WHATS BEST TO UPGRADE THE REGA P3 ????

[hifinut]

I now own a P3 rega sounds good standardand looking upon web I see that there's a whole plethora of upgrades Im looking to do the isolation mods-motor and bearing housingand an acrylic platter has anyone else done more or know whats best please.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ULTIMATE-REGA-...QQcmdZViewItem

Mine has the older RB200 arm which is in good order and using a Ortofon VMS 20E mk2 cart at the mo.

[dudywoxer]

I have had the opportunity to compare the standard glass platter, acrylic and the Funk, and both the funk and acrylic change the sound considerably over the Rega glass offering.

Some of the attack is taken out of the sound, but it gains more 'air and space' and there is to my ears not a lot to pick between the funk and acrylic. I think if I were make the choce now I would try the iron audio acrylic platter rather than the one I have.

The comparison was made on a P3 with RB 300 and on a P25 with RB 600, the P3 has the original motor, using a Denon DL110 cart in both cases.

Having heard the difference that the motor upgrade made on a 3, I think I would suggest motor first, then platter if at all. The reason I say if at all is that the change may be to your liking and may not, and the easiest way to find out would be to get a Funk platter on Demo.

[hifinut]

With the above ebay link you get a silicone mat with it too are these worth having as some say to use acrylic without a mat?

Motor upgrade do you mean the new motor kit rega makes?

[hifinut]

Also seen this :

http://www.needles-and-spins.co.uk/p..._achroplat.cfm#

[dudywoxer]

Thats the acrylic platter I have- I would go for the Funk platter I think, or this
http://www.ironaudio.com/rega.html

Ask Uncle ant- he may do the Funk platter on sale or return

[Uncle Ants]

dudywoxer wrote:

Ask Uncle ant- he may do the Funk platter on sale or return

We do, but we've been having difficulties getting hold of the Achroplat over the past few weeks. I think there has been some problem in production. I have been told by Funk that its almost sorted now though and they should be back on line sometime in the next two weeks.

Hifinut. The best upgrade you could make would I suspect be to swap that arm out and get an RB250 on it, worrying about all these other bits and bobs is abit previous til you sort that out ... nice cartridge mind, and well worth keeping, though if its old you might think about a new stylus.

[Ant]

Uncle Ants wrote:

The best upgrade you could make would I suspect be to swap that arm out and get an RB250 on it, worrying about all these other bits and bobs is abit previous til you sort that out ... nice cartridge mind, and well worth keeping, though if its old you might think about a new stylus.

[hifinut]

The arm is what I thought to need changing to get it to sound better 250 or 300 Rega whats the difference between those? the needle on the Ortofon VMS20SE mk2 does look new conditionI have looked at the diamond and it looks ok and sounds it too

Im thinking of ether selling this and buying another rega with a 250 300 arm as it would cost me as much for another arm as a complete deck via ebay

[Uncle Ants]

hifinut wrote:

The arm is what I thought to need changing to get it to sound better 250 or 300 Rega whats the difference between those?

RB300 has the bearing supporting only one side and has a spring loaded mechanism for dialling in VTF. The RB250 bearings support both sides and has no spring mechanism, so you really need a stylus gauge to correctly set VTF.

The differing bearing arrangement is one reason why a lot of people actually prefer the 250 over the 300. The 300 does have a better end stub though and on some300s a much better decoupled tungsten counterweight. The actual arm piece is identical though on both arms.

[uzzy]

I don't know if anyone has gone to a granite worktop specialist and replaced the plinth with a slab of granite. The increased mass ofthe plinth should yield advantages but as to how much I have no idea. But quite frankly when it comes to upgrading a Rega I think you are best looking to change the turntable.

On Ebay turntables like the Ariston RD11, RD80 and 90, the Systemdeks, the STDs, JBEs, The Logics, Pink Triangles, Heybrook TT2s and Lyn Sondeks all appear at attractive prices. My recommendation would be to upgrade to one of these. The bargain in this range if you can find one is the Sytemdek 2x2 (or the II900 with acrylic platter and electronic speed change).

To assess the advantage of an acrylic mat get a cheap old LP from a charity shop and get the orbital sander out to level it off in the record label and lip areas and try it as a mat (after washing and drying it).

Uzzy

[hifinut]

The main thing at 1st was to geta P3and see weather or not I like vinyl and just wondered upon what upgrades are good without breaking the bank so to speak Iv been offered some exquisite decks but going too far with only several records is pointlesshaving say a £500 unit if it wont get used.

[uzzy]

The P3 is a fine unit for what it is - just put on the vinyl and listen to it and when you decide whether or not you like vinyl then think about what to do next.

Have fun

Uzzy

[thrunobulax]

uzzy wrote:

I don't know if anyone has gone to a granite worktop specialist and replaced the plinth with a slab of granite. The increased mass ofthe plinth should yield advantages but as to how much I have no idea. But quite frankly when it comes to upgrading a Rega I think you are best looking to change the turntable.


Uzzy

Hi in answer to your question re granite plinths, here is such a deck that i recently finished building with 30mm high density granite, it also has a fully modded and stripped RB250, and many of the parts including sub platter ,clamp, feet etc are home made, the platter is 20mm acrylic with a 5mm acromat from uncle ants, i recently fitted an eroica lx and got the geometry spot on with a Rega specific Baerwald protractor downloaded from the vinylengine which although brings the cart forword in the headshell and very slightly turned in clockwise. sounds superb, It cost around £700 to build but much money has been saved by having a lathe in the garage, i would quite confidently put it up against some decks costing 3-5K. Regards from a newbie here today, if i can help please ask. i have included an attachment of it.

[hifinut]

Tastyme just brought another P3 with acrylic plater and new motor also got the 300 arm too bargain price £170 the arm is just over a year old:Bouncey:

See my classified sale ad if anyone want my standard one