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Rega RB600 Rewire.

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BSD2000:
Modifying the tonearm spring scares me a bit. lol

I can see how it could create resonance and ring, but yanking it out could change the sound characteristics away from the quick, lively 'Rega' signature sound that I like so much. Removing the spring may deaden and dull the sound character, or it may brighten and thin out the sound, depending on the cartridge.

I know from my own experience with my Zyx cartridges, they love Rega tonearms - just the way they are. Both of my Zyx cartridges are a good match with the RB600 tonearm, but my Zyx R100H was a terrible match with the VPI Scoutmaster's uni-pivot arm. I know that's not a good analogy since the RB600 and JMW9 tonearms are like comparing apples to oranges, but it proved to me at least that cartridge/tonearm matching can have a dramatic influence on the sound quality.

Apart from maybe a lower noise floor (and a more accurate motor), I really can't imagine my Rega P25 sounding better than it already does. At this point, I would be hesitant to go beyond swapping out the stock wiring and counterweights. Rega may have tweaked the spring during the build process so the tracking force dial is more accurate and tampering with that could be akin to taking apart an automatic transmission; even if you put it back together the exact same way it came apart, it's never the same as it was when new.

Then again, my theory could be complete hogwash. lol   ;)

I can see a slight advantage to using a spring, since the pressure could be more stable and consistent when the tonearm plays a thick 200G+ LP vs a thin LP, since the spring tension is the same with the tonearm being slightly above or below parallel to the platter. In theory, spring tension in either case would be more or less the same. I know that 'free' tonearms that use only a counterweight for tracking force can track lighter on thicker LP's and heavier on thin LP's, by as much as .05 grams.

The VPI uni-pivot was a nightmare for setting the VTF and I got the best results by making sure the scale was at the exact same height as the platter, plus the thickness of an average LP. If I placed the scale on top of the platter and set the VTF, then re-checked the VTF with the scale being closer to level with the platter, the tracking force would be slightly higher. When I tried the same experiment on my Rega P25, the tracking force was virtually the same above or below platter level.

I would like to hear before and after samples from someone who modified their turntable before making the decision to modify my own.  :)

Are you going to try it?  :D

migkiller1971:

--- Quote from: BSD2000 on July 11, 2012, 12:16:11 PM ---Modifying the tonearm spring scares me a bit. lol

I can see how it could create resonance and ring, but yanking it out could change the sound characteristics away from the quick, lively 'Rega' signature sound that I like so much. Removing the spring may deaden and dull the sound character, or it may brighten and thin out the sound, depending on the cartridge.

I know from my own experience with my Zyx cartridges, they love Rega tonearms - just the way they are. Both of my Zyx cartridges are a good match with the RB600 tonearm, but my Zyx R100H was a terrible match with the VPI Scoutmaster's uni-pivot arm. I know that's not a good analogy since the RB600 and JMW9 tonearms are like comparing apples to oranges, but it proved to me at least that cartridge/tonearm matching can have a dramatic influence on the sound quality.

Apart from maybe a lower noise floor (and a more accurate motor), I really can't imagine my Rega P25 sounding better than it already does. At this point, I would be hesitant to go beyond swapping out the stock wiring and counterweights. Rega may have tweaked the spring during the build process so the tracking force dial is more accurate and tampering with that could be akin to taking apart an automatic transmission; even if you put it back together the exact same way it came apart, it's never the same as it was when new.

Then again, my theory could be complete hogwash. lol   ;)

I can see a slight advantage to using a spring, since the pressure could be more stable and consistent when the tonearm plays a thick 200G+ LP vs a thin LP, since the spring tension is the same with the tonearm being slightly above or below parallel to the platter. In theory, spring tension in either case would be more or less the same. I know that 'free' tonearms that use only a counterweight for tracking force can track lighter on thicker LP's and heavier on thin LP's, by as much as .05 grams.

The VPI uni-pivot was a nightmare for setting the VTF and I got the best results by making sure the scale was at the exact same height as the platter, plus the thickness of an average LP. If I placed the scale on top of the platter and set the VTF, then re-checked the VTF with the scale being closer to level with the platter, the tracking force would be slightly higher. When I tried the same experiment on my Rega P25, the tracking force was virtually the same above or below platter level.

I would like to hear before and after samples from someone who modified their turntable before making the decision to modify my own.  :)

Are you going to try it?  :D

--- End quote ---

No need to yank the spring out. To disengage the spring, you have to put the dial pass the "3" and use to counterweight and a digital scale to dial in the vtf.

BSD2000:

--- Quote from: migkiller1971 on July 12, 2012, 09:13:11 PM ---No need to yank the spring out. To disengage the spring, you have to put the dial pass the "3" and use to counterweight and a digital scale to dial in the vtf.

--- End quote ---

I'll give that a try later today.  8)

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