening preferences?

I guess either Shelter or Nagaoka cartridges might suit your taste, but this depends on your listening room and your system, too.

As you can't expect any dealer having all available cartridges ready for a demo, hifi-magazine reviews with sound descriptions might be helpful for a decision.

Its a lottery game...

Regards, kalypso

[kalypso]

swap the Elys 2 to the Audio Technica

Perhaps swap the other way round, too to check what the sure does on the rega.

Maybe its your dream-team and you're done.

[sebalele]

Ciao ,(TT=rega +rb250,Amp = marantz PM17)
I've got same issue. when TT is not into AC outlet no noise , no hum ; I can move Tonearm where I want .Amp is set to upper limit I've no hum.
When I plug the AC and the motor is off I hear a hum (both channel) which is more loud when the arm reach the center spindle .
When motor is On hum is a little more higher .
I pulled off the motor and I joint 3 wire to play with it.
it generate a magnetic field the MM pick this "sounD".no matter I have change MM from rega to grado and to goldring ...each pick this field .
I've separate earth wire from Left ground with no result .
Same MM pickup have assolutely no hum noise with Thorens td160 (wich sound a LOT better).
I think I've to change to DC motor ...
Rega is a very good arm but the whole TT itself... I'm not very satisfied very cheap..
Nobody has got same issue ??
Ciao, Gabriele

[GR350]

I bought a RP3 a couple of weeks ago. I've got probably 15 hrs on it. It too has a mild hum if the volume level is cranked up high. The hum is only noticeable when the arm is moved close to the spindle. The same effect was also noticed with a friend of mines P7. Both decks are bone stock. I have the Elys 2 and he has the Exact 2. He is in the process of trying to get a P9 motor from Rega. It is supposed to be shielded. If the deal ever goes thru we shall see if it fixes the problem. I have not noticed the hum during playback even with the volume at near reference levels. According to the Rega rep this seems to occur more often with systems that have very sensitive speakers. I have no way to know if this is the case or not. My system has the following:
Denon 4310 AVR
3 Klipsch Cornwalls (right, left, and center)
2 Bob Crites CS-1's (right and left rears)
1 Rythmik 15" subwoofer w/600w plate amp

All the speakers excluding the sub have high sensitivity ratings. The sub with 600 watts behind it can shake the house if I want it to but when properly adjusted is very musical.

I guess the main reason I got the Rega is because it was within my price range, I could add enhancements as I see fit, and it was just about the only one I could actually listen to before I plunked down the cash. (there is a Rega dealer a few miles away).

[radiance]

@GR350: As I stated in this thread some days ago, every Rega hums with a MM cartridge when the tonearm with the cartridge moves near the center of the platter. The P9 has a mu-metal shield around the motor and is mounted a little off-axis from the bearing to milden this effect...
BTW, the P9 motor is exactly the same as every other 24V model being used in the other actual Rega models. The Mu-metal shield is a separate piece as can be seen on the pics I posted (see my gallery)...
A MC cartridge won´t show this "hum" since it works differently in contrast to a MM cartridge. So buy a decent MC cartridge or live with that hum and enjoy listening your records...

Regards


Rad

[sebalele]

confirm what Rad said,no matter tweaking motor ,or buying a separate Ac PS ,the motor itself generate a powerfull field that every MM cart "pick".
you can try with mumetal but buzz is there again .
I switched to Denon dl110 High Output MC and BluePoint , No hum at ALL !
Finally I can Hear "air" comes from music , before listening was little compressed and surely this hum cover part of music .It's another music , difference ,better
Before buying rear weight , motor , pulley ....dc motor and some MYth of Rega's tweak , I give you an advice : switch to MC cart.
Ciao , Gabriele

[sz0989]

I have tried two different MM cartridges (an older Ortofon and an other from my Pioneer turntable) in my Rega Planar 3. Both MM cartridges picked that hum coming from the motor. I'm sure that buzz or hum comes from the motor.

Now I have Denon DL110 and DL160 HOMC-s and definitely there is no hum at all. Maybe these Denon cartridges are shielded or maybe the difference between the MM and MC cartridge is the reason but I don't have any problem at all since I use HOMC.

[Blueguitar]

Hi,

I've had a Rega P1 and P3-24 with a variety of MM carts and never had any hum - I've had buzzing from the TTPSU and static from the phono pre, but both of those issues were fixed when I grounded the TTPSU to the the phonostage.

I like Rega because of their simplicity - easy to move around, not much to adjust and a full, detailed sound with a wide soundstage when set up and isolated properly. You are mostly buying the arm and the research and development that created it. If Rega could I think they would have the album spinning in the air with the arm suspended above it and get rid of the plinth altogether.

For years I had a run of the mill Onkyo direct drive with a Grado green and I thought it was great - Even a modest turntable will do somebody well so I'm definitely with those who say if it sounds good to you that's all that matters...

[gmjones2001]

From a shopping noob's perspective this is very disturbing.

[zayance]

Hi There,

My first post here, and my first own Turntable purchase, a Rega RP3.

I just wanted to drop a line here, as I noticed the same hum on a new RP3 fitted with Elys2.
The Shop that sold me this one, has also one, and i'll have a quick
visit to see if the hum is present on his also, i guess yes?
Mine has the hum noise coming from the motor as soon as you hit the ON switch
just get you ear close to the platter and you can clearly hear it.
I Tried connecting to different mains, with and without multi plugs, just for checking things out, nothing changed.
I don't have a Preamp yet, i'm waiting for some things to build my own, so until then i've plugged the turntable to the old Revox b750 Amp of my dad, that has 2x Phono inputs, and to see if this is present in the Audio, and it clearly was...
The only comparison i could make is with the old turntable of my dad wich is a Revox b790 connected to that same amp, that i actually repaired a couple of days ago, and this one has absolutely no motor noise, hum or whatever, but i understand that the system is different (Direct drive VS Manual), Rega beeing more of an Artisan build, with simple components BUT with a better arm.

I do understand that an MM could be more sensitive to any noise coming from the motor, and it seems logical now that it's been pointed out.
On listening tests it's not THAT much audible but it is nonetheless, of course if you crank the volume up it's even more audible, but in blanks of normal listening, you clearly hear it in the background, and so it is present in the audible range and so pollutes the Reproduction of the Sound no doubt.
If changing the cartridge to an MC will tottaly stop that hum to be heard in the Audio, then good, BUT it's a little funny (in a bad way ) to have a "good quality" Turntable having that problem, and still marketed as good sounding or whatever Pros and magazine starts you can read or see on it?
Putting that hum aside, the Rega with the Elys was sounding much more open and defined than the old Revox of my dad, but that Hum takes a lot of nice things away tough...

On the other hand i'm a total noob when it comes to Turntables etc.. so it's maybe tottaly normal and i've signed to the unstoppable Modding and tweaking world of Turntables? Am i right
I will test drive with a better Preamp stage, and the NAD326BEE i have, but i guess that won't make that hum dissapear, unless i change to MC cartridge as i read here maybe...

Thank you for your feedback.