Upgrades

[bmxargh]

Hi all

Still loving my Rega 3 but was curious anyone invested in the following or similar upgrades and if so what you rate or don't.......

Acyrlic platter

Michell Technoweight

Michell Clamp

Anyone ever upgraded the phono cables etc???

Went to that What HiFi Sight and Vision show on the weekend, there was some very nice (but expensive!!!) sounding stuff there!!!

Cheers
BMX

[XTRProf]

If I were you, I will upgrade the cable first to something like OCC or Cardas. It will change the sound most for better or worse. Next is the clamp or counterweight as they are relatively cheaper. Last will be the acrylic platter as it's the most expensive. However, there are also thin acrylic add-on on top of your glass platter that can do a good job too and also a cheaper solution. Btw, this is not a Rega solution but other brands. There is one particlular brand that I highly recommend. However, I had forgotten the brand insitu.

[XTRProf]

Alright, remember the mat already. Funk Firm Achromat. There is a thinner and thicker version to meet your needs.

[bmxargh]

Cool nice one Prof, a little more searching to do

[bmxargh]

Well I ordered one Funk Firm Achromat and a Michell clamp also, little steps.......won't be long till I get one of those counter weights either I doubt, its a never ending quest.

[XTRProf]

Feb 28, 2013 0:10:54 GMT bmxargh said:

Well I ordered one Funk Firm Achromat and a Michell clamp also, little steps.......won't be long till I get one of those counter weights either I doubt, its a never ending quest.

Yup, it's a never ending journey as new stuffs always keep cropping up that attrack our attention and our pocket getting bigger holes. So the main thing is not the holes but have fun with the new toys. Fun is the word.

Btw, don't need to buy new. Second hand will be smaller holes in your pocket.

[freddypipsqueek]

I should have replied to this a bit earlier.

I have an RB250 arm on a Systemdek.

The Mitchel weight was a nice upgrade but a little pricey - The problem with the RB250 is the plastic stub which can be replaced for less.

Acrylic platters are worthwhile but they are one of those changes which seems to make little difference when you add it but a lot when you take it away. Note also that you have to increase the arm height if the platter is thinker and I found the thicker ones are best but they do then eat into the splindle which may not then work with the clamp.

I have not tried a clap.

I have rewired the arm. The general recommendation is to use Cardas from the clips all the way through the arm to the phono stage. Cardas is not cheap so you are looking at £50 each for 4ft and with clips etc the pre made kits (which can be over £100) are not bad value. In the end I bought 15 inches of cardas wire and wired to the arm plug and then used an old Chord interconnect into the arm. The soldering was all done on the original arm base (which has pads on the inside, and the cables glued where required. With the new cartridge clips it cost me £25 and was (very) well worth doing. It took a couple of hours but was very successful. If you use an old interconnect you need a thin one and the chord suited as all of the wires were group into a single sheath. which could then be glued to the plug at the bottom. The Interconnect could be picked up on eBay.

Hope that helps.

[Deleted]

I've done more that a few Rega rewires and counterweight/stub upgrades. Always thought the end result was very worthwhile as did the customers.

With an acrylic platter I am limited to my own personal experience on my Manticore Mantra (like the Systemdek a suspended chassis design as apposed to fixed like the Rega).

Initially I was pleased but then found it to make a less involving sound. I replaced the original glass platter and eventually used the the damping ring from the acrylic one on the glass. This was the best result.

As for clamps, I found they worked best on designs that were made to have them in the first place, otherwise I only use one if the record is warped.

[XTRProf]

Btw, exotic wires don't need to be the expensive ones. DIY OCC wires are quite cheap IMVHO if you can find them. Especially so when the gauge we are talking about is gauge 30 and above as it's tonearm rewiring wires.