GR1 upgrade to RB300 Tonearm

by **kimpao** » 06 Aug 2005 15:01

Guys,

Is it possible to mount a Rega RB300 tonearm on a GR1 turntable? Would there be any modifications needed to fit this arm?

Thanks.

by **ebreckpo** » 06 Aug 2005 17:38

It is not a plug and play replacement as the Goldring has a special tailored RB250 mounted on it. The original arm is mounted with 3 screws on the turntable. This is a completely different fitting system as we used to see on the Rega P2 or P3. Perhaps it is easier to modify the existing tonearm...

by **JaS** » 06 Aug 2005 18:16

Hi,
The effective length/mounting distance of the GR1 is identical to the RB300, but as ebreckpo said the Goldring uses a different tonearm mounting pattern. It may fit straight on if the deck has a standard Rega 23-25mm hole under the GR1 arm? Otherwise it may be possible to drill one but you would have to find a way to cover over the old mounting holes.

Goldring GR1

Rega RB300

Regards,
JaS

by **kimpao** » 07 Aug 2005 06:19

Thanks guys for the fast response.

Anyway I'll try to measure the diameter of the mounting holes for the gr1. Will keep you guys posted on this.

by **kimpao** » 22 Aug 2005 03:42

I've seen this particular spacer in Rega's website which is somewhat similar to the gr1 rb250's armbase but the spacer is for a rb600.

Would this fit on a rb250 (spacer on the far left)?

by **JaS** » 22 Aug 2005 08:40

I'm not sure if the central hole is the same size? FWIW KT88 (Rega dealer) over at the Vinyl Asylum reckons the GR1 has a different sized 'footprint' to the Rega 3-point arms, but he hasn't actually seen one and gleaned this from looking at photographs (!). It might be time to email Rega and ask them ?

Regards,
JaS

by **JaS** » 27 Aug 2005 11:19

Hi again,
I don't know if you got around to fitting an RB300 but I got a chance to measure the hole in a GR1 and its identical to that in a Rega planar so it will definately fit :wink:

.

Regards,
JaS

by **kimpao** » 28 Aug 2005 04:57

Jas wrote:Hi again,
I don't know if you got around to fitting an RB300 but I got a chance to measure the hole in a GR1 and its identical to that in a Rega planar so it will definately fit .

Regards,
JaS

Yup, was able to dismantle the rb250 arm and measure the diameter and luckily both are the same. Thanks jas!

by **Fred Montinola** » 09 Feb 2006 08:20

Hi Kimpao,

What sonic improvement/s did you get with the RB300 tonearm into the GR1 ? Thanks

by **audioorigami** » 13 Feb 2006 18:15

hi fred

its hard to say the the rb 300 would be any better than the gr1 standard arm

its hard to say if the gr1 arm is a substandard rega rb250 or if its just the same quaility as a rb250

but i would guess there would be a lot of stuff u can read on upgrading regas ...and in a previous thread the rega and gr1 arms was a topic of debate

hope that helps

best wishes
j7

by **jetok** » 05 Mar 2006 12:16

Fred Montinola wrote:Hi Kimpao,

What sonic improvement/s did you get with the RB300 tonearm into the GR1 ? Thanks

hi fred,

i believe kimpao did not push thru with it. getting an rb300 arm will be more than what he paid for the gr1.

i was able to compare a GR1 vs. Rega Planar 3 (rb300) using the same cart(rega bias) and i can say that i prefer the latter. it's livelier, base has more weight, wider soundstage, more musical and engaging. but that's just me.