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Please help with my new rega setup!

A few years ago, I had a Rega RP 6 that I bought new. The stock cartridge was bad. It sounded like the worst inner groove distortion you could imagine. I called the dealer and returned the cartridge to Rega. They sent out a replacement cartridge and all was well. If you bought the table new, get in touch with the dealer or Rega.
 
A few years ago, I had a Rega RP 6 that I bought new. The stock cartridge was bad. It sounded like the worst inner groove distortion you could imagine. I called the dealer and returned the cartridge to Rega. They sent out a replacement cartridge and all was well. If you bought the table new, get in touch with the dealer
Didn't buy it new but I can always get a replacement cartridge I don't think they're all that expensive.
Did you move the phono stage from off the top of the Amp yet?
Yes I've moved the phono stage but it hasn't made any difference unfortunately
 
Didn't buy it new but I can always get a replacement cartridge I don't think they're all that expensive.

Yes I've moved the phono stage but it hasn't made any difference unfortunately

If the age and wear of the stylus is unknown then I suggest getting a replacement before it damages your records.
 
I was never really happy with the Rega cart (Elys 2) that I bought to put on my P3-24 when I had it. I moved on to a Goldring Eroica LX and was stunned by the improvement...mind you...it was more than double the cost.
 
I had whatever the base model Rega was before I got my Planar P3, I thought the Rega Carbon cartridge sounded great. I agree that the OP's unit should be "plug and play," shove the counterweight up to the stop, take the guard off the stylus (if any) and nice noise should come out! I vote for a phono preamp problem...and still would like to see photos to insure his wiring is correct. His amp seems to have all high-level inputs, so a preamp is needed.

Sorry @priceybadger if we are sounding harsh, but we're all trying to get you up and running, there aren't many things it could be with your symptoms. Did you purchase the preamp new?

Edit: BTW, that little doodad you are holding in #12 is the stylus, it fits into the phono cartridge. If original to the turntable, the stylus should probably say REGA Carbon on its front...to get that specific particular stylus may be overly expensive (as Rega branded) but an Audio Technica branded stylus for a 3600 will work as well (A/T is the manufacturer of the cart for Rega).
 
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I had whatever the base model Rega was before I got my Planar P3, I thought the Rega Carbon cartridge sounded great. I agree that the OP's unit should be "plug and play," shove the counterweight up to the stop, take the guard off the stylus (if any) and nice noise should come out! I vote for a phono preamp problem...and still would like to see photos to insure his wiring is correct. His amp seems to have all high-level inputs, so a preamp is needed.

Sorry @priceybadger if we are sounding harsh, but we're all trying to get you up and running, there aren't many things it could be with your symptoms. Did you purchase the preamp new?

He's just revealed the table was purchased used.
 
Yes, got that, but the preamp itself? Don't know if he bought his equipment piecemeal or all together. I am hoping he just has a bad preamp...
 
No intent to be harsh on my part, and I certainly don't think anyone else came close. We could have asked directly about new vs. secondhand, though some direct questions in the thread have gone unanswered. The P1 and its cartridge are current models, and the OP mentioned his new setup (and expense), so in the absence of other information, it wasn't unreasonable to go with the assumption that he was dealing with a new P1 and cart.

With what is now mentioned, there is the possibility, unless I've missed something in the thread, that

1. just the cart is secondhand
2. the cart and turntable are secondhand
3. everything is secondhand

If the cart isn't new, we don't know who fitted it, or whether they fitted it properly. Nor do I know how accustomed Priceybadger is to setting one up or checking it. It does, to me, widen the possibility of problems having crept in at that end, even though the P1 (new) is billed as plug and play. But of course the possibility of a dodgy phono pre is also increased, if that too is secondhand.

Multimeters are so cheap these days that I'd strongly recommend one to anyone at any experience level as a helpful tool to have around. And if I could go back to advise myself at the time of my first separates turntable purchase 20+ years ago, I'd insist on the items mentioned by Sgt Schultz, plus meter, plus a second, cheap phono pre. and a second, cheap cartridge. They're always useful for a bit of troubleshooting, and more so for those who have or plan to have or might one day conceivably have a second turntable, and then a third, and so on...
 
Ahh, used turntable with a used cartridge! Since you can get good aftermarket stylus for that cartridge cheap I would start troubleshooting with replacing the stylus.
 
Unrelated to the problem being addressed: I notice that your speaker wiring appears to be reversed polarity......check the back of your Cambridge to see if that black wire is going to the positive. If so, then it's just the colors that are not matching the polarity, i.e. red usually goes to positive terminals and black to negative when used together in a pair. Check your other channel as well.

Now, unplug your turntable RCA outputs from the phono preamp and plug them directly into that input on the rear of the Cambridge that is marked MP3/Aux. Does the sound change? Remain the same? If it remains the same, your phono preamp is likely at fault as it is not applying the increased volume (gain) and something called the RIAA curve which is needed for things to sound as they should. If it changes tell us how......the sound should be very weak and tinny as you have described in your first post. This is just a check to see if the phono preamp is doing what it should or not.

Beyond that, you've likely already tried a different set of RCA cables from your phonostage to your Cambridge, right? If not, do so to see if that changes things. Not likely because if there is a problem with these, it's not as common for it to be with both channels, usually just one but I have seen it happen that both are bad.

.....and, I think you've already tried it, but plug the RCAs from the phonostage into the CD input on the Cambridge and tell us what changes.

Now, you've covered the gamut of likely problems/easy fixes and if all remains the same, time to think about the cartridge end as others have mentioned, the wires there and even the RCAs coming out of the turntable.

It can be frustrating when things don't work right, but rest assured.....there is an explanation for what is going on and you will find it as you keep digging. Then you will be able to enjoy your setup as intended! Keep us posted amigo......

PS - When examining the cartridge end of things, I would start by looking at the colors of the wires and making sure they are going to the right posts on the rear of your cartridge. It would appear that, when looking at the rear of the cartridge, the RED wire should be going to the top right post, the WHITE wire to the top left post, the GREEN wire to the bottom right post and the BLUE wire to the bottom left post. Make sure they fit snugly and if not, adjust accordingly.

Also, get rid of any ground wires you have attached for the time being except the one from the turntable to the phonostage, assuming that one is a Rega wire that is part of the wires coming out of the turntable. That is not likely related to the problem, although if the cartridge wires aren't attached properly it might be causing issues on top of issues which are BIGGER issues..... :no:
 
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@priceybadger , if you would, humor me here...follow your wires back to the turntable...I know, they are probably hard-wired into the underside...then follow those back to the preamp, unplug them, and then show us a picture of them (include the body of the plugs), the cable that is attached permanently to your turntable. Thanx!
 
Everything starts with the vinyl, so one must ask what condition the records are in. Are they all used with unknown origin or new? If all are used this could be your issue.

If some are new and still an issue the next step in the chain is the stylus. Is it new? Well we now know it's not with no way of telling it's condition short of sending it to a re-tipper for evaluation or purchasing the proper equipment for such along with attaining the knowledge of what to look for.

This gives you somewhere to start. If even new records are an issue then replace the stylus, it's cheap and needs to be replaced anyway since it's usage is unknown.
 
Hey @priceybadger......something is bugging me about the cartridge connections. In your first post, you show the second picture of your turntable and I can just barely make out the wires but something seems off! From this picture, and as I said it's not clear (please shoot a picture of the rear of your cartridge just as it is now connected) but it would appear you have the WHITE wire connected to the top right and the RED wire connected to the top left posts when viewed from the rear. The GREEN wire looks like it might be going to the bottom right, which is where it is supposed to go and I can't see the BLUE wire but assume it is going to the bottom left post. IF SO, THIS IS YOUR PROBLEM!!! YOU HAVE YOUR WIRES SWITCHED, WHICH WILL RESULT IN SOME VERY STRANGE NOISES AND LIKELY OF THE KIND YOU ARE DESCRIBING.

So, kindly pull the RED and WHITE wires and put them where they belong and report back (if indeed I am seeing this correctly on a picture that admittedly leaves a lot to be desired to make this assessment).

Again, as viewed from the rear:

RED - top right post
WHITE - top left post
GREEN - bottom right post
BLUE - bottom left post
 
My apologies @Tonoje , I should not have painted with a such a broad brush and said "Sorry if I am sounding harsh..."

Not at all, in light of your comment, I figured what I said could be taken that way. But really, I was just trying to nudge the OP. I think he tried to give pretty full information in his first post, but overlooked the importance of that specific point, or thought it would be inferred.
 
pull the RED and WHITE wires and put them where they belong

Good call! I never thought to see if the bird's eye view showed a problem.

For OP:


Whether this is your problem or not, when troubleshooting you definitely need to check that the headshell wires are correctly connected to the corresponding pin on the cartridge body. Miswiring the cartridge is a common error, and it will bugger the sound. It's one of the checks suggested in this thread that can be done quickly, visually, and without the need for spares, rebuying anything, or using test tools. It should be near (if not at) the top of the checklist, every time.
 
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Rega Carbon output = 2.5 mV
Phono Box output (MM) = 3.0 mV

Some compatibility issues here but not huge; make sure phono box is set to MM not MC
 
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