Old vintage or new TT quandary

[jrtrent]

. . . So I started with the stock Carbon cartridge and was surprised at how good it actually sounds. I did all the alignment steps and got to anti-skating and was like...Awe...the lower-end Rega's have fixed anti-skate. . .

I was curious to know if you found the factory-set anti-skate to be too strong or too weak for the Carbon cartridge. Also, what tracking force did you end up liking best for the Carbon in its 2 to 3 gram range?

 

[guiller]

I was recently in this same dilemma on vintage vs new. I had a Dual 1218 that was in good overall shape. I noticed some rumble from the idler wheel setup in that turntable and it just bugged me though the sound with the old Shure cartridge was nice. A Rega Planar 1 popped up on Craigslist for half of new cost and I decided...what the heck as reviews are awesome. Full disclosure...I am a tinkerer deluxe.
First thing was to get some things needed for setup and testing. You can download Rega arc alignment pdf (use the normal Stevenson) that work well. I bought an older Telarc Omnidisc test lp that I highly recommend. I already had a VTF gauge. So I started with the stock Carbon cartridge and was surprised at how good it actually sounds. I did all the alignment steps and got to anti-skating and was like...Awe...the lower-end Rega's have fixed anti-skate. I shall not be deterred. More reading. The magnet is set in the tonearm with some glue that is not hard to twist and break the magnet loose. Done. Now, how to make it adjustable. Simple. In the garage I had a box of harbor freight green hnbr orings. You want these instead of normal (I tried both). You simply fit an oring that has to stretch a lot to get around the magnet. Then you just place it about half way to start and put the magnet back in the hole. The oring compresses (it makes sense when you see it) enough to hold it in place.
So using the Telarc disk, which has a track especially for setting the anti-skating, I adjusted my "non-adjustable" Rega until the buzzing started in both channels at the same time by using tweezers to pull out the magnet a bit or a pencil to push it in more. Anti-skate set. Why do this? Because for $250 and a test lp and some willingness to tinker, I am overcoming things Rega did to hold the performance of the Planar 1 at a lower level relative to their other offerings when it has more potential still in it. Next thing for me was to go ahead and get the Nagaoka MP-110 cartridge, which I do like better than the Carbon. I am super happy with the sound and feel like this was an incredible bargain and now that I did this I would not go down the vintage route unless I was truly stuck on having a vintage looking turntable...which I totally get is a requirement for some. One more thing you should know about the Planar 1. The slots in the tonearm cartridge head are purposefully short so you can't mount many other cartridges in it and keep the alignment correct. I happen to have a micro lathe with a mill attachment. I elongated the slots and the small recess that runs along the top for the nut to slide in. Now I can put any cartridge in and I can also experiment with alignments like Baerwald that needs to move the cartridge out more. I want to say though...I don't think this is needed. Get the MP-110 cartridge and be done with it using the normal Rega alignment. The mod to allow setting the anti-skating however is well worth doing. So for me, I am at $365 total and am just blown away by what I have in sound quality and just pure enjoyment of rediscovering vinyl.

Thanks for sharing your views. Welcome to the AK community!

 

[1niner00]

Thanks guiller...I have been reading on AK for a long time and decided I should start engaging in the discussion.

On the prior question. I found the stock anti-skate is way too strong on the Planar 1. I have the magnet pulled mostly out of the hole based on the Telarc test. Just for fun, after I set it using the Telarc test, I put on a blank side lp (I use Johnny Winter Second Winter) and in any position on the record it was neutral. The tonearm did not move in either direction. For those that don't have the Telarc lp, I would pick up a blank side lp and adjust to that neutral zone and see how that works out. Seems like I was on the lighter end of tracking force for the Carbon..about 2.3 if I recall. I know this thread was really about buying new versus old and not a Rega thread. The Planar 1 is just an example of how a reasonable investment can get you mostly "there" where you can really be drawn back into vinyl. I know there is more performance after this level, but I also know (as in race cars) that incremental improvements have exponentially higher costs at every turn. If the objective is to rediscover vinyl and be engaged with music in that way, then getting a new turntable of known quality is just a no-brainer. Having a vintage turntable (which I am very likely to do BTW) has to evoke yet another desire past listening to records and that is probably the vibe...the aesthetics of the vintage turntable. I do love that. I can see an old Thorens in my life or a Linn. But for now, re-engaging with LP's was what I wanted to do and my Planar 1 got me there in spades.

 

[jhouse55]

Hi Guys, I just wanted to provide a update to my original request. Well, I went vintage. I picked up a SL-1800 MK1 that needed some work but got it going and its solid. Just yesterday I picked up a SL-1900 in great shape and still adjusting to all this automatic features. Its convenient, but I do still like manual of the 1800. Now, I'm just out there researching carts. The 1900 came from the factory with a EPC-270C II cartridge however this one has a Ortofon S120 with headshell on it. I would like to get away from that DJ cart. I have been wondering to just get a the original EPC-270C II cart and put a good needle on it.

The 1800 I got had a ADC Series I cart on it but the stylus is pretty warn so I'm looking to get a new stylus from the voiceofmusic.com

Thanks for all your replies!

 

[revox-b77]

Sounds like you are off to a good start! The Voice of Music is a great place to shop. Gary rocks!