Adventures with Rega

[Jac Hawk]

As some of you know I've had a Planar 3 for a few years now, I bought it off ebay for the princely sum of £20 (where have those days gone) and since then I've been on a path of steady upgrades.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/2851F4D7-CCA9-46DF-BAC6-215D63C1FCFB.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/2851F4D7-CCA9-46DF-BAC6-215D63C1FCFB.jpg.html)

1st of all I changed the original arm as the anti skate was broken and I got the RB202, as I hadn't used the original arm I can't say if there were any sonic improvements, I was just happy it worked correctly.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/5F79BF20-CB9D-4EFA-9356-2150AC0F3DE7.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/5F79BF20-CB9D-4EFA-9356-2150AC0F3DE7.jpg.html)

Then I swapped the original plastic sub platter for a new metal one and replaced the pulley for a twin belt model. This mod didn't have much if any of a sonic upgrade, but did make the speed more accurate and stable.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/B39653C1-FF91-4531-9838-7A58429C9151.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/B39653C1-FF91-4531-9838-7A58429C9151.jpg.html)

Next was to swap the glass platter for a thicker clear acrylic platter, which had a slight improvement on the overall sound making it become more focused.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/5829E46C-49B0-4C57-905B-045B500895A9.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/5829E46C-49B0-4C57-905B-045B500895A9.jpg.html)

After the platter came the SRM Tech silent base, this has had the biggest effect on the deck so far, lowering the sound floor and completely removing motor noise.
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/2018-08/6997AE56-11FB-4115-895B-98277F572BE2.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/2018-08/6997AE56-11FB-4115-895B-98277F572BE2.jpg.html)

There is a problem with the silent base, because the motor is still connected to the plinth setting it up is very awkward and its easy to break wires, so I've decided to completely decouple the motor and wiring from the plinth and install a plug and socket to connect the motor to the on off switch on the plinth, in addition to this I'm swapping the original plinth for a thicker birch ply plinth with rosewood veneer.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/96E4B1FB-57B5-4536-9011-5A87D71BD74A.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/96E4B1FB-57B5-4536-9011-5A87D71BD74A.jpg.html)
http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/C10BDD95-2249-4A29-9A51-D60037B708DE.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C10BDD95-2249-4A29-9A51-D60037B708DE.jpg.html)

As you can see the last 2 changes aren't complete yet, as I'm getting my new Audiomods Series 5 arm on Monday and Cornish Pasty has kindly offered to help me with installing the electrics and arm set up, I can't wait........

[JohnJo]

Nice pics Mike, love the rosewood.

[Jac Hawk]

Me too, probably the only thing I don't like about Regas is the bit of old kitchen worktop used for their plinths, although some say it's what gives the deck its sound.

[Cycleallday]

Me too, probably the only thing I don't like about Regas is the bit of old kitchen worktop used for their plinths, although some say it's what gives the deck its sound.
Had a modern version of the P3 for a while and really liked it.

Recently had the chance to listen to a RP8 with the new mc cartridge and felt it was a good improvement but too expensive for me. They are taking the minimalist approach to the limit with both items and in my view it really works.

I feel moving an unsprung deck to a higher mass is the wrong direction if you want to avoid vibration impact.

Hope you like the Audiomods arm - I really like mine.

Mel

[stairpost]

I can't see the pics, no idea why though.

I do like Rega kit, so I'll have to figure it out.

[Jac Hawk]

I feel moving an unsprung deck to a higher mass is the wrong direction if you want to avoid vibration impact.

Hope you like the Audiomods arm - I really like mine.

Mel

Thing is Mel the silent base has isolated the plinth so it doesn't pick up the external noise, granted I've not heard it with the new plinth so if I don't like the sound I can easily swap back.

I can't wait to get the arm, get it finished and get it fired up

[Jac Hawk]

So I've got it finished, not to give it a listen and see if it was all worthwhile.

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/9DAC026D-A3C6-4886-9D7D-A9457F64FCED.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/9DAC026D-A3C6-4886-9D7D-A9457F64FCED.jpg.html)

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/72E31AA8-7134-41B5-B346-D30B48B9C74D.jpg (https://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/72E31AA8-7134-41B5-B346-D30B48B9C74D.jpg.html)

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/71C8DEDD-9A4D-48CD-ACF1-B1A6D12834C0.jpg (https://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/71C8DEDD-9A4D-48CD-ACF1-B1A6D12834C0.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/5FF03ACE-C92F-4734-891B-E655959F03FB.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/5FF03ACE-C92F-4734-891B-E655959F03FB.jpg.html)

https://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/Mobile%20Uploads/C6349D6A-CA63-4E96-9E8B-5852F2C78C51_1.jpg (https://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/Mobile%20Uploads/C6349D6A-CA63-4E96-9E8B-5852F2C78C51_1.jpg.html)

[struth]

Looks great. Nice grsin on that.
Arm looks to be well engineered

[Jac Hawk]

Thanks Grant, straight away i can tell the arm has made a difference, but it's been tricky to get the motor in just the right place so that the belts run smoothly, however the arm was an absolute doddle to set up and align.

Over the course of the next few days i'll be listening to some old favourites so that i can fully appreciate what the upgrades have done to the sound.

[Frazeur1]

Nice looking deck and arm! Enjoy!

[rigger67]

Trigger's broomesque :eyebrows:

[Jac Hawk]

Yep the only 2 things (had to put the original motor back on as the new one's knackered ) is the bearing and the motor, triggers broom ohhh yes

[Pigmy Pony]

Yep the only 2 things (had to put the original motor back on as the new one's knackered ) is the bearing and the motor, triggers broom ohhh yes

At some point during all these mods the deck probably ceased to be a Rega, and I think you have earned the right to re-name it! You could go for something obvious, like JacDek, or perhaps a more traditional moniker. Personally I like Frank, that was my grandad's name. Or maybe Doris. :)

[mayebaza]

At some point during all these mods the deck probably ceased to be a Rega, and I think you have earned the right to re-name it! You could go for something obvious, like JacDek, or perhaps a more traditional moniker. Personally I like Frank, that was my grandad's name. Or maybe Doris. :)Yep... Meet the Bazbo MkII
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/236c45b3446950e9936e8f30d5461cd8.jpg

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

[Bigman80]

Yep... Meet the Bazbo MkII
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/236c45b3446950e9936e8f30d5461cd8.jpg

Sent from my LYA-L29 using TapatalkLooks seriously clean, Baz. How's the arm? Always been intrigued by the OL arms.

[mayebaza]

I have always liked the OL arms. They have a very musical presentation. I have improved it significantly by replacing the nut with a stabiliser. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190308/146bfd7bd0b353f8de0723107b04c7da.jpg

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

[Bigman80]

I have always liked the OL arms. They have a very musical presentation. I have improved it significantly by replacing the nut with a stabiliser. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190308/146bfd7bd0b353f8de0723107b04c7da.jpg

Sent from my LYA-L29 using TapatalkYes i must admin to conversions with OL about their arms but went a different direction in the end.

[Jac Hawk]

Yep... Meet the Bazbo MkII
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190307/236c45b3446950e9936e8f30d5461cd8.jpg

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

Very nice indeed, keeping it clean would drive me mental, I'm assuming that you are doing the same as me and mounting the motor on the base, but what are you using to isolate the plinth, on mine it uses sorbothane domes.

[mayebaza]

A custom cover keeps the dust at bay quite effectively. In terms of isolating the plinth, it sits on eight layers made up of a combination of ceramic pucks, an acrylic sorbathane sandwich, and Audio Serenity speaker pads under good old Ikea Bamboo Butchers Blocks. This combination is derived from decades of trail and error on a tight budget.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190315/69571122f43c1ba1f2fe1f2add0913bd.jpg

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

[DSJR]

So now with all the bits left over, you can re-construct the old Rega deck as it was originally?

All these bling changes and the motor for ages was still fed from the very basic Planar 2 120V cap and resistor supply, allowing so much more motor vibration through? Not sure it's still available as Rega went to a 24V motor some time back, but the later fixed 120V motors had a much developed supply board and the motor vibrations were significantly reduced at source. Just sayin'

[mayebaza]

The hinges, motor, motor board and housing are still original. But yes all the other bits were given away or sold many years ago to several happy homes. This was a 1996 Rega Planar 3.

Sent from my LYA-L29 using Tapatalk

[Jac Hawk]

I think the next thing for me is a 24v motor upgrade, the original motor is past its best I think, but as far as motor noise goes the silent base does an amazing job, the rubber motor cup absorbs 90% and the bit that's left is held at bay bt the sorbothane domes the plinth sits on

[chipcalzada]

That's a good looking turntable and very nice audiomods arm. Like what you did with the plinth, how do you rate the audiomods series 5?

[Jac Hawk]

The arm is very very good, easy to set up and adjust with the micrometer, which unlike the earlier versions is now fluid damped so i've actually adjusted VTA while a record is playing. Sound wise it brings better detail and a wider sound stage and unlike my old stock Rega RB202 there is no noise at all from the wiring, not that you could hear it on the rega when music was playing but it was there in the background when everything was turned on and cranked up to 11.

[chipcalzada]

Thanks that’s good to know. I placed an order for an Audiomods series 6 which uses a different material for the arm wand moving away from the Rega. Never heard one in the flesh just made the decision based on owner reviews and gut feel.

[alphaGT]

I can't see the pics, no idea why though.

I do like Rega kit, so I'll have to figure it out.

Me too, just a weird little photo icon? What’s up with that?

Russell

[Cycleallday]

Thanks that’s good to know. I placed an order for an Audiomods series 6 which uses a different material for the arm wand moving away from the Rega. Never heard one in the flesh just made the decision based on owner reviews and gut feel.

Didn't know Jeff had brought out a new model and can't see it on his website - have you got any details about it?

I also have the Series 5 arm and really like it - mines on a Technics TT.

Mel

[Jac Hawk]

Didn't know Jeff had brought out a new model and can't see it on his website - have you got any details about it?

I also have the Series 5 arm and really like it - mines on a Technics TT.

Mel

Same here, I've never heard of the series 6 and Jeff didn't mention it when I ordered my arm, very strange

[Jac Hawk]

Me too, just a weird little photo icon? What’s up with that?

Russell

That's weird, I'm using photobucket like I always do

[chipcalzada]

I reached out to Jeff 2 weeks ago to inquire about placing an order for a series 5 and he informed me that production of the series 5 is on hold because of development of series 6. He sent me a draft PDF of the specs, the series 6 comes in 2 lengths 9 inch and 10.5 inch, also a black anodized version will be available. His estimation is that it’ll be ready for shipping end of April.

[Jac Hawk]

I must have got one of the last series 5’s then

[chipcalzada]

Hi Mike, that seems to be the case. I think Jeff will be posting the series 6 arm photos and specs on his website in the coming days/weeks.

[Jac Hawk]

Some more photos (I was at a loose end this morning)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/DSC_0390.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/DSC_0390.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/DSC_0381.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/DSC_0381.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/DSC_0380.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/DSC_0380.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/DSC_0386.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/DSC_0386.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/DSC_0385.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/DSC_0385.jpg.html)

http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb371/jachawk9000/DSC_0382.jpg (http://s1202.photobucket.com/user/jachawk9000/media/DSC_0382.jpg.html)

[mayebaza]

Very Nice

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[Jac Hawk]

Cheers Barrington

[Frazeur1]

I really love that plinth finish, well done! The whole deck looks nice...

[chipcalzada]

Very nice looking deck!