Tour of My Rega Turntable & Modifications Part 2

Here is the second part of the video which I had to split into two
parts due to the limits on my upload length. If you have made it thus
far through my rambling and are watching part 2, thanks. Hope the
information is useful and I have one more useful link to share on the
Audiomods tonearm.
Audiomods:
www.audiomods.c...

[@newenglandartiste]

I'm going to do the sub platter change. Thanks for the video. Another improvement for my Rega P-25 planar was using a floating or levitation base under it called a "Relaxa 1" made by SAP. If you haven't heard of it. It minimizes vibrations or resonates at 2Hz by use of magnets poles. When I first bought it I noticed the sound became cleaner, more detail and the soundstage was deeper, wider, more focused, bass was tighter. They're worth checking out. Makes a noticeable upgrade.

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks for the comment! If there is a weak point to my system, it's what I have my Turntable on which is a piece of Ikea furniture. Far from optimal! I'll have to look into the Relaxa 1.

[@kevinl6231]

It is now 2020 and I just got a P3 (in red). I haven’t brought it home from the shop because I’m awaiting a cartridge - and dang, I’m wanting to make mods already! Thanks for the video.

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks Kevin. Enjoy the journey! The upgrade path is a fun one and is an advantage for owning a Rega.

[@dewasealamtunggal7843]

Get a exact +schiit mani 2=ohsemmmmmm

[@VinylRescue]

Great video. For those of us who have Android phones the equivalent app is RPM Calculator. Tested it on my Audio-Technica AT-LP120 and it's right on cue!

[@BarakaPDub]

Cool. I will have to try that one. I would expect the Audio Technica to be pretty steady. Thank you for watching.

[@esp8620]

Yes, people are still watching this 6 years later.. well done!.. did most of the mods a few years ago.. still have hum.. even upgraded the power supply to the latest iteration.. any of those upgrades will improve the sound.. best was Dynaudio Contour Speakers.. it all sounds so good.. will look at the feet tho.. I've got the inverted V set as on the video.. sitting on Vibropods (that helped)

[@BarakaPDub]

Yes. Speakers are really were I recommend people go first to get the best sound. That's one area no one should skimp on. Thanks for watching ESP.

[@NawMan357]

This is all part of a music lovers' journey! Thanks for sharing!👍🏾

[@BarakaPDub]

I continue to have fun with it. Thanks M Slaw.

[@andyjack1942]

Thought I'd mention; best modification I've heard in my vinyl rig was putting it on a wall shelf. Was like getting a different turntable.

[@BarakaPDub]

Putting in a dedicated wall shelf does wonders with the isolation. If I buy a new house with a little more space, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

[@diogoalfaiate5253]

Hello and thank you for the wonderful video on all those mods! Been planning to do some of those on my P3 as well. I know this video is 5 years old and I apologize if I’m about to say something other people have already mentioned, but: 1. The stand you put the Rega on looks like it’s from Ikea. That’s a huge resonance box you got there! The biggest and most important mod you should try is to get your turntable on a solid, levelled stand. I assume you know this because you put a glass top underneath the Rega but I don’t think that’s enough... 2. You’re right about the shielding on the Rega preamp but any preamp you place near the stylus or tubes will hum. Just my 2cents! Hope you’re still enjoying your kit!

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks Diogo. 1. Yes, you're correct but with the wife factor and my home it's hard to make a compromise. Ideally, I would have it wall mounted to get good isolation from the rest of the system. 2. Yes, you want the preamps as far as way as possible but even more so, the poorly designed Rega TT PSU. Even their lastest version didn't totally eliminate the problem.

[@sammaniatis7039]

Excellent videos Paul. I also followed Ipman suggestion for the hum issue, I would recommend also running a ground wire from the TT to your amp.

[@HiViNywschannel]

Hello brother! Great useful AND interesting video!!! Nice meeting you on youtube! I have just subscribed to your channel too!

[@garth56]

100 things to say but nobody would listen..My TT costs x10 of yours but I look back in fondness of this because this is where I started..nice video I wish some of this was available when I bought my first P3

[@BarakaPDub]

There is another KZbinr (HiViNyws) that has commented much the same. If you haven't caught his channel, I recommend it. He has one of the higher end Avid tables but commented to me that he is very content with his secondary deck, a Technics SL1200. Someday I do want to go to a different and higher priced deck but I am just having too much fun tweaking this one and sharing the experience for others. As for the sound, I can't complain. Thanks for watching and for the comment.

[@dixielandfarm]

Very nice part two - while speed is running fast isn't ideal, steadiness is - it drove me crazy when I was listening to saxophone and caused me to tear down the whole motor assembly and recap it. Lovely table, very envious!

[@dsonyay]

The leads are very well made on Planar 3 and 6. I have no issue with their grounding method.

[@BarakaPDub]

I put in an order for an AudioMods tonearm. If everything turns out well, I hope to do a video on it.

[@Richardgeohar]

The ground wire, as integrated into the phono cable is designed primarily for use with Rega amps. It works very well in this scenario, but is sub optimal for use with other amplifier manufacturers.

[@BarakaPDub]

Interesting. I take it you have a Rega Amp? I guess I am not surprised since the tone arm is designed for Rega carts.

[@Richardgeohar]

Yes, I have a Brio-R and when I was using the inbuilt phono stage I never had an issue with static. Now that I am testing stand alone phono stages I hear, and sometimes feel a crack of electricity when I touch the tonearm after a side has played. This is in spite of grounding the phono stage to the heavy brass base of the bearing assembly on my P3. This has been the case with all phono stages that I have tried so far (Project tube box S, Rega Phono MM and a home made MM only stage with heavy external power supply). The DIY phono stage was made by a friend and honestly, it beats the Rega with ease. It sounds different to the Project but equal overall. Any advice on better grounding would be gratefully received!

[@joemartin6439]

I love your tone and effort. I made a sandbox for my Dual 1229 and a Funk carbon component patter mate. Plus I stopped hum I did not attach the floating the neutrals to the RCA’s at the turntable. Ran a ground to earth and have zero hum now.

[@BarakaPDub]

Running the ground to earth will really send that hum to zero. I wish Rega would devote their energies to eliminating this completely but I am not sure they seem to care which is a frustration I have with the company.

[@TD402dd]

You might try at 19mm-26mm acylic platter with indention for record label. The sound improvement is extensive with the record lying on the acrylic. I rewired my tone arm with better wires and connectors, but I also rewired the ground to the blue wire which works well. The new RCA cables are better made with gold plated connectors. It isn't easy to take the arm apart and put it back together properly, so be warned. You will be soldering very fine wire, so if you aren't experienced, maybe by the cable, cardas, and tone wires already built for you.

[@BarakaPDub]

It's the soldering that keeps me away from the wiring upgrade path. While I do have some soldering experience, I am too much of a novice and I concerned about screwing up my tone arm.

[@drewturner9504]

Great video. Very informative. About to buy an Rp6 and the Groovetracer Delrin Platter, Reference Subplatter and Counter weight

[@BarakaPDub]

+Drew Turner Cool. Glad to hear you're picking up the Groovetracer upgrades right off the bat. I promise you won't be disappointed. The RP6 table is great out of the box as my local dealer has them and I have been impressed. The Groovetracer products should take it to a whole new level. Please let me know what you think of it when you get everything hooked up.

[@drewturner9504]

Will do. Enjoy your videos very much.Keep them coming !

[@asglovere]

Great videos on these mods. I had two P3-24s that had the same issue with buzzing, but some carts were less than others. I don't understand why they don't just include a grounding wire!

[@BarakaPDub]

Andy Glover No kidding. It's one of my biggest annoyances with the Rega designs. It honestly wouldn't take that much to separate out the ground wire and I am surprised they don't do it.

[@asglovere]

***** If you do try to rewire your Rega arm, be careful with bumping it. One of my RB300s ended up with a misaligned bias magnet and I had to get it repaired before I sold it.

[@thejonathandoan]

Just downloaded the Android version of that RPM app. So cool!! Thanks for making me aware of it! Now I have to see if I can actually adjust the speed of my old Pioneer PL-15D-II ...

[@BarakaPDub]

kodiakthejuggler Glad the information was useful and thanks for watching.

[@timinno]

Would you consider doing some "Beginner Guide" videos to turn tables, HI-FI setups and vinyl collecting (things like looking after your vinyl…what to look out for when purchasing vinyl)? I've been considering purchasing the Rega RP1 Performance as an starter setup.

[@BarakaPDub]

+timinno RP1 would definitely be a good place to start. Not that I am turning down your request for a video or videos but what you're asking is pretty involved ;) There have been a number of videos done on the topic but everyone has their own personal slant on the topic. My personal recommendation for someone just getting into the hobby would be to start with the book High Performance Audio Systems by Robert Harley. This books is the best starting point and is aimed for all kinds of budgets. If you delve into some of my earliest videos from last year, I do feature three books on the topic including the one I have referenced. What kind of gear do you have right now?

[@timinno]

Thanks very much for the reply, I shall check your videos out on the books! At the moment I just stream music on a very standard bluetooth wireless speaker. I've been thinking about getting a proper hi-fi setup with a turntable for a while.

[@BarakaPDub]

A proper hi-fi setup will change your perspective. I can't recommend it enough.

[@jwglista]

I would recommend checking out some other phono preamps as a future upgrade. I tried a Bellari VP130 with my new RP3, and the hum was horrible. I thought it was the turntable or cartridge. Swapped out the Bellari for a reasonably-priced Vincent PHO-8 and I couldn't be happier. I'm currently dealing with a channel imbalance issue with the Elys cartridge, but my dealer is sending me out a replacement.

[@BarakaPDub]

+John Glista Thanks for the comment. Since I did this video, I ditched my Bellari. I didn't feel it was all that bad as a starter but I wanted to move to something that would be a little bit higher grade. I do like some of the Vincent designs in that they decouple the power supply from the phono amplification. That definitely helps with lowering the noise floor. It's good that the dealer is sending you a replacement on the cart.

[@proteus1]

What about polystyrene from packaging would that be good for stopping vibrations?

[@stevenmbell]

Paul I didn't remember this one till I had finish my other post. You can slow your Table by wrapping 1 lair of electrical tape around you big Pulley. Then check your speed it should be right on. If you don't like simply remove the tape. It will slow the Table by .02 or .03 RPM's Peace again!

[@BarakaPDub]

Vinyl Therapy & Audio Thanks. I had thought about that but given my trebling hands...I could never be a surgeon...I am concerned about getting it on their uniformly. I think I can really screw up the eccentricity. That said, it I might give it a try on my stock sub platter that I changed it out with some time ago. I am okay with getting tape residue on that guy. :)

[@JodieAndOlivia]

:) Im running two Rega Planner 3's with RB300 arms Both Ive owned over 28 years, get used on a daily basis, Ive only killed one motor and about 6 rubber belts everything else Ive had no problems with. other then Stylus's obviously My next upgrade would be a re-wire on one of the RB 300 arms as it has started losing a channel due to wear and tear, though I really can't complain after nearly 30 years of use, this is something I'd like having a go at doing myself

[@BarakaPDub]

+J Diffo Good luck on that and it's good you got a second table. I looked at a rewire but I don't trust my soldering skills to that degree. That said, I really would love to do it just to get a dedicated ground wire.

[@19Peace69]

Great video. I've been contemplating on planning the upgrade for the sub platter on my 2016 P1. I'm aware that it's the entry level Rega and not sure if it would be very convenient.

[@BarakaPDub]

It's actually pretty easy to do and there are other companies putting out the subplatter up grad so if you search around, you might find a deal.

[@TheOritek]

Nice mods.I have the P3-24 with the same Groovetracer sub-platter and the original glass platter. The platter "rings" but it is very effectively tamed with a thin wool mat (I think I got if off MMF2.2). The bass was "wooly" with 3mm Herbie foam mat and got much tighter with the cheap mat. I found the Michelle clamp useless on any table that I tried it. The bass loses definition. Maybe it works on their own table but not on my Rega. Generally the Rega concept of a rigid unsuspended plinth is just cost-reduction. A good isolation bass is the number one tweak. The RB301 tonearm on my deck has a flimsy anti-skating but it works. No high-end finesse there... With all these tweaks the table outperforms a Sonographe SG3 and Kenwood KD-770. It has potential!

[@BarakaPDub]

Nice deck TheOritek. I haven't had to much trouble with my Michel clamp and I really use it to better bond the LP to the platter. I get frustrated with warped vinyl and so many new records are not pressed properly and the clamp helps to minimize the warps a bit. I just wish the motor could handle an outer ring clamp.

[@jeffro7p202]

i know this is an old post but nice tt. my denon dp 62l runs at 33.5 rpm .personaly i dont think i would be able to tell the difference between 33.1/3 and 33.5 plus it stays at exactly 33.5 and doesnt fluctuate at all so i wont mess with it.

[@BarakaPDub]

I hear you. If you're happy with it don't change a thing. 33.5 could be picked up be discerning musicians but most probably wouldn't pick up on it. Good comment though.

[@jwester7009]

I had a Systemdeck turntable. I found an improvement if I dismounted the motor from the chassis and placed it on something else just about a millimeter below the chassis. The fact that the motor vibrations no longer made its way directly into the rest of the turntable gave me an improvement in the sound quality. I don't know if that tweak is possible with the Rega? But if it is I think it's worth trying.

[@BarakaPDub]

It sure is Mr. Wester. Michael Lim has a modification which mounts the motor on a separate base he designed. I hope to pick that one up in the future but it should reduce the noise even further for the reasons you described.

[@scottgates601]

Hey, i see that you have a michell record clamp, ive got a stock Rega RP6 (exact cartridge) and was wondering whether the michell clamp would work as the rega's spindle is quite short, any ideas ? thanks in advance !

[@BarakaPDub]

Scott Gates Michell does supposedly make a clamp specific to Rega's short spindle. I haven't tried it tough. I picked up my clamp after replacing my subplatter. You can pick up the short spindle version of the clamp through Music Direct's website.

[@georgedoughly8682]

I have a P3 and was just wondering the same thing when I saw the Michell record clamp.

[@leyland9999]

If you can, go for a good unit from the old style SL-1200. I do not say the new one isn't good, because it IS good, but the new one comes at a price. I paid 400 euros per unit in 2009 for the SL-1200 MkII. A battered ex-dj unit sells for that much these days. Because it can be brought back to its original performances if given in capable hands that do the restoration depending on the state of the unit. The new one costs around 2000euros. Sure, there are improvements made but would you pay that much more for it?

[@BarakaPDub]

That's definitely a fair point. There is a guy in the Houston area that is doing refurbs of older units and they can be picked up for around $600 which isn't too bad.

[@vcp93]

Paul, which Groovetracer subplatter did you get? Looks like there are three models. Cheers!

[@BarakaPDub]

At the time I got mine, there were only two. I went with the one that had the Delrin dots on top of the platter. I personally liked the ideal of Delrin to Delrin contact.

[@MISHA12314]

One of the biggest, and definitely the cheapest upgrade i'v made to a Rega 2 TT and arm is changing out the ball under the sub-platter. My cats stole the original. What I used to replace it was the el cheapo ceramic nitrile balls on E-bay at maybe $1 each. Just fish out the old steel ball, and drop the ceramic one in. If you don't like what it does, replace it with the original. I can't understand why Rega doesn't supply these with the turntables. I'd bet most of the improvement by changing out the sub-platter assembly is supplied simply by changing the little ball to ceramic.

[@BarakaPDub]

The ball bearing does make a big impact. Depending on the ceramic used, you are correct in that it should have an improvement over the steel since it is harder and acts better in compression. The other challenge is the material compatibility and finish.

[@TheJazzHog]

Thanks for your feed back. I could do more on the price. I was trying not to go crazy because my next question is phono preamp. So if I go for to mofi or a higher end Rega suggestion on the pre amp? I am amazed the feet are that important. Crazzzy!

[@BarakaPDub]

Another good question which depends on how much you want to spend. Honestly, having experienced several Pre-Amps, I can't recommend the Schitt Mani enough. The Schitt runs rings around all of the Rega Pre-Amps that are below a grand and it only runs $129. Plus it has the capability of supporting MM and MC carts. This is something Rega and many others cannot do below $500. The Mofi Pre-amp did impress me when I heard it. It's bit more than the Schitt but it does both MM and MC as well. Everyone loves tube pre-amps but my experience is most of them are not that great below the $1000 price point.

[@TheJazzHog]

I just hooked up the MANI and i can tell a difference but not exactly sure what all i can hear. the first thing that is obvious between the REGA Fono mini is that the MANI has a lower volume or i have to turn my volume up higher. the other thing is the top end does not seem as harsh. still trying to figure it out. you had mentioned that the MOFI turntable was a good choice instead of the lower end REGA. do you have that same opinion if it were a Planar 6 ? i really appreciate your opinion and help. Mark

[@TheJazzHog]

I just listened to my new mofi ultradeck and mofi phono amp and love it. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@LastBankJob]

Thanks, both videos were helpful.

[@flyingjeff1984]

I know this is old but I may not be the only one watching. At around 4:15, if a mod comes in for a specific model and the screws don't work, send it back. It's a sure sign the "designer" threw some crap in a box.

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks for putting in the tip.

[@markgallagher0000]

and down the rabbit hole we go

[@BarakaPDub]

Yeah...Rega's have so many damn mods out there. Several new ones have dropped since I did these videos.

[@stephenlegg262]

@@BarakaPDub I agree. Never ending.

[@Vic-ng8if]

Good video mate. Which cartridge do you use BTW?

[@BarakaPDub]

Thank you Vic 2%. So I've used several. When I first started out, I used an Ortofon 2M Black but I have also used Nagaoka MP-110 which I did a review on, and a Dynavector XX-2.

[@TheJazzHog]

Paul, I am thinking about upgrading my turntable. I have a Fluance RT85, it has the acrylic platter and a 2M blue cart. I paid around 500 for it and I have been pleased with it but you don’t know what you don’t know..right. I have been thinking about a Rega, my budget is around a grand. Would you recommend the Rega or is their a better option for my price range?

[@BarakaPDub]

Hello Mark. You're asking a very good question and it's a challenging one. Is your budget exactly $1000 or can you get it up to $1200? The reason why I ask is because I would honestly go for a Mofi Studio Deck if I could. At exactly $1000 you can get the deck itself but the down side is that the base model does not include a dust cover. Mofi charges an additional $200 for the dust cover which is a bit silly, if you ask me. Why would I choose Mofi over Rega P3 which is in a similar price range? I think you're getting a better value for $1200. Mofi offers you a better motor (more torque for a record weight) and a Delrin Platter. I also know Mofi's stock sub platter is far better than Rega. The Mofi also gives you the ability to upgrade your turntable feet down the road. The P3 goes for $1145 and for my Rega, I had to buy my Delrin platter as an after market mod. Rega has many upgrade paths if you want to hot rod it but if you don't care to do that, then I would for for a Mofi or even a Technics SL-1500C. I would not go for a Pro-Ject at all in that price range. Hope this helps little and bear in mind, this is just my opinion.

[@75Krusty]

Thanks for the video. BTW, I have an older Rega Planar with a bit of damaged arm lifter (the small metal stick to lift the pickup). Is that possible to fix (DIY with some solderdering skills), or do I need to hand it to some more experienced repair shop? BTW the arm lifter are intact. It just don't lift the pickup up, when I move the arm lifter.

[@BarakaPDub]

I've never took the lifter apart but I would assume it's possible. I would dig around on the vinylengine website to see if someone has taken a crack at it. I'm betting there's someone that's hacked it.

[@mccarthyd6603]

Why does the Rega Planar 1-3 come with such generic RCA cables? This is one of the reasons I am on the fence....the cables you are using seem like a big upgrade. Is there a way to add upgrades without having to sodder? Again as always...great video!

[@BarakaPDub]

Good question. My planar now is a decade old and at the time the cables were well built. I can't speak to the newer models though. I know Rega is constantly looking for where they can save on production costs and they've continually gotten cheaper. You might want to ask Ian at HiVynwys. He's played and owns some of the newer Rega decks.

[@stevenmbell]

Paul Have you ever heard of RCA Caps? They are metal caps that cover unused RCA jacks on your PreAmp or receiver. I use them and have never had any RFI or EMI problems. And it seems that everyone using the SpeedBox on the ProJect or Music Hall Turntables have feedback. I am telling you it has worked for me and it is a very cheap mod if you stay away from the Cardas or Audio Quest brands. I use Audio Additive brand at $2.00 per set. Cardas are about $60 for twelve. I also use them on all my Components and they clear up the sound quite a bit. Give them a try. I have the SpeedBox and a Cambridge Audio Phono PreAmp hooked up to my Table. Black as Black can be backgrounds.Peace My Friend!

[@BarakaPDub]

Vinyl Therapy & Audio You're actually bringing this up at an opportune time since I am close to doing a video on a new mod which I hope to have out soon. Rega's hum really comes from the motor the use a lack of appropriate grounding. Not just in the wire but in the Power Supply. An upgraded power supply did remove the hum but not completely as I am pretty sure the Rega RCA Cables are suspect given the design. I do have RCA caps on all of my RCA outlets/inlets and I do agree with your comments the Audio Additives brand. I have tried them and Audio Quest. Audio Quest's are a little more sturdy but I found the Audio Additives to give the best bang for the buck.

[@stevenmbell]

That's why I brought it up. In the Project's when you upgrade the power supply. SpeedBox is a quartz Locked Power supply.The other culprit is your Cartridge. They pick up all kinds of Hum if not grounded well.Your IC's shouldn't be the problem.Even cheap IC's are pretty immune to EMI. EMI gets in any place that is not covered by metal.IE your IC's, Cart. Do you run a Power Conditioner? They are outstanding for getting rid of EMI. You should talk with Paul McGowan the founder of PS Audio or Steven Hoffman the man when it comes to recording Music at QRP. They have both taught me more in one sitting than I learned in years of doing this on My own.Paul is a great guy and very approachable. He loves talking Audio.

Thanks for the great presentation, a decent channel too. I'm not so proud over my REGA Planar 2, as good as new with Bias 2 pickup. It's my second TT and good enough for old vinyl listening at 2 grams pressure. As main TT I use a SENTEC base, Technics based - swedish 70's made with separate power supply, equipped with SME Series IIIs arm and ADC XLM Mk III. A turntable which has it all what REGA misses. It means a perfect sound picture, channel balance, no W&F, ground noise etc. A real earsopener, so to speak. REGA is too high priced and troublesome for that kind of money plus a lot more for upgrades available which is the twice the TT price. According mine judgement is REGA not much better choice than DUAL 505 Mk III, even better in many cases, at least problems with balance and noise are gone.

[@BarakaPDub]

If you have a SME Series III arm, then you're off to a great start. I have never seen a SENTEC before but if it is based of a Technics then you have a turntable that's built like a tank. In other words, built for years and years of use.

[@bugleboy5]

The SME and ADC carts are what makes that table, though. My Dual 504 is good. Old school, and still runs. But, my Rega sounds better fitted with a 2M Bronze. My Dual has a vintage AT155 Line Contact on Boron cantilever.

[@schombergas]

Have you looked at the SRM/Tech Silent base? I have one along with the same platter and sub-platter, the dual belt, two white Rega belts, and a music hall cruise control on a Planar3 with AC motor, sounds amazing!

[@BarakaPDub]

I haven't tried that one and I am not sure I am even familiar with it. Can I asked where you picked it up? I am always thinking about where I want to go next with this turntable.

[@schombergas]

BarakaPDub They are out of UKsrm-tech.co.uk/epages/4c008923-2265-416e-a207-cc9dd8b06028.mobile/?ObjectPath=/Shops/4c008923-2265-416e-a207-cc9dd8b06028. I think they sell on ebay, I ordered directly from them.

[@BarakaPDub]

Wow! That's pretty cool. I didn't know about their mods at all. Thanks for the link!

[@schombergas]

BarakaPDub My pleasure, have fun!

[@fedrichorlandineumann3062]

Hi Paul It's difficult remote the original bring wheight?? Do you suggest this up grading.thank you

[@BarakaPDub]

I do recommend the upgrade if you can swing it. That one isn't too expensive and is not so invasive to make.

[@fedrichorlandineumann3062]

@@BarakaPDub grazie mille a Kiss from Italy

[@glennconatser6255]

Hi Paul. Great videos on the Rega. I tried a P3 a couple of years ago but had a hum issue coming from the motor. So I ended up with a Pro-ject 1Xpression Carbon Classic instead. I wish companies offered the upgrade options the Rega's offer considering Pro-ject popularity. Is there a video of the rest of your system ? Would love to see the rest of your setup.

[@BarakaPDub]

Sorry Glenn...I had to laugh because as your comment came in, I posted a video that covered my system. I have always been reluctant to do one but if you're curious you can see what I am currently using in that video. I hear you on the hum. If I were Rega, that is the first thing I would resolve in the design. Clearly, they know it's an issue but they haven't taken any steps to resolve it.

[@glennconatser6255]

@@BarakaPDub Thank's for the reply. I caught your video today and enjoyed it quite a bit. Nice setup by the way.

[@silverado884]

Do you feel that you get a sound improvement using the clamp? How well does it flatten out warps and do you use the felt washer? I have the same subplatter you have and was thinking about getting one. I know Mitchell makes one for regas like you have and another for other tables. I wonder if it would be better to get the latter since I have changed out subplatters or does it really make a difference.

[@BarakaPDub]

Good questions. Sound improvement, to be perfectly honest, it's marginal or subtle here and there. I really got it to couple good with the platter but I don't think the sound improvements were super dramatic. I don't use the felt washer as I have a very thin piece of cork from an old cork mat that I use. I do use it almost continuously out of habit though. In terms of warps, it's good with records that are dished but doesn't help with records that have an edge warp. If you changed the subplatter, don't go with the Rega one, go with the regular one. Hope that helps.

[@silverado884]

I have a few records that you can see a warp on part of it on one side , but when you flip it over it is pretty flat. From what you say a clamp probably would not help. Thanks for your answer. I like to check things out pretty good before I spend the money.

[@BarakaPDub]

No problem. I would rather give an honest opinion and save people money versus a dishonest one.

[@dsonyay]

PDubs... You didn't mention your cartridge.. which is it? Why'd you choose it? How did you deal with VTA?

[@BarakaPDub]

At the time I made this video, I think I was using an Ortofon 2M Black. With that and consulting with Music Direct when I first bought the table, they recommended a 2mm shim.

[@BarakaPDub]

On why I chose the 2M Black, it was because of the nude shibata stylus which is one of the better geometries for information retrieval. The down side though is that it's pretty finicky on dust or any minor debris ;) All my LPs are kept pretty clean but this stylus still managed to find some grime.

[@dsonyay]

@@BarakaPDub Did you install the spacer .. or use without one? Curious because on my Planar 2 I have a Nagaoka and even though there is a difference between cartridge heights, it's minimal. a few people say a spacer should be used.. and one in particular tested with and without and found no noticable difference (the guy that sent you the MP110 and phono preamp)

[@dsonyay]

@@BarakaPDub I've read really good reviews on Shibata style tips. I'm glaf you enjoy the cartridge. By the way.. how about a little background on your KZbin name? :)

[@tenorman2764]

Great video. I'm considering the new P3 version and doing Groovetracer mods . Thoughts ? Thanks again for the excellent videos

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks for the comment. I think it's a good way to go and cheaper than starting out with a P6.

[@tenorman2764]

You've probably already answered this question many times previously so excuse me for any repetition , but how close in performance do you think the (new)P3 with the GT upgrades comes to the RP6 ? Thanks again for the very interesting and informative videos.

[@viktorsarosi5632]

this doesn't seem like a stable speed to me. what is the wow and flutter?

[@BarakaPDub]

No sure I follow.

[@Brendalo1]

I have an issue with my Rega 2 there is resistance in the tone arm that I can feel when I drop the needle, pushing the tone arm away from the center, with most turn tables I've owned, the tone arm has been fully free floating, the only pressure I have had to adjust was the weight of the needle on the record do you know if this is a problem that can be fixed, there is no tracking adjustment I can find. great videos thank you for posting.

[@BarakaPDub]

Weird. This is the first time I'm hearing something like this but I wouldn't say it's outside of the realm of possibility. It sounds like you have some binding in your arm bearing. Has it always been this way?

[@Brendalo1]

yes since new, resistance, needle wants to come off at first drop, the album plays fine, I don't feel it when I lift the needle anywhere else.

[@roamlikekane]

For budget conscious and vinyl virgins, could I make these upgrades on, say, an entry level Project turn table?

[@BarakaPDub]

I think anything is possible but it's hard for me to comment on a ProJect. I recommend checking out the Vinyl Engine website. There is a forum for ProJect owners. I used the Vinyl Engine to learn about all of the Rega mods. Hope that helps.

[@roamlikekane]

@@BarakaPDub Thanks just subscribed. I'll work my way up to this some day, something to shoot for for sure.

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks. People have different opinions on the tweaks but I'm a tweaker in general. Moreover, I think my wife would shoot me if I bought this kind of gear outright ;)

[@roamlikekane]

@@BarakaPDub Right! Lol :) Happy wife, happy life so the saying goes? I'm considering upgrading my cartridge and stylus at the moment. I have a Super-om10 by Ortofon. Not bad at all. But the word is upgrading the stylus to the OM20 opens up the sound even further of course it only goes up from here. Or the Blue 2M. Mind you, then there's the exotic line of cartridges, Hana, Sumiko, and Nagoaka as well. So many choices.

[@skunk12]

Best modification i've made was getting a divorce. It eliminated background noise by 100%. 😉

[@BarakaPDub]

That will definitely do it ;)

[@skunk12]

@@BarakaPDub Just kidding! It wasnt a divorce mod. It was abandonment.. I waited for she and the triplets to fall asleep, packed up my HiFi equipment, loaded up the car, and disappeared for good. 😂👍

[@skunk12]

Just kidding! It was murder.

[@skunk12]

Just kidding! Im into high-end music. I could never afford to pay for a date, let alone marriage.

[@BarakaPDub]

In life you definitely need to make certain trades ;)

[@zogzog1063]

Nice. (I have modded Technics SL1200 myself)

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks. The SL1200 is the direct drive deck to have. There is a reason why it's the DJ gold standard. Those things are built like a tank.

[@noahlinforth7823]

Hi, I recently was gifted a rega 3 from the 1980's. Do you know what new cartridges I can get?

[@BarakaPDub]

Hello Noah. Sorry for my late reply but you can basically get any cartridge but you may need to get a spacer for most non-Rega carts. For my table I have a 2 mm spacer and that works well for the three carts I have put on it, all non-Rega carts. The spacers can be purchased pretty cheaply. Hope that helps.

[@SupraWes]

Is the Belari the one that went out on you? I have been considering that preamp for a long time now. It looks like the iRPM app is no longer in the app store, there is another one which is 1.99 that I may try out of curiosity. It seems like my Pro-Ject is running correctly but I would hate to find out it is not.

[@BarakaPDub]

Yes. I had some time to troubleshoot on Sunday and I have determined the entire Bellari unit is gone. When I get the time later in the week, I am going to open it up to see if I can visually see if the board is fried somewhere. The photos I have seen of it internally don't show it to be too complicated of a circuit. My personal thoughts having owned it for just over four years now would be to avoid the Bellari. It has some nice features for sure, like the USB connects for vinyl conversion but reading up on it a couple of years after my purchase, I have read a lot of comments that there are other tube based units that produce a better overall sound and are better constructed. Another minor annoyance with it has been that it does not have an on/off switch so you have to unplug the unit if you want to preserve the life of your tube. Lastly, I also recall reading that it's not a pure tube phono since the output stage was amplified via solid state. If you're looking for a reasonably priced phono stage with a tube, the ifi iphono tube has been getting glowing reviews and gives you the option to switch to a MC cartridge down the line if you so desire. If I can't repair my Bellari, the iphono might be one I switch too but I want to do some more research. The downside to the iphono is that it to does not have an on/off switch. I am not an electrical engineer but that seems to be a common theme amongst the tube based phono stages below $500. I wouldn't think it difficult to put in but there is probably a good reason why they don't. On the Rega, even though it appears to be running a little fast, to me I can't even notice it. Music Hall and Pro-Ject have developed Speed Boxes for their turntables which can be hacked for a Rega.

[@SupraWes]

***** I have read some of the negatives of the Bellari and thats probably why I never actually pulled the trigger. I have also looked into some of the DIY plans for tube preamps. Thanks, i will check out the iphono, I hope you can get yours fixed.

[@peartfaldo]

SupraWes you should just get a clearaudio nano and be done with it. also, look for a used clearaudio concept table. you'll be glad you did. there are no upgrades and mods to be done or even consider. just buy and listen;-)

[@micharogalewicz6249]

did you remove the arm's VTF spring - i just did yesterday (RP6 with grovetracer stuff) - great difference, love it.

[@BarakaPDub]

It's been a long time ago but I don't I toughed that one at all. You heard a big difference? Thanks for the comment roger roger

[@micharogalewicz6249]

Imagine you drop rolled carpet to the ground (my bass/mids before), now you throw it and the roll falls and rolls out towards you - sound now. So I do hear nice mid range and bass extension , more details - e.g gentle tubular bells by Kari Bremnes , barely heard before) more precise, airy and more forward sounding. Read about it time ago already but was 'busy' with other mods (as we all do; e.g. nano diamond oil for connectors or silver plated cables, bi wiring, stage swap etc. (nano oil was good surprise too :) so just broke the spring and definitely like the change. This said, the system was great already after all other mods and placed on good rack, so the more my surprise.

[@yippie6862]

Do you wonder if your upgrades are worth it? What I mean is that you spent about $1200 in upgrades so I wonder if you sold your Rega for about $500 then that's $1700 towards a new turntable. I have a Rega RP-40 and trying to decide that very question, to buy new or upgrade it. How do you think your mod. turntable sounds compared to a stock Rega RP6 or RP8? BTW, my external power supply makes zero noise. Did yours always make a humming noise?

[@BarakaPDub]

Yippie To me, some upgrades have been absolutely worth it and have made an audible difference. Some you question, some are very subtle and others were a bit more dramatic. But by nature I am a tweaker and tweaking isn't for everyone though. If you have the money to spend on a better table then I say go for it. The stock Rega tables sound great but if I had a little more money at the time, I would have gone for an P7. I bought my table before the RP3 or RP6 were on the market so they were not an option but there are many tweaks for those tables on the market now. I do think with all of the mods I have made, my table can easily best an RP6 since the added parts are of superior quality to that of an RP6. For the RP8, it's hard to say because I haven't heard one first hand. The RP8 does have a better arm and of course the design is radically different. Rega has always had a problem with a hum due to the 24V motor that is supplied (no grounding in the design), the tone arm grounding tied to the RCA, and the cheap wall wart that is used. This is why they recommend putting the wall wart as far away from the table as possible. In other words, Rega acknowledges the hums existence but hasn't had the gusto to fix it. It's good to hear yours doesn't have a hum so it's sounds like everything in your set up is grounded properly. There are some solutions to fix the hum out there if you encounter it and I have since corrected mine. I probably will do a video on this in the future but there is a video out there by another user which I have also employed (kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXK8Y6WIqNZ7gqc).Hope this helps and thanks for watching.

[@JodieAndOlivia]

Ive heard that 'red spot squash balls' are the best feet upgrades for any turntable?

[@BarakaPDub]

+J Diffo It definitely works. I know that dixielandfarm uses that solution for his turntable.

[@BarakaPDub]

+J Diffo It's a solution that works. Kris at Dixielandfarm uses that one or did with his old turntable.

[@jerrybokman2399]

To help with the humm that you note when you turn up the volume. You simply add a ground lead, any piece of wire with a crimp on clip and loosen one of three bolts under turntable holding on tonearm. Attach clip and tighten bolt back down. (do not over tighten, snug) The other end you join to your power supply ground post, include your preamp ground post (or receiver, HTR), external phono preamp ground post etc. In order to keep it clean and not have too many clips to your different devices. attach one clip to each devices ground clip, then the wire from it leading together to a bolt, washer and nut hidden out of way behind cabinet with clips attached to the wire joining them all together. Making it a clean job. At the turntable I then run the wire over to the RCA's so it doesn't mess the look and use Velcro to run along cables. Try it initially to see if it's worth while by just using the bare ends of a wire before buying the clips. I have also found some remote control lighting systems can lead to humm if turntable equipment isn't well shielded. Great video

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks Jerry. I caught a video by Dan lpman a long, long time ago where he went over that solution. I have employed it as well. While it did reduce the hum considerably, it didn't remove it entirely. It did do a good job at eliminating the distraction from the quieter passages in the music. Still its frustrating that Rega has done little to fix the problem. To me, it would be easiest to just build a dedicated grounding (or earthing) wire into their plugs. I also think it would be nice if they didn't tie their cartridge grounding wire in with their RCA leads. It's just me though. You're right on the other systems that can share the same electrical circuit causing EMI interference creating a hum.

[@1oldson]

looking to tweak my rp3 so this has helped immensley

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks but beware...it can end up being a never ending quest for better sound ;)

[@SidLives]

Hello, just watched video, when you say upgrade the platter, ( I'll be picking up a RP3 in a week or so) do you mean just the sub-platter, or the sub-platter and the Delrin platter combined? Thanks.

[@BarakaPDub]

The sub-platter will make the biggest difference so if you can't do both, I recommend getting the sub to start.

[@SidLives]

+BarakaPDub Thanks, the low AUD and shipping is gonna make this expensive, probs go with the sub-platter and go from there. I appreciate you taking the time for doing the videos it helps make an informed decision on which mods to do and which ones you may not need

[@richardriley4415]

How much do you think is needed to buy a decent turntable that doesn't need to be upgraded ?

[@BarakaPDub]

So my turntable really never needed to be upgraded. I am a tweaker by nature and in pursuit of the unrealistic goal of audio nirvana ;) I personally think a decent deck can be had for just under or around $500. Pro-Ject & Rega make decent belt driven turntables at that price point but the one irritating thing with both designs is that you have to take off the platter and move the belt if you want to change from 33 to 45 rpm. If you're going to swap speeds often, it can be a huge annoyance. It's not until you move up the price range do you get push button control to switch speeds. It's a downside to the lower end audiophile decks. I have heard good things about the U-turn belt driven turntable. Kris at Dixielandfarm just picked one up and loves it. I don't know if you checked out Ian at HiViNyws on KZbin but he can give some good recommendations since he has access to different tables through a local dealer. His channel features different tables and cartridges. Ian loves his Technics SL-1200 and to me that is the best ever direct drive deck made. Michael Fremer's channel and webpage (AnalogPlanet.com) has some good recommendations but since those companies fund Stereophile magazine, it rare to see a purely negative review so you have to take some of it with a grain of salt. Again, I really recommend trying to see all of these first hand if you can. Do you have an audio dealers near you? A good audio dealer should let you try out the equipment in your system. Another option would be to check out Music Direct through their website. Music Direct has a no questions asked refund policy if you don't like the equipment within 30 days of purchase.

[@MegaF1guy]

how do you stop energy? Simple physics says you cant stop energy, ie.. vibrations Nice turntable! I have a RP1. i think its a great sounding table.

[@BarakaPDub]

+MegaF1guy Thanks and yes, I agree the RP1 is great. Energy...yes can't stop it but gotta do whatever you can to minimize it :) Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@gotham61]

It doesn't "minimize," it just gets converted to something else. In most cases, adding "damping" materials and mass will simply lower the resonant frequency, while extending the tail off time of the resonances. This is why Rega turntables actually become lighter as you go up the line. They want the resonances to dissipate very quickly.

[@mikejohnson7696]

MegaF1guy : Physics : Vibration can be turned into heat. Inside mass, ( lead or sand filled components. )

[@Forollo9210]

I have the same high pitch hum on my TTPSU. Seems to be the PSU that cause it since if I put my ears on the PSU I can hear the buzz and the same buzz when I listen on the TTPSU and the same buzz on my speakers. Did you solve this with the Swagman?

[@BarakaPDub]

+Balooba The Swagman helped but I also attached a grounding lug to the back of the TTPSU unit and alligator clipped it to a dedicated ground source. I think the later did more to resolve the hum than anything else. If you go with this grounding solution, I just caution you to not tie it to your receiver or phono pre-amp ground connection. I am suspect that there was so much excess energy that it fried the capacitors on my old phono pre-amp.

[@Forollo9210]

***** Thanks for the suggestion. I have grounded the TTPSU and it took away all the high pitch buzz. Great! I also had it on the Phono stage at first but have now moved it with the same great result. Don't want to fry things up :)

[@blobbynobby4619]

you need the buzzzzzzzzzy buster

[@jlow341]

What height of spacer are you using on the tonearm? I just got an Ortofon 2M Black and 2mm spacer. Still finding it overly bright and harsh at times.

[@BarakaPDub]

Joel Lopata Odd that your finding it bright. I am also using Rega's 2mm spacer with my 2M Black. Is the cartridge new? What are you using for a phono stage? If it's new, it could be a burn in issue.

[@jlow341]

I purchased it from a gent who said it's seen under 100 hours. The fewer who mounted it though said it looks hardly used. He said the cantilever looked still very stiff and speculated it was still running in. What was your run-in experience like?

[@BarakaPDub]

Joel Lopata My break in experience took a little while but it wasn't super long. I remember it taking about a week of solid plays before the sound started to blossom. I don't recall it being super treble heavy in the beginning though. Is the tone arm looking parallel to the record playing surface? If you haven't caught it, Michael Fremer has a good DVD on cartridge set up which might have some tips. If you don't care to spring for the DVD, several of his tone arm set up seminars have been posted to KZbin. I would be curious to know how it sounds in about a week.

[@jlow341]

***** I believe I've pin-pointed the issue. It appears that the 2M Black is not just very sensitive to VTA but also to bias/anti-skate. The anti-skate was set to zero by my dealer. I adjusted the anti-skate according to a method I read where you drop the needle in the run-out area of the record on the surface areas between the grooves. You then adjust anti-skate until when you drop the need on the surface areas in track towards the label at a speed similar to if it were on a groove. Eventually it will track and attach to the groove, but when it's running at that nice slow speed on the surface space, then the anti-skate is accurate or very close to accurate. Once I adjusted as per this method, the problems cleared up. The sibilance is gone and I can hear that the needle is fully in the groove. I'm now hearing that I've probably never had anti-skate properly adjusted on any turntable. It's a beautiful thing and some of my audiophile pressings that seeming overly bright are now smooth and full.

[@drewturner9504]

Have you heard of the Falcon Digital Power Supply . Frank from Groovetracer has informed me that it is superior to the Rega TTSU , allowing you to really fine tune rotation . $375.00

[@BarakaPDub]

+Drew Turner Yes. I have heard of the Falcon Power Supply and the Tachometer. I have eyeing them both as potential buys in the future but it may be a while. After the double pulley install and changing out the belts. I have the platter running at 33.3 pretty consistently but there is some small deviations +/- 0.1 rpm which I think the Falcon with the tachometer might clean up. It's hard to tell just how much of the deviations are coming from the motor and how much is coming from belt slippage. With the single pulley system, you can see that there is some belt slippage which the Falcon may not be able to correct. I think Frank just recently started selling the Falcon which I thought was a good paring.

[@joelburt9053]

Just leave your Fono on 24/7. I modded my Fono to be discrete, it sounds great!

[@BarakaPDub]

Interesting idea.

[@joelburt9053]

Ah, that is not a Rega Fono, it is the TT PSU that is causing the popping sound

[@reargument]

What phono preamp do you use with your Rega?

[@BarakaPDub]

I've used a few different preamps with my Rega. Right now I am using a Parasound JC 3+. Some might call it a bit of overkill but honestly, I do recommend the Schiit Mani. It's what I call a giant killer. The only reason I'm using the Parasound is it's ability to fine tune the gain on a Moving Coil cart. I did a dedicated review of the Schiit in another video.

[@reargument]

@@BarakaPDub Would you please let me know if you actually hear the difference and if you can recommend it? I have Rega P3 and currently using Rega MM phono preamp (it does sounds good, but I'm curious if I should spend more to get this wow effect).

[@reargument]

btw, thank you for your videos and gentle suggestions. It does help.

[@BarakaPDub]

Every phono preamp is going to have it's own sound. I have heard a difference across the different ones I have used. I would say that the Parasound is better than the Schiit but it's not really light years a head. I can honestly say your getting inches on the mile. Maybe this video will be useful for you? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoHLk3ucmtOqbaM

[@reargument]

@@BarakaPDub Actually just purchased JC3+ and for some reason have this static cracks during playback. This preamp is great, but with my setup for some reason I have this problem (I'm using Elys2 cartridge). Wondering if you had this problem.

[@TD402dd]

I'm surprised he didn't take a level or buy miniature levels for his turntable. Not having your turntable level is one of the worst things you can do to the quality of the sound. There are small table top platforms with feet that independently adjust the height of that corner. It does take some time to get it level.

[@BarakaPDub]

+D. Paul Riderman I agree with you completely. After taking the turntable apart several times now, I am just astounded by how cheaply it was constructed given the price you pay for it. There are several after market dealers that sell feet that are individually adjustable.

[@brianking9286]

Don't be sprayin' acetone on that pully without protecting the surrounding area. Acetone will quickly craze the surface of that plinth, and you don't want that.

[@BarakaPDub]

Yep. It will definitely kill the lacquer finish.

[@ob9889]

Quick question, if you switch the subplatter, can you use normal clamps instead of Rega specific clamps.

[@BarakaPDub]

Switching the subplatter will get you out of Rega territory due to the short plastic spindle they have on their stock subplatter.

[@wardell1518]

I dare you to tell the difference between separate ground lead and the integrated ground thru the right channel ground of the Rega.

[@BarakaPDub]

Sure...it's already been done. Noise floor went down considerably.

[@wardell1518]

In a double blind test, I doubt it. @@BarakaPDub

[@leyland9999]

That's all Rega policy, regarding the chrome or aluminum set ups for the rubber feet. The RP1 one already offers all you need for reproducing records. Even the tone arm mods give you only very small improvements, if at all. True, these are not Rega parts but if you want to fiddle with your turntable, just wait until you have set aside enough to buy the turntable you really want. And yes, the fact mods are available means sooner or later you tend to try them. However, keep in kind mods are expensive. If you add up all mods you can get moneywise, the better turntable you wanted but never bought, could have been yours. Then the humming, they all do that. My RP1 does it as well. It is a box standard RP1 that had the performance pack installed. And guess what, the original black belt is much better than the white one. Why? Well the white one is thicker, thus riding less deep in the pulley causing the thing speeding up! Yes, that's the difference people are hearing when they write about better sound, tighter bass and all that nonesence. The only real improvements the performance pack offers are the cart and perhaps the woolen mat. As for the belt, stick with the original Rega belt as this one has the right thickness and, just as important, tightness. Have a nice day! And enjoy the music, that's where your money should go.

[@intotheblue50]

I like you video and all your upgrades but I would like to suggest a mod which will cost you nothing. Take your turntable and place it on a solid surface, even a concrete floor and be shocked at its massive improvement in sound.

[@BarakaPDub]

Funny you mention a solid surface. When I first bought the table, I had it positioned on the floor but as soon as my daughter started crawling, I couldn't put on the floor anymore. I do agree, a solid surface makes a big impact on the sound.

[@kevinl6231]

I’ve heard some people have used marble cutting boards from e.g. from Bed BathBeyond ( and s sheet of rubber underneath).

[@leyland9999]

Another great video that EXACTLY explains my objections and reservations regarding the REGA products and the Gandy vision towards playing and taking care of your records. He behaves as if he invented the phonograph record. He forgets that the turntable and all that comes along with it was totally out-developped way back when in the 70's. The time real hifi components were available from mainstream manufacturers, quite unlike today where companies like REGA want us to believe their babble, Gandy's babble rather. For starters, a REGA base plate is nothing more than a slab of particle board. The sub platter is nothing more than a piece of cheap molded plastic. It works, true. But for what you get the products are way too expensive, certainly if we take the baked in humming into account that seems to be there in each and every unit. I own the RP1- PP. It came with the Bias cartridge, the white belt (that speeded up the platter a bit because it rides higher on the pulley) and a woolen mat that is totally unsuitable due to the fact dust settles down in it and is hard to remove. The RP1 sounds good, on the other hand. But is it worth that amount of cash? No. The humming gets worse when the tone arm is moved towards the spindle but at normal playing levels the humming is not disturbing. Just the fact YOU know it is there, somewhat makes you feel a bit unhappy withh the product but it sounds too well to ged rid of it. However, mine is back in its box and my trusted Technics SL-1200's are back in place and they are going to stay there forever. Dead silent, no humming, built like tanks and made to outlive you. What more can you wish? Debelopped in the mid-70's, the time when true hifi was affordable. And Chinese stuff was around........

[@BarakaPDub]

Hello leyland9999. I agree with a lot of your comments and to me it's really frustrating but with the vinyl resurgence, I think Rega has taken a step in the wrong direction. Sure there have been advancements but they still give the appearance of trying to increase their bottom line by cheapening their parts. The fact that the new P1 is employing a plastic bearing is really frustrating and you think the hum would be their first thing to fix. I am actually contemplating going for a Technics as my next table. The Rega though has been fun to tweak since it's really not that complex in its design.

[@audioworld5152]

Very nice and well afterthought mods, congrats. Only one thing that is not in place. The Ortofon 2M Black is not suited to Rega arms. Do not be fooled by Ortofon's marketing and shaping of their PU as if it was designed for the tonearms sold in highest quantity all around the world. It is a simple marketing trick for mass sales. Going deeper into the matter, just calculate arm-cartridge resonance, that should be near 10Hz ( in fact, between 9 and 11 ). With that 22 cu compliance of 2M and 11,5 grams of Rega arm moving mass plus 8,5 grams of cart weight with bolts you get 7,5 Hz resonance figure, that means muddy, dead sound, no sparkle, bass loose agility and speed. To make your nice upgrades bring all the benefits they can, you must change your cartridge. My personal suggestion would be an LP Gear Bin 323 that is well suited and way more musical than the ever sterile Ortofons. Regards, Paul G./AudioWorld Hungary

[@gwadaflat]

Hello, Very good video but if I can afford it, According to me and not me (look at the feet of hifi high end devices) it is a mistake to think that rubbery materials are effective to protect against external vibrations! And Musically speaking it is the worst matter! Three small cube (wooden fall) of Finnish birch plywood 40 mm thick or better Panzerholz (Tankwood) placed under the Turntable is much more effective to absorb the undesirable vibrations and is especially much more musical listening!

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks for the comment gwadaflat. Rubber does have it's draw backs and is not the perfect isolator by any means. While there are multiple ways to handle the problem., one of the cheapest and most effective ways isolate is to minimize the surface area that comes in contact with the shelf. That way you're minimize the path of external vibrations getting to the stylus. Many people use wood spikes for this. Another way is to go for a more rigid solution by increasing the mass of the plinth.

[@gwadaflat]

BarakaPDub The problem is that rubbery materials lose a lot of dynamics, details and nuance to the music! So it is a very economical solution but it loses the essential! Moreover, even by protecting the stylus from external vibrations, it vibrates in contact with the grooves of the disc! Therefore the body of the tonearm must be able to absorb the vibrations of the stylet, the body of the stylet as well! this is the difference between good tonearm and good stylus and the worst! The tonearm support must also be able to absorb the vibrations of the stylus! Now the hardest thing is to find the best possible solutions the most economical without losing too much in musicality in the end! A good adjustment of the tonearm in the rules, helps to minimize the vibrations of the stylus and contact with the disc, it is free but not necessarily to the reach of all!

[@jimlayhey1965]

friend has same humming problem

[@BarakaPDub]

It's a big annoyance. Or it least it is/was to me. Does your friend have a Rega too?

[@jimlayhey1965]

yes he has a rega i have pro-jet xtension 10 no hum

[@RocknRonni]

I to have an origin live silver tonearm which is a modded rb300 I also bought the grove tracer counter weight because i to had read that lowering the center of gravity would help my small gumbled bearing tone arm track better. Come to find out the grove tracer decouples from the arm better thats why it sounds a little better www.originlive.com/faq-s-on-mods/counterweight-underslung-rega-tonearm.html

[@BarakaPDub]

Thanks I haven't seen that article before. Do you like the live silver? I have always toyed with upgrading my tone arm.

[@RocknRonni]

BarakaPDub there's a lot of different ways to do that buy new turntable different kinds of turntables yeah I really like my arm I've done a lot of reading and all the UK Hi-Fi audio news and all those that review a lot of the UK gear they're calling it like a reference quality reviewers tool but origin live has many upgrades pass that one and they don't make the silver anymore they have a new one to replace it lot bigger bearings makes a big difference I don't know about the RB 300 but on the silver they had an allen Bolt running through the bearings to hold it to the arm and a guy on audiogon thought that he took a lead fishing weight drilled a hole in the end of it stuck them on each sides to add weight and was a revelation just improve the sound phenomenal so much more Bass that was hands down the biggest bang for the buck I have ever done on my stereo the distributor took pictures and sent it to origin live they changed their Allen bolt design put buttons on the end where you couldn't add the weight now they have a lot bigger bearings on the ends to improve the sound

[@leyland9999]

@bugleboy5 Yes, true. However, the upgrades by REGA are very expensive. In such a way that the upgrades aren't worth it. I have a RP1-PP. It came with the Performance Pack so the white belt, the woolen mat and the Bias cartridge. If ordered together with the turntable the improvement is quite affordable but this goes only for the cartridge, the Bias cart is a good performer and modified for the tone arm. I would forget about the woolen mat and the white belt as they do not offer any significant improvements at all. And I also would never invest in a low voltage motor upgrade for the RP1. Set aside more and be patient. This will always be better as you avoid upgrades and endless tweaking. That's where the after market manufacturers come in. A better platter for the wobbly RP1 bakelite platter will be a useful upgrade but comes at a price. Now, do the maths......Mine is now for sale. No more REGA for me, it simply is too flimsy and it has too many flaws. So is this a good turntable for the newbees among us? No, I do not think so. Because a newbee won't stay a newbee and after a while the shortcomings of the product will reveal themselves. I never felt the need for replacing my SL-1200's. Because it is build like a fortress. Is it perfect? No, it isn't. Nothing is perfect as a matter of fact. But it comes pretty close to a perfect product. It's shortcomings? Okay, here we go: the tone arm has its limits as for the cart you want to put in it. Some do not like the looks of the thing, it is a 70's design and that shows. Other than that, one can concentrate on the music and forget about the equipment for as long as you live. It is quite a good investment because the product keeps its value, something that goes for the old style SL-1200 series. The new G-series are much more expensive but they are worth every cent. Unlike what many think, mainly fueled by the media, the SL-1200 series were never developped having the DJ in mind. Its rock solid construction made it a Dj tool, it is the only product that is capable of withstanding the terror that it has to undergo if used by the DJ. At the same time we have to thank the DJ for keeping the turntable alive, for decades. There are upgrades for the 1200. It doesn't need it if mated with suitable carts. It is perfect the way it comes out of the box. No rumble, the best in its class w&f and no humming. The best speed stability one can imagine. Avoid the slipmats, however. Retain the original, thick rubber mat. Together with the rubber lined platter resonances are simply non existent. Treat it with a good, matching cart such as the Audio-Technica AT-120E, a Audio-Technica AT-440Mla or even a further up the line Audio-Technica cart and you can't go wrong. It is way better that the best record and it won't add anything to the sound other than what's in the groove...

[@georgedoughly6344]

leyland9999 The Technics SL-1200 is my Dream Turntable 🤩

[@RocknRonni]

I was reading on Audiogon a few years back A fellow was asking about his turntable setup he wanted to up grade he asked what should he do first a new arm or cartridge one fellow answered the biggest bang for the buck was vibration control. he said if your not doing something to fix that, thats where you need to start. He suggested something very expensive So I said self you don't have any vibration control so I did the research because I did not want to spend the kind a money he was suggesting. What I bought was the Gingko cloud. Mikey Fremer raved about it you can find his review. One thing about the cloud is when you get a new turntable you keep the cloud. I have a larger cloud that I got on sale for like 1/2 price at Elusive Dsic. it was made for a VPI turntable. I just had to add some weight to the platform under my turntable to make it work properly here is a 6 moons review of a gingko cloud they have many models www.6moons.com/audioreviews/gingko/cloud10_2.html

[@BarakaPDub]

So what's cool about the article you referenced Ken Micallef did the write up on it and he's just broke into the VC. Look up Ken Micallef Jazz Lover and you can't go wrong. He's been featuring gear from time to time and is currently writing for Stereophile along with Michael Fremer. Ginko's have been on my want list as well. There are so many different upgrade paths to choose but I do agree that vibration control is critical for removing any external resonance from getting to the needle and how well it will track the grooves.

[@RocknRonni]

BarakaPDub yes indeed so many upgrade paths mine are fewer so that was the one I chose at the time but a lot of people don't realize if you're not rich it takes a long time to complete all these upgrades and if you're married well you probably know what I'm talking about there

[@BarakaPDub]

The wife acceptance factor definitely plays into my equation ;)

[@leon9021]

Those P9 feet tho ;^D

[@BarakaPDub]

Save you money ;) I would buy some after market feet but not from Rega. Some of the after market feet are far better.

[@leyland9999]

"Chinese stuff wasn't around" .....ofcourse.

[@ryanolinski7163]

$350 for a delrin platter, $275 for a sub platter. I mean come on! I thought it was a joke when I first went to the website. Not likely.

[@BarakaPDub]

Welcome to the world of high end audio gear. There is usually a high mark up on everything.

[@paulnapoli9161]

Get a P10 and call it a day man!

[@BarakaPDub]

I wish...some day maybe though.

[@kevinl6231]

I’d be afraid I’d break it.

[@johnsweda2999]

Really mate got to laugh hahhah, it sends energy down but not up that's called sales tactics. Energy dispersion yes that's a different thing altogether. Your best bet is to put it on some foam the whole table 3" or 5" thick open cell foam ideally glue to the bottom you could use double-sided tape, tight around the bearing! you could try a big ball of blu tack first on the bearing that will help with energy dispersion size of a golf ball none of assertive try that. you want the foam to be flat against the bottom of the table not on the Feet sitting, it best to take the feet off and put them on a separate board three quarters of an inch of MDF orr a bamboo chopping bored, the foam on the bottom of your table is the best solution you should adopt and the blue tack or the other thing I have suggested about energy dispersion from the bearing. cellulose foam is best and can be used as feet. Give that a go that will be the biggest improvement. Oh and I forgot put a ring a blue tack on that innerplatter you can keep the three dots if you want but put a ring of blue tack is essential

[@BarakaPDub]

At one point, I thought about making my own plinth and it wouldn't be hard to do. Since I have some experience with composite manufacturing, I would probably go with a foam based core with carbon fiber overwrap baked in an autoclave. It's the later part that's a bit hard to find. I am sure I should find a third party that could do the autoclaving to help the carbon composite set. I would probably shoot for a 45 degree lay up with alternating plies. The stiffer you can make it the better. I definitely hear you on the lay up.

[@johnsweda2999]

@@BarakaPDub you don't have to bake carbon fibre you can use a fiberglass epoxy resin and do it cold these days. how would you bake it anyway with the foam that would melt. composites what composites.? I want to know what these little bathroom containers are made from that's the best stuff to make the plinth out of, any idea! I think it's a rock based and resin but I'm not sure do you know the thing I'm talking about, make little cups for doing your teeth and soap dispensers soap trays made in China very inert material. Get your arm yet you been waiting a long time for that arm! why are you so mad on that particular arm... there's a lot of good arms out there what are a bit cheaper. Looks good tho. Check out BBC Radio 2 last night's show at 9 p.m. the 9th play some good music you would like the band at the end African funk can't find out who they are

[@BarakaPDub]

For carbon fiber, it depends on the resin that is used. For prepregs you need to increase the temp. Many prepreg carbon fibers set between 60 and 180 C. There are different types and I am not fan of the everyday hobby stuff. For the foam, again, it depends on the foam you want to apply. There are different types of polyurethane, all with different melting points. You obviously want to use something that has a high melting point if you choose to use a thermoplastic. I would prefer to use a thermoset.

[@johnsweda2999]

@@BarakaPDub right you seem to know your carbon fibre but strength is not an issue what's wrong with the Hobby stuff? I would have thought that be strong enough there's no stresses as such to worry about yes I'm sure the foams have different melting points probably cellulose foam I think is quite high. I can't see the benefit of using a different type of carbon fibres tho you're saying acoustic there's a difference? Did you get a chance to listen to bbc Radio 2 Saturday 9pm broadcast! Can't find out who this artist is second from last on the show. i have difficulty accessing the internet too much signing in I don't like. He said something his name was like a Atari and this song was called Hustle clingy that's not it I can't find nothing, a modern artist.

[@BarakaPDub]

@@johnsweda2999 The key is your Young's Modulus. You want to go with a very high degree of stiffness. Carbon fiber sheets come in all sorts of flavors, weaves, prepregs, etc. Each aspect will factor into overall stiffness of your final composite. Sorry. Missed the BBC Radio 2 Broadcast. Is it something than you can replay off of their website? You would think they have some of the broadcasts recorded, right?

[@leyland9999]

Hi. The REGA policy seems to be to try to sell as many mods as possible to you. If you want to get rid of the humming, well, just buy our low voltage motor. True, this cures the problem to some extend, but it is not eliminating the hum, another hum, the humming you demonstrated, comes instead. And then there is the white belt. It indeed is made of another rubber compound but is it any better than the standard black belt? I don't think so. I do not want to get into it too deep as you done that in a perfect way. In my opinion Gandy aims at the newbees, those who did't grow up with the phonograph record and, to some extend, can be easily influenced by all kinds of opinions and reccomendations that are utterly nonsense. Added to that, the retailers that follow his opinion without the slightest hesitation, yes, the media included. That exactly is what I have against the Gandy policy. Granted, even a Technics SL-1200 isn't perfect. However, if you mate the tone arm with a matching cart, it will outperform many products that come at much higher prices. Just because everything is a good match. It is no use putting a state of the art cart in a tone arm that isn't capable of delivering the needs for that cartridge. That said, you will be surprised how good the tone arm in a 1200 really is. And there is no need for endless tweaking. The product is as it is, far better than ANY record. Its drive motor is used in many cutting equipment only because of its quartz precision and high torque. Wow and flutter being the best one can expect. I have a pair of them here and within its price range, nothing comes close. A REGA turntable should be so good that no mods are needed. The price of all the mods together often puts the price of the product near the price level of the next in line REGA model. Oh, and by far Gandy's most remarkable way of doing things is that he still refuses to state the technical figures in publications and manuals that come with the product. No wow & flutter figures and so on. Why? I know why. Simply because the product is no match against many of its rivals, certainly not rivals that were developped way back when like Dual or Thorens just to name two of them. The times when quality reigned and was available from so many different brands. You upgraded your turntable in a way you are satisfied with it. That's good, no further mods are needed so you can concentrate on the music, the reason why we buy our equipment in the first place. The music should be the target, not the equipment. Unless tweaking is your hobby......I will check out your channel on a regular basis, I share so many of your opinions and I hope people who are interested in records check your channel out. See ya! Kind regards...

[@BarakaPDub]

Yep. I agree leyland! I am a tweaker by nature and this has been fun to play around with but I won't be going with a Rega for my next table. The SL-1200G is definitely up there on my want list.

[@bugleboy5]

Rega actually doesn't sell much in the way of "mods"... They sell a white belt upgrade, and a power supply that comes with say an RP6 that you can use as an upgrade with an RP3 or what have you... It's more of a trickle down. The subplatter, platter, counterweight, feet, etc are all third party upgrades.

[@kenjifuse2234]

LOL! All those expensive upgrades and it still has lousy speed and speed stability!

[@BarakaPDub]

Yep. Go figure.

[@chrispictures1]

This is all bloody nonsense, they are for listening to music not to play with endlessly. And make constant upgrades that do nothing except line the pockets of the companies.. who absolutely love you all and have you noticed none of them make a comment telling you not to do these upgrades.. If you had a £10.000 turntable you would have it 1 day before wanting to rip it apart.

[@BarakaPDub]

£10.000...wanna come over and have some fun upgrading that one ;) It's only fun if you're a tweaker.

[@paulomontero12]

Instead of wasting your time and money on extras parts why not just buy a better turntable?

[@BarakaPDub]

Easy answer. If you have a wife, it's easier to slowly upgrade versus buying a brand new table every few years outright.

[@StonefieldJim4]

I have to say, as a mental health professional, spending this much time and money on modifying a turntable is a kind of madness. But then, you knew that.

[@BarakaPDub]

Yeah...honestly, some of it is a placebo effect. I am a bit nutty in that regard though. It's the engineer in me that wants to tweak things. I don't recommend this for most vinyl lovers.

[@StonefieldJim4]

@@BarakaPDub Indeed. I hope you took my comment in the spirit in which it was intended! It's rather inspiring, in fact.