Back in with Planar 3-RB300

by **exojam** » 08 Jul 2008 15:20

Jas,

Thanks for the reply. I am very excited to get everything going. I think it will be a few weeks till I am playing records though.

I have find some oil, get the cart and than do the alignments with it and the arm. Build my little sandbox and last but not least rearrange the entertainment center.

I have to have my wife’s help on the EC part since I sit in a wheelchair and cannot reach allot of the wiring.

Heck, even my daughter is asking when we will be playing tunes.

James

by **exojam** » 11 Jul 2008 13:20

Jas,

I saw in another thread about a Rega arm where you say “Except that Rega don't use Baerwald alignment so if you align to one it won't be right on the other”. When I attach my cart should I only use the single point Rega alignment or use a dual point alignment? Thanks.

by **exojam** » 15 Jul 2008 17:13

Well my plans to get the TT going have taken a small detour. Last night when I was plugging in the cartridge wiring, snap, there goes the red connector. This was the arm wiring and thank goodness not the cartridge pins. I am now on the hunt to see if any local shops have the connectors in stock.

Getting started (so excited):

Whamoo, a break in the action:

by **abril** » 15 Jul 2008 21:13

PM me your address I have some spares FOC
Sorry USA I see
spoke too soon :oops:

OOPS

by **exojam** » 15 Jul 2008 21:52

Abril,

Thank you very much for even thinking of passing on some parts to me. I have ordered some connectors and will solder it on when it arrives.

I was so looking forward to getting the cartridge setup last night. All in due time I guess.

by **mercury** » 16 Jul 2008 10:14

Hey Exojam, I have seen a few versions of the "sandbox" around and it looks pretty cool. The science behind it is logical I guess. I should try some of these things as we have an accelerometer here at work so I (and when I say "I" what I mean is the engineers with the degrees) can test the actual reduction in vibration.

by **exojam** » 19 Jul 2008 01:07

Well I think I am making some progress. I do have some questions that I would greatly appreciate if someone could assist me on. I have included some pictures to see if that helps.

1) According to the Rega manual the arm should float 1mm above the record. The best I could do is make the arm balanced. Is this OK? There is a picture below where the arm is next to the cartridge box. What I am trying to show is how the arm is sitting.
2) When I used the gauge for the cartridge, I had it sitting on the protractor piece and not an album. Is that OK?

Thanks

Balance of arm:

Scale:

Protractor:

by **wobbleu** » 19 Jul 2008 08:14

Hi

That all looks pretty reasonable to me. You've got the HFNRR Test record (in previous pics) so that will help with minor adjustments if they are found to be required.

If you can balance the arm before dialling in the playing weight than that's spot on. Some people like to adjust the tracking weight dial to 'full-on' (3g) - and then use counterweight position/adjustment to set the playing weight to the required value - because it helps to counteract vibrations in the spring used in the tracking weight dial affecting the sound.

If the cartridge lead is sorted - you should be hearing some pretty sweet sounds now...

regards
Chris

by **exojam** » 19 Jul 2008 12:42

Chris,

Thank you for your reply. I had set all the dials to zero before the balance of the arm.

I also went ahead and replaced all four connectors. The red had a tiny piece of the plastic hanging (as seen in the picture) but the connection itself seems very solid.

I have also attached a few pictures of the little sandbox I made. The piece of glass the TT will sit on has not been placed in it as of yet. Hopefully everything will be hooked up today.

James

Leads:

Sandbox:

Sandox:

by **exojam** » 20 Jul 2008 19:22

Well I have everything set up at this time. I went through the test LP and had a heck of a time with the bias setting. I think I have it all right now though. I than played a record and did some tweaking with it to see how that went. What I tried to do was make it sound like there was a phantom center channel which I think I have. Not sure if that is what I should have done but that’s what I did. I have attached a few pictures of the sandbox it sits on and also it’s new home. I am off to have some Grey Goose and break in the cartridge.

So far I am very happy with what I have heard. I have not played a record to compare it to cd’s that I have yet, that will be the Led Zepp and AC/DC.

Sandbox:

EC:

by **lpspin** » 21 Jul 2008 14:30

Best next move: rewire the RB300

by **exojam** » 21 Jul 2008 20:05

Well I am very happy with the way everything sounds so far. I think the Alison Krauss record sounded the best at this time. The Led Zepp 3 and AC/DC sounded softer that what I am used to. I really had to crank the volume on those two. Once my new speakers arrive I think it will be a huge improvement on what I have and I will really enjoy the addition of the TT. One very good thing I found was that even with the bass thumping, there were no ill effects noticed on sound quality.

I have all ready started looking at upgraded for the TT (arm weight, rewire and pre amp) but right now the funds are not here to do any of those. When they are available I think it will be the weight and pre amp first.

by **exojam** » 24 Nov 2008 15:28

Well I am a few months into my vinyl experience and am having a great time listening. I have added the Cambridge Audio 640P into the mix and the sound is even better. I have also just ordered a cork mat to give that a try and see how things go.

I have also set up a little DIY record cleaning system. My friend gave me an old TT so I use that to clean with and modified a mini shop vac for the vacuum section. I am amazed at some of the stuff that comes off of the second hand albums people have given me. I am now up to about 50 albums at this time.

Now I am trying to think of the best upgrade for the deck. I have looked at the arm weights, motor upgrade and rewire and am not sure any of them will make me say “damn” what a change. I just do not know if I should leave the deck as is and just plan on upgrading a year or two down the line or not.