Please help with my new rega setup!

[priceybadger]

Hello all!

Very much hoping for some advice for my new setup. I've spent a considerable amount of money and time getting everything together and after wiring it all up it sounds - awful! Have tried a variety of records and different cables and the sound coming out is crackly, tinny, weak, and something is definitely very wrong somewhere. I've plugged my phone into my amp's aux input and the sound is incredible, so I can be sure that the amp and the speakers are not the issue.

I have a rega planar one turntable which is wired into a pro-ject phono stage preamp, which is then connected to a Cambridge audio topaz am5 amp. I'm using the MP3/aux phono input at the back however I've tried all of the amp inputs in turn. The turntable annoyingly doesn't have an earthing point so I've rather foolishly wired the preamp earth point into the earth pin of a three pin wall plug socket and plugged it into the mains (a temporary solution I know! If it's plugged in or not the sound is still terrible, just more static noise when it's not plugged in). I'm aware you're meant to keep the preamp/cables away from the turntable but I'm having bigger problems than a little interference - I can fix that later on.

I just can't understand why it sounds so weak, I have to turn my amp to almost 100% to get it to a decent volume, and when I do so it's just so crackly and timid sounding. When I plug my phone in to the amp, it's so loud you can feel the walls shaking at about 10% volume only.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

[bkatbamna]

Does it sound good when you use another source? Also, the output from the phonobox should go into the line level inputs on the amp. Not the phono inputs. Can you post a picture of the back of the amplifier with the rca plugged in? Also on the picture of the back of the speaker, it looks like there's no jumper connecting both positive posts(maybe there is but it is hard to see from the angle of the picture). One other thing I thought of is that the phonobox might not be working properly.

 

[Bill Ashton]

Agree with the brother above that some more pictures are needed..

That said, step back and take a deep breath, all is not lost... disconnect all wires to/from turntable. Wires from turntable go to input jacks on preamp. Output jacks get connected to the MP3/Aux on the amp. Disconnect that ground wire you made up for the moment, both ends. Plug "wall wart" power supply into wall outlet and other end into power jack on preamp. Switch front panel selector switch on amplifier to "MP3/Aux" and try it...good sound? No? Maybe a preamp problem (it is on, right?) or turntable wiring problem to stereo pickup cartridge. As before, if no good sound, we need better pictures OR time to go back to your dealer

 

[Tonoje]

As bkatbamna says, first thing to try would be to plug the phono amp into a different output. Phono into phono = no-no.

The input you choose may as well be Aux to start with as you have tested that with a phone and verified that it sounds as expected.


Also, it sounds (to me) as if you're conflating earthing with chassis grounding. A turntable would only need to be grounded to, for example, the ground terminal on the back of an amplifier. It's the chassis of the amp that you're grounding to, and the terminal itself is just a convenience. This is largely irrelevant as Regas are grounded differently and you wouldn't normally need to do anything about grounding it to anything else.

Finally, once you've established that the amp is doing its job with your turntable, you'll need to be sure that your cartridge is set up correctly. Alignment, tracking force, antiskate.

 

[Nashou66]

I would not have the phono pre amp onto of the stereo amp as there may be a transformer inside the amp causing havoc on the phono pre and the cables as well. slide the turntable to the right along with the amplifier and put the pro-ject phono stage preamp to the left of the turntable.

And remove the GND from the wall socket and see what happens. But GND the TT to the pro-ject phono stage preamp.


Athanasios

 

[Tonoje]

Having looked at a photo of your amp, I think you've confused 3 of us (so far) by calling it the "MP3/aux phono" input. So you have an Aux input that you've already tried with the turntable it seems (and tested the turntable with all the other amp inputs), yet still get poor sound.

As Bill Ashton mentions, you want to ditch your grounding addition. It's surplus to requirements. They're really only to eliminate hum anyway.
Other possible causes of your problem are incorrect, loose, or dirty connections. The cartridge seems like the place to check first, by confirming that the wires are going to where they should, and then that the clips are securely attached to the cartridge pins.

 

[Tetrack]

Yeah, the Rega is internally grounded through the arm wiring I believe. An additional earthing could be causing the issue, but then OP mentions tried it with/without?

 

[Tonoje]

Yes, I believe so. Doubt it's making any difference either way. It sounds like he's just grounded the phono pre to a wall socket. I've only ever needed to ground a turntable when there's audible hum, and in every case, the turntable had a ground wire that could go to the phono pre or the amp. No external ground wires on Regas, and no hum, in my experience.

OP, if you have a multimeter, or can borrow one, you can check continuity from the cartridge pins to the connectors of the phono output cable. You want to be sure that the connections are correct and that continuity is maintained.

 

[Old Vinyl]

What cartridge are you using? If it’s a low output MC the sound would be weak as you describe

 

[priceybadger]

Hi everyone thanks for the replies!

I have tried every single input on the back of the amp (aux, cd, dvd etc etc) and get exactly the same outcome each time. There definitely is a jumper wire connecting the whoofer and tweeter of the speakers sorry it's not clear in the photos (again sounds excellent using my phone).

All inputs and outputs are definitely wired up correctly. There's no on/off switch on the preamp but if it's playing a record and I pull out the power to the preamp all sound stops entirely so definitely on!

As above I've tried with and without the earthing wire so don't think that's related.

I'm using the stock cartridge that came with the turntable. I can try and have a look at the cartridge wiring although not entirely sure where to start!

Will post some more pictures up in a moment

Thanks again

 

[T68]

Is that a Rega Carbon Cartridge (aka Audio Technica AT3600L)?

I would check 2 things here:

1. That the stylus is properly pushed into the cartridge housing. Dismount the stylus and pop it back into the cartridge. Should "click" into place.

2. The tracking force is correct. 2-3 grams. If new closer to 3g.

 

[priceybadger]

Is that a Rega Carbon Cartridge (aka Audio Technica AT3600L)?

I would check 2 things here:

1. That the stylus is properly pushed into the cartridge housing. Dismount the stylus and pop it back into the cartridge. Should "click" into place.

2. The tracking force is correct. 2-3 grams. If new closer to 3g.

This is the cartridge, I'll have a fiddle and make sure it's in properly

 

[Flashpant]

You might also want to try using a different phono preamp in your setup. It could be possible the Pro-ject phono preamp also has an issue with its audio output. The rest of your setup might actually be working as it should…phono preamp issues are commonly experienced more often than you realize in this “hobby”!

 

[T68]

View attachment 3076009
This is the cartridge, I'll have a fiddle and make sure it's in properly

When I had this cartridge I had an incident or two where the stylus did not snap into place properly and the sound was really weak and scratchy.

 

[Tonoje]

I can try and have a look at the cartridge wiring although not entirely sure where to start!

Who installed the cartridge?

If refitting the stylus doesn't do the trick, and you don't have a meter, start by reconfirming that the wiring to the cartridge does actually match Rega's diagram. You can download the pdf for that cartridge if you don't have the paper version.

It sounds as if the cart was already installed when you received the turntable, but I suppose there's always a possibility that it's wired out of phase.

You mention "crackly" sound, though, which is suggestive of loose or dirty connection somewhere.

 

[Sgt Shultz]

About the volume being lower than your phone, it's quite common that the turntable has a lower output, this can be ameliorated with a phono stage with variable gain such as the Project ART Precision Phono Pre for only $70.



If you don't already have these tools I highly recommend getting them to make your vinyl experience that much better, about $10 each.

Digital scale to set VTF


Jeweller's loupe to check stylus for dirt, damage, etc, won't show wear.


Alignment protractor, this one is simple to use with directions printed right on it.




Anti static brush for dust before each play


Stylus cleaner, I've used this brand for decades with great results.


You'll also need some sort of record cleaning regimen whether RCM or in the sink by hand, plenty of threads here on the subject. If buying used records be aware visual grading is useless, I've had some that looked pristine but were not so much, and others that looked a lost cause that cleaned up nicely.

It's supposed to be fun so enjoy your journey.

 

[miles2002]

Another possibility is your phono preamp is damaged. if you plugged or unplugged the table (or stylus) with the power on to the pre it could have damaged it. I'm not sure about the pro-ject but other manufactures warn about this.

 

[DavidTT]

After ensuring the stylus is inserted properly into the cartridge and that the tonearm wires appear to be fully connected to the pins on the back of the cartridge, I would suspect the phono preamp of being the problem. I would borrow another phono preamp to insert into the system, or even buy a cheap one from amazon that can be returned if need be. If the phono preamp is not the problem, it's likely the cartridge is bad.

 

[rothwellaudio]

I've plugged my phone into my amp's aux input and the sound is incredible, so I can be sure that the amp and the speakers are not the issue.

Does it sound good when you use another source?

 

[Tetrack]

With the P1 being plug and play, there is not much you can adjust other than alignment. If you've checked the stylus and cartridge wires are ok, then likely the pre-amp is the issue. Do you have any rca audio inputs on any other device, like a desktop or something you could plug it into?