Rega P3-24 help required.Right Ch. Distortion

Miner,
I used to have a Rega P-3, and was able to effectively isolate it on the cheap using sorbothane feet. Starting with a level surface, fine tuning the level was just a matter how I placed the feet in relationship with the turntables weight/balance. I've also had excellent results with a Wilson Benesch table and the very affordable Foculpods. Once again, placement of said feet allowed for fine tuning of the tables level. The table sounded great, and low frequency oscillation was never a prolem. Not exectly a Vibraplane, but for less than $40, it worked awesome.
Currently I'm back to using my VPI Scout, and if I chose to isolate it further, I must use an isolation platform due to the separate motor assembly. I've previously used a granite plinth under my table, and never had any issues with ultra low frequency oscillation. Perhaps this is due more to the function of the unipivot arm, as opposed to a gimbled arm like the Rega.
Of course taking the time to properly setup your table will pay huge dividends, sound wise. A website that I've found helpful is vacuumstate.com. Check out the white paper by Allen Wright for some great advice, and a free alignment protractor. (if you have a printer)
Good luck!

I need to work around the marble - it is the 'top' on the cabinet - can't ditch it. Many users have employed heavy, dense materials in use for isolation - granite bases for TT, speakers, amps etc. Why not marble?

Have you checked out the incognito wire for your tone arm? It will take your Rega to a new level.

Glad your problem was easily identified. Now it's time for a little research.

QUESTION: why would you expect a marble slab to isolate a TT (or any object) from vibration? Would a car manufacturer install marble blocks as shock absorbers? How would the car react when driving over bumps? Small ones would rattle your teeth loose, big ones would launch the car airborne.

The only way to ISOLATE an object from vibrational energies is to eliminate physical connections between the vibration source and the object. Placing your TT in a vacuum chamber that's not in contact with any vibration source would work, but that's impractical without ready access to a space station. (Of course a marble slab does the just opposite: it CONNECTS the object to the vibration source.)

Practically speaking, the best we can do is ATTENUATE vibrations before they reach the TT. Vibrational energies are attenuated when we allow them to generate movement:
- OF the structure(s) between the vibration source and the object, like the springs on a car (but a marble slab is too heavy to move); and/or
- WITHIN the structure(s) between the vibration source and the object, like Dr. Scholl's gel insoles (but a marble slab is too dense and brittle to flex).

The material properties of marble (dense, very brittle) are the opposite of what's required for the attenuation of vibration. That slab is actually making your problem worse. Before you buy anything, ditch it.

Although I have my Rega P7 on a marble-topped console I can still get feedback by just lightly tapping the door to the console. I sure would have thought my TT would be isolated on a marble slab. I am now looking at various ways to isolate better. Black Diamond Racing makes isolation feet for Rega tables - they are replacement feet. i might give these a try.

Thanks for your feedback, I played about with the location of the TT, and it was just like Miner and Theo suggested that it wasn't isolated properly. I never imagined the isolation causing that severe of a problem. I believed it must have been something wrong with the TT simply due to the severity of the distortion.

Thanks for all your quick responses and helping me solve this issue.

Anti-Skate-Left distortion = DECREASE Anti, Right distortion = INCREASE Anti-skate
Perhaps this is your issue.

Thanks I will try your suggestions when I get home tonight. I did try a different TT which was an old Realistic 8010 Turntable which didnt have the same issue with the speaker cone visibly moving excessively and distorting the bass causing the whole room to shake.

I would second Miner42, since you are getting excessive speaker movement, it must be feedback. Try reversing L & R
cables from the table to be sure.

Another thought: Is your turntable level?

Sounds like yo might be expereincing feedback through your cartridge when the volume is high. Location and isolation are very important with analogue playback. Get TT away from speakers and on a solid surface - a wall mount would be best.