New Rega RP3 w/Elys2 tonearm drift?!

[Gizmology]

Hi,

As some of you may know I recently bought a new Rega RP3 w/Elys2 cart and I just got it and set everything up. Everything lined up with the protractor, and I used a Sure SFG to set things right (had the anti-skate/bias at zero, had the tonearm set with the counterweight on, dialed in the tracking force to 1.75 per the specs for the Elys2 cart, then adjusted the counterweight until the two white lines lined up in the mirror). Once I finished, I set the anti-skate/bias to 1.75. I was able to play an LP just fine and it sounded good, but every time I would lower the tonearm it would drift a good inch or so to the right (towards the beginning of the record) before finally dropping onto the platter. The turntable is pretty damn close to level (the left side is at .1 and the right is at .4 and the bubble is basically in the middle of the level. I can't imagine the slight off-levelness of the TT would contribute to the tonearm drift. In any case, I started to adjust the anti-skate/bias to see if it would make a difference, and...it did. Now the needle drops on the platter with almost no drift, BUT...I have the anti-skate/bias set to almost zero (probably .5). So...my question is, what am I doing wrong? Is it bad to have the anti-skate/bias set so low when it should be at 1.75? Any ideas as to what's going on ad what I can/should do about this?

Let me know, and as always thanks for the help!

[Dinohyus Hollandi]

My RB300 runs fine with anti skating set to just below half the tracking weight. When you set the slider to 0 there is some residual force left, so the values on the scale are off by quite a bit.

Cheers,
Frank.

[Sandbah 92]

Ditto on what Dinohyus just said. Same situation on my p1. Same situation on the same topic threads on several audio forum sites.

[Gizmology]

OK, thanks guys! Glad it is "normal." Pheewww!

[Etnier]

Someone here mentioned the technique of setting antiskate for lateral stability while the needle skates on the glass platter. Works for me. Although this places the needle a few mm below its normal position (there's no record), my tests (I shimmed the platter) show there is no difference in the finaL antiskate setting.

[Gizmology]

Someone here mentioned the technique of setting antiskate for lateral stability while the needle skates on the glass platter. Works for me. Although this places the needle a few mm below its normal position (there's no record), my tests (I shimmed the platter) show there is no difference in the finaL antiskate setting.

Interesting. I'll keep that in mind. Thx!

[krenzler]

Hi Gizmology. This I don't understand fully:

"and I used a Sure SFG to set things right (had the anti-skate/bias at zero, had the tonearm set with the counterweight on, dialed in the tracking force to 1.75 per the specs for the Elys2 cart, then adjusted the counterweight until the two white lines lined up in the mirror)"

So you adjusted on the counterweight AFTER setting the VTF spring dial?

Maybe it's just me that has misunderstood?

[Gizmology]

Basically, I had the counterweight on and set so the arm was floating parallel to, and just above, the platter. Then I dialed the tracking force dial to 1.75 and to get the two white lines to line up in the mirror I moved the counterweight very slightly backwards and forwards until the lines lined up. Is that correct? Did I do it wrong? I thought I did it right based on the instructions for the Sure SFG, but maybe I misinterpreted them. Did I?

[krenzler]

Oh you were referring to the SFG-2 yes of course - I forgot how that thing works.

You did absolutely right fine-adjusting to precisely 1.75g according to the Shure.

[Gizmology]

Ah, good. I figured I did it correctly. Thanks for confirming!

[kelvinMunson]

With the anti-skate correctly set, and without the forces due to tracking within the groove, there will of course be a sideways drift as the tonearm lowers..... unless there is sufficient friction in the lowering mechanism to prevent this.

Sounds like the problem here is that the anti-skate is causing the tonearm to slide along the lowering "bar" as he arm is lowered. One solution is to rub a pencil eraser along the bar, the resideue of rubber remaining will prevent the arm from sliding outwards and you can safely apply the correct anti-skating force.

[Gizmology]

Interesting. I'll give that I try. Thanks!

[krenzler]

I generally feel that Rega bias was always a bit on the high side (had Planar 2 & 3 way back when and am happily spinning a P7 now). Not the most precise and the same-as-VTF recommendation seems like a rule to make things simple (as Rega like). It's also stylus dependant as various diamond cuts and polishes have differing groove friction.

For instance the SAS stylus type from Jico works with very little anti-skate whereas Ortofons top-tip "Replicant 100" requires quite a bit anti-skate/bias.

But again don't worry too much and don't feel bad by setting the bias slightly lower than the tracking force. And since your RP3 is brand-new (obviously) the rubber on the lift/lower bar is as it should be.

Rega arms apply an outward pull even when bias is set at "0" - due to the use of a magnet.

[Gizmology]

I generally feel that Rega bias was always a bit on the high side (had Planar 2 & 3 way back when and am happily spinning a P7 now). Not the most precise and the same-as-VTF recommendation seems like a rule to make things simple (as Rega like). It's also stylus dependant as various diamond cuts and polishes have differing groove friction.

For instance the SAS stylus type from Jico works with very little anti-skate whereas Ortofons top-tip "Replicant 100" requires quite a bit anti-skate/bias.

But again don't worry too much and don't feel bad by setting the bias slightly lower than the tracking force. And since your RP3 is brand-new (obviously) the rubber on the lift/lower bar is as it should be.

Rega arms apply an outward pull even when bias is set at "0" - due to the use of a magnet.

Yeah, I currently have the anti-skate set in between 1 and "0" and everything seems to be fine, even though the recommended setting for my cart is 1.75!

Sounds great, anyway! ; )