Rega plinth foam?

[kenpoguy]

I don't use a Planar 8 or Planar 10, and even the RP3 I enjoyed for several years was something I gave to a friend before moving to Texas a couple years ago, but you raise an interesting question, not something that would have occurred to me to think about.
One quote about polyurethane foam (not specific to the Tancast 8 used in Rega plinths) said, "PU foams deteriorate rapidly; visible consequences of degradation can appear after 20–30 years of natural degradation. The main visual signs of degradation are discoloration, loss of flexibility, and crumbling, which occur under influence of moisture, heat, and light." With the foam encapsulated with laminate material and used in a home environment, I would think chances for a long life are pretty good. Have you asked Rega if they have any lifespan estimates? The foam material just started being used in Rega turntables about 2017, so not much long-term customer use to be found at this point.

I have not thought to reach out to Rega, Thank you

 

[flavio81]

ables that have tonearm height adjustments, etc. They try and lock you into using only a Rega cart, any other cart is a hassle to set up. Screw Rega!

Not so, Rega sells shims to shim up the arm when going to a taller cart. Requires partial disassembly of the tonearm mount.

However, two things are true too:

1. Most cartridges have similar height, so there's no height adjustment required once you get it right. I would say changing turntable MATs will mess more the height than changing cartridges.

2. To install a shim you just need to remove three screws (the ones that hold the tonearm), raise the tonearm up, insert the shim, then screw the 3 screws again. I agree that an arm with VTA adjustment makes it easy, but it's not like you require a very difficult disassembly

I, too, am frustrated by Rega's refusal to list basic specifications, but I don't believe that "that tells all." I have purchased Rega turntables both for myself and as gifts because at each price point they consistently sound better to me than the competition,

Yes, and the fun thing is, in my view, that this is -at least on the lower levels: P1, P2, P3- all down to the tonearm, which is perhaps the best you can get at that price point.

Turntables like the P1 are basically a very good tonearm coupled to a toy-like, barely-acceptable platter and drive system. Yes, the drive system is dreadful on the P1. The P3 is slightly improved in that regard only because of the glass platter with better mass...

But I can't fault rega for choosing to put most of the manufacturing cost into the tonearm, because IMO it makes total sense.

 

[flavio81]

2) they still insist on mounting the motor on the plinth. Motors make noise and that noise gets amplified thru the phono stage (especially with high gain MC stages). Try running your table with a stethoscope to prove this. Double sided tape or an o ring os not a good way to do this imho. They really need to get the motor off the plinth (one of the best upgrades you can do to a Rega).

Yes, this is really a head-scratcher. A cheap Premotec/etc motor which DOES make noise and vibration, relying only on the compliance of the sticky foam and the plinth mass to dampen vibrations. That's why I said that their drive system (at least on the P1 /P2 level) is toy-like

But again, I think the Rega philosophy is obvious -- put all the money into the tonearm.

 

[KB007]

I can't recall ever hearing an Oracle turntable. A quick search indicates that an Oracle Delphi MkVI costs $9945 without an arm, so perhaps not surprising that it would sound good. More importantly, your post brings up the point that auditioning options, if possible, is always a good idea. One shop I frequented sold both Linn and VPI turntables. Both great companies with great products, but they were of different designs and had different sonic strengths. My ears greatly preferred Linn, but other people were equally adamant in favor of VPI. Some Rega fans told me they'd rather have a Planar 3 than anything from VPI at any price, but that was before the original VPI Scout came out, which even Linn and Rega fans loved. Anyway, I hope kenpoguy has had an opportunity to hear with his own ears whether or not Rega's models at his price points offer the sound his ears like best.

Earlier in the journey, before I did any upgrades the Delphi Mk1 was completely stock. I paid around a grand for it and put an SME 309 on it. At one point I did a comparison of the fully modded P6 and the stock Delphi. They both sounded good and there wasn't much in it sound wise. At the time I prolly had more $$ into the modded P6 than the Delphi. But it did give me pause to realize that modding a Rega will only go so far. It was only a few weeks after that that the Delphi motor died and I decided to go full in on the upgrades.

 

[KB007]

Yes, this is really a head-scratcher. A cheap Premotec/etc motor which DOES make noise and vibration, relying only on the compliance of the sticky foam and the plinth mass to dampen vibrations. That's why I said that their drive system (at least on the P1 /P2 level) is toy-like

But again, I think the Rega philosophy is obvious -- put all the money into the tonearm.

Well... I've used RB300, 330, 700, 900 and 2000 arms. The RB2000 was a pretty good arm, but the lack of adjustments makes it hard to want for me (I sold mine). The rest were kinda meh, tho at the lower end 300/330 they do offer good value, just not stellar performance IMHO.

 

[flavio81]

tho at the lower end 300/330 they do offer good value, just not stellar performance IMHO.

Value is why i rate them as "very good", relative to the price of course.

 

[bonzoro]

If my RP6/8 Clone sound like the original RP6, I can't complain. I couldn't afford a higher end Rega so over 2 years, I started with a plan and started collecting parts. I got a Michael Lim acrylic plinth and support, picked up a 303 tone arm and a Ortofon 2M Black, a delrin platter, a TangoSpinner and a PSU and built my own. It was EASY to build and set up and it sounds beautiful. I got my eye on a NOS in the box Rega Union Jack special edition but being a retiree on military pension and Social Security, it is out of my reach for the time being. I could put it on the credit card and pay for it over a period of 2 years (just like collecting parts for a custom build) but......... I don't see why everybody pisses and moans about this brand of this, this brand of that.... Can you imagine if there were only one brand of equipment??? What the hell would we all do then??? Just enjoy what you got, upgrade when you can, and quit pissing on everybody's choice in gear. I see guys blowing 10K on a turntable..... Now you can laugh because it probably sounds about the same as my FrankenTable........ Be carefull sticking your nose in the air, the rain may fill a void yer not using....

 

[bonzoro]

This is my next as long as nobody has an issue with it.

 

[bonzoro]

If I can flip this one, that RP6 Union Jack is mine.

 

[flavio81]

If I can flip this one, that RP6 Union Jack is mine.

View attachment 2915774

Wow! I want that one!

 

[bonzoro]

Wow! I want that one!

I can deliver

 

[maxhifi]

I've had a PL6 over 2 years, no sag. Love it. Think that was an early production issue. Only "issue", is hum with grado cartridges. So if you insist on using a Grado you might not be happy. All the same it's really just at the end of the last song on an LP, and is minimal. My TD124 and SL1200 collect dust as the Rega gets used.

That union jack RP6 model is old. No foam plinth, it is MDF. The foam models sound better, there's no coloration from the MDF plinth making its way into the sound.

If I came into a pile of money I'd likely stay Rega, but moving up a little in the range.

 

[random name]

So I would like to jump into this older tread as I WAS about to sell my RP3 and buy a new P6. But then I heard about this sagging plinth issue.
From what I can see on line, this all happened several years ago. I can’t find any recent reports about it. Does anyone know, was this corrected by Rega? Was it an over blown incident back then, with a new material being used? Was it a few isolated decks??
I would like to think that it was all a bit exaggerated as there is not any current reports as far as I can tell.
I almost bought it last night and would still like too, but now I’m second guessing it. Maybe I hang on to my RP3 as it is still a great tt.
What have you all heard?

 

[DavidTT]

I've owned a P6 for at least two years now and it shut down my desire to keep trying new turntables once and for all. I also researched the sagging plinth issue before purchase and it appeared to occur in a very small number of instances and Rega made those buyers whole. I've had no issues with my example. The only issue I perceive with Rega is that their US pricing has become very, very high, much higher than their pricing in the UK and Europe.

 

[random name]

Yes, they are not cheap as far as things go. Hence my very recent concerns.
My RP3 has been such a good deck and I do believe in the Rega philosophy but I want to be sure before I plunk down my cash. Being two years from retirement I am hoping for this to be a solid purchase to last me many more years.

I did get a sense that this may have been somewhat isolated and the fact that it has died away since around 2021 may support that theory.
Perhaps Rega has quietly thickened up the outer shell?

 

[maxhifi]

I've had an RP6 for 3 years, no sag.

 

[bonzoro]

So I would like to jump into this older tread as I WAS about to sell my RP3 and buy a new P6. But then I heard about this sagging plinth issue.
From what I can see on line, this all happened several years ago. I can’t find any recent reports about it. Does anyone know, was this corrected by Rega? Was it an over blown incident back then, with a new material being used? Was it a few isolated decks??
I would like to think that it was all a bit exaggerated as there is not any current reports as far as I can tell.
I almost bought it last night and would still like too, but now I’m second guessing it. Maybe I hang on to my RP3 as it is still a great tt.
What have you all heard?

All I heard was BS stories.

 

[random name]

Well I did go ahead and buy the P6. No regrets here. Such a great sounding TT.

 

[DavidTT]

The P6 is a genuinely wonderful turntable and glad to hear you enjoy yours. I love the simplicity, the very high-quality arm, the case of set-up, and am wowed most days I use it by the black quiet of its noise floor. Even very moderate cartridges sing on it. Before I bought the P6 I went through turntables every few months and constantly fiddled with set-up, cartridges, phono stages, etc. Once I bought the P6 all of that disappeared. It's been a peace-of-mind maker for me.

 

[Tonoje]

Before I bought the P6 I went through turntables every few months and constantly fiddled with set-up, cartridges, phono stages, etc. Once I bought the P6 all of that disappeared.

Good that you found a turntable you're satisfied with, but going through turntables, carts, and phono stages every few months is hardly the standard experience. We can't know what it was about those turntables that fell short, or what models you tried. Surely there are many people who are equally happy with their turntables...that aren't a P6.