Rega arms - origin counterweight

[bbbiker800]

I've just seen the hi-fi choice mag review of the above on an RB300 - in short the improvement heard was 'night and day' . A gushing review. So, there must be plenty of users out there who have applied the same or similar who can underpin this review ?? ...... Was it the 'best £87 you can spend' ?? If so then I'm in !!

[vouk]

Hi Richard,

Most aftermarket counterweights should offer a slight improvement over the standard Rega stainless steel one. But a night and day difference? I don't think so.
The Origin Live is fine, so is the Mitchell and the Clearaudio; I was quite happy with the Tungsten one by Rega. They will all do the job OK but again, don't expect anything drastic.
As an upgrade most RB 300 users go for rewires and/or further structural modifications (Audiomods and such) - I haven't heard the latter so I can't comment; in either case though the bill starts adding up to the point where considering other possible alternatives might start to make sense.

-j.

[Tom-Brown]

I had the isoteknik counterweight on a rb250 and 300 made some difference. The only night and day change came about when I had them both rewired by audio origami

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[CageyH]

I had an RB251 with the AO mods and it was pretty good.
A rewire, brass earth pin, foam fill and rear stub/low slung c/w transformed the arm, but costs as bit more than £87.

[DSJR]

Many third party counterweights clamp the weight to the rear stub I believe. Rega use(d) O-rings to decouple their RB300 series' weights and I wonder if that makes the difference as I once claimed to 'hear the difference' between different O-ring materials :roll: I also once preferred the optional larger tungsten counterweight Rega made or still make, as it got the mass nearer to the pivots.

I agree with the above comments in that re-wiring these arms seems to make the largest 'improvements' and may I add that a wooden mounting board seems to work well also, although Michell decks contradict this I think.

[mimoser]

Underslung counterweights added definition to bass on a TT2 and an LP12. Compared on an RB250 and RB251 with steel stubs and tungsten counterweights and espressimo heavyweight. Plus the heavyweight sits nearer to the bearing, thus theoretically reducing effective mass.
Michael


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[bbbiker800]

Thanks for the replies. I think you're confirming my suspicions - that's such a change should not generate a night and day impact. Obviously I was wondering that as there are loads of rega arms out there that similarly a load of people would have experience of c/w mods and so could comment. It would be nice to see some more replies ! ....... Maybe I should hold onto my £87 squids !

[walpurgis]

You have you be careful using underslung counterweights with Rega arms (and possibly other arms). If you use a light cartridge the counterweight can be close enough to foul the arm pillar as the arm is raised and the bottom of the weight swings inwards. I've had it happen with ZYX MCs which are pretty light in weight.

I'd be interested to know how an underslung weight can actually offer an improvement in sound on an arm where the orientation of the counterweight should make no difference due to the tight tolerances in the bearings which only offer horizontal or vertical movement. If it's balanced out, then it's balanced out, regardless of weight type. With a unipivot arm an underslung weight is more or less mandatory, but that's a different ball game.

I only used a few Rega arms and upgraded them to an extent, but decided they were not for me. I found the sound dull and shut in.

[Clive197]

I've just seen the hi-fi choice mag review of the above on an RB300 - in short the improvement heard was 'night and day' . A gushing review. So, there must be plenty of users out there who have applied the same or similar who can underpin this review ?? ...... Was it the 'best £87 you can spend' ?? If so then I'm in !!

May I ask which issue of HiFi Choice you read this review?

[bbbiker800]

Hi Clive - Its the April 2016 edition; so current one.

regards, richard