Rega Owner's Thread

[DavidTT]

Nice! We need pics when you have a chance. Also looking forward to impressions of the sound you get from it.

 

[losthorizon]

Nice! We need pics when you have a chance. Also looking forward to impressions of the sound you get from it.

Yes, I will take some photos to show you when it's finished, it's still in pieces at the moment as I'm waiting for the bonding adhesive on the bracing to dry before I assemble it, I'm looking forward to seeing it myself.

 

[Sultan swing]

The Acrylic platter looks better illuminated because the light is diffused more and absorbed instead of being reflected by the glass, That is why I mentioned a laser light as it lights up the platter without it illuminating the room, give it a try and see.

But I don't have an acrylic platter, my RP3 has a stock glass platter, so the laser is not an option.

 

[losthorizon]

I have a Rega RP1. Doesn't get much use nowadays.

 

[losthorizon]

I have just fitted a 24v motor and TTPSU to my RP3 and can't believe how much extra torque this motor has, I'm running twin belts and driving a heavy acrylic platter, but it does not need any help starting up and the speed is spot on.

 

[krautmaster]

Last night I did a blind comparison between my Rega Planar 3 with Exact cartridge and my Rotel CD11 Tribute Edition. I used John Mellencamp's "Lonesome Jubilee" as it it one of my wife's favorite recordings. After playing the song "Check it out" on both the CD and Vinyl, my wife told me she liked the CD better because it sounded like the drummer was right in the room with us while the other was "obviously a recording"... what she didn't know was that it was the Rega she liked better. I next played "Cherry Bomb" and she again said the CD was better, that "it feels lively, like we are listening to it at a live concert"...once again it was the Rega she liked. When I told her it was the turntable she didn't believe me, saying "it can't be, records are scratchy and pop and the player makes all kind of low rumbling noises". I had to eject the CD to prove it was the turntable she liked... she is now making a list of recordings she wants me to buy on vinyl.

BTW, the Rotel CD 11 Tribute is an awesome player, but it can't do magic with over compressed recordings on CDs.

 

[losthorizon]

Does anyone have a problem with KINKY RUBBER?
Let me explain, I have a pair of white rubber belts that I fitted new to a Rega Turntable 2 years ago ( twin pulley setup ) the turntable has not been used since and when I removed them to service the TT I found them both kinked into the shape of the pulleys, now when I run the motor the belts bump around the motor pulley, has anyone else had this problem and is there a way around this?

 

[maxhifi]

Does anyone have a problem with KINKY RUBBER?
Let me explain, I have a pair of white rubber belts that I fitted new to a Rega Turntable 2 years ago ( twin pulley setup ) the turntable has not been used since and when I removed them to service the TT I found them both kinked into the shape of the pulleys, now when I run the motor the belts bump around the motor pulley, has anyone else had this problem and is there a way around this?

The only way around this, is to remove the belts when you expect not to use the turntable for an extended period. This is true of all belt drive turntables regardless of who makes it. Running it a while should help, but really the only solution is to just never let it sit a long time with the belt in one place, and the belts you have now are more or less done for.

 

[DavidTT]

I've read about people boiling turntable belts to 'recondition' them, or freezing them if they've become stretched, but have never tried either. I concur with @maxhifi that running it for several hours may bring an improvement.

 

[losthorizon]

I've read about people boiling turntable belts to 'recondition' them, or freezing them if they've become stretched, but have never tried either. I concur with @maxhifi that running it for several hours may bring an improvement.

I have just found an offer on eBay for two red silicon belts going for £3.50 the pair so I have ordered some,
I want to get this turntable finished but keep hitting snags.

 

[losthorizon]

I have a plinth from an old RP2 that has sat in my garage for some time so I decided to get it out and reuse it, but to my dismay, it had warped into a dip downwards of about 3mm, I told a carpenter friend about it and he said I should place it on a flat surface with the bowed side upward and heat it with a hot air gun, being careful not to burn the surface for about 5mins until it is too hot to touch and then leave it to cool down and the plinth would be flat again, so I tried it and I was amazed but it worked, I have checked it a few times with a steel straight edge and its still flat.

 

[DavidTT]

When the Planar 6 'sagging' threads were raging there was some discussion about the fact that plinths of varying construction can sag over time, so I'm not surprised to hear about your RP2 plinth having done so. Heat, humidity, time.

 

[losthorizon]

When the Planar 6 'sagging' threads were raging there was some discussion about the fact that plinths of varying construction can sag over time, so I'm not surprised to hear about your RP2 plinth having done so. Heat, humidity, time.

My problem may have been due to the garage being a damp environment for an MDF plinth to be stored in, but heating it worked in this case.

 

[DavidTT]

That's neat that you saved it. Enjoy!

 

[losthorizon]

That's neat that you saved it. Enjoy!

I have come up with an idea, I was thinking of covering a plinth in a veneer of some kind to change the look of an old Rega plinth and started to look at what was available and have come across some amazing stuff, its black carbon graphite vinyl covering and its really smart. I have put in an order for some.

 

[losthorizon]

I have just ordered some Carbon fibre vinyl ( the stuff they rap car bodies in ) and I intend to cover an old Rega plinth in it, I have roughed up the service of the plinth to key the surface for the vinyl to adhere to and checked that all is square and true so it is prepared, now just waiting for the stuff to be delivered.

 

[krautmaster]

I received my Parasound JC3 Jr. phono amp this morning (open box special from Safe & Sound - 25% discount). While my Parasound P6 Preamp has a good phono section, it is plain jane vanilla compared to the mocha almond fudge of the JC3 Jr. I only had time to listen to a couple of favorites that I use for comparisons between equipment (side 2 of Mellencamp's Lonesome Jubilee and side 2 of Springsteen's Tunnel of Love) The sound stage is wider but more focused and depth is out of this world, bass is deep and taught, mid range is crystal clear and sweet, highs are marvelous (I'm using the Balanced connections from the JC3 to the P6).

Tomorrow morning I have Dark Side of the Moon and Led Zeppelin 2 in the queue, followed by some Van Morrison and Carol King... them some Vivaldi to finish up.... anyway I'm very pleased with it !

 

[losthorizon]

I received my Parasound JC3 Jr. phono amp this morning (open box special from Safe & Sound - 25% discount). While my Parasound P6 Preamp has a good phono section, it is plain jane vanilla compared to the mocha almond fudge of the JC3 Jr. I only had time to listen to a couple of favorites that I use for comparisons between equipment (side 2 of Mellencamp's Lonesome Jubilee and side 2 of Springsteen's Tunnel of Love) The sound stage is wider but more focused and depth is out of this world, bass is deep and taught, mid range is crystal clear and sweet, highs are marvelous (I'm using the Balanced connections from the JC3 to the P6).

Tomorrow morning I have Dark Side of the Moon and Led Zeppelin 2 in the queue, followed by some Van Morrison and Carol King... them some Vivaldi to finish up.... anyway I'm very pleased with it !

That sounds great, I have a few phono amps that I swap between but have stayed with the "domino" for a while now.

 

[krautmaster]

Dark Side of the Moon sounded sooooooo good I got goosebumps! The jazzy sound on Carol Kings "It's too late" is to die for.... incredible sound from this new phono amp. Only one problem: my rack is now out of room!

 

[seannc]

I received and installed the EBLT reference drive belt on my Planar 3 yesterday. Using my phone app, W&F measured around 0.08-09%. With the old white Rega belt, I never got under 0.2% and was able to hear some sound fluctuations. I think upgrading to this new belt is worth it.