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Rega P3-24 or RB301 anti-skating bias

Hi, I recently bought a Rega Rega P3-24 (with the RB301 arm). In setting it up, it appears that the anti-skating is radically out of adjustment. I have tried sliding the bias adjustment slider, but at all settings the arm is pulled rather noticeably back toward the arm rest/cueing lever.

For example, when trying to set the tracking control, the instructions say to "slide the balance weight along its shaft until the stylus is “floating” just 1mm clear of the record." No matter where I set the bias slider, I can't get the arm to stay in one place when it's floating. Instead, it immediately and quickly returns to the arm rest/cueing lever.

I would welcome ANY advice.
bob19096
mingles
796 posts
 
I don't think this is unusual. I experienced the same thing with an RB300. With antiskate set to 0 and tracking set to 0, the arm slowly drifted back to the arm rest. The antiskate mechanism is magnetic which might explain why it exerts a force even when it's "off." If the drift is slow, I wouldn't worry about it. Just do your best to set the tracking force.

Are you using a tracking force gauge and adjusting the counterweight to apply force? This will give the best sounding results. Rega's tracking force knob is known to introduce vibrations into the arm tube. Here's an excellent overview with best practices:

http://www.tonearm.co.uk/rega-arms-hi-fi-world.htm
rick_hilton
46 posts
 
I have a new P5! My tonearm exhibits the same behavior! My table and tonearm sound great! I wouldn't worry about your tonearm, it totally normal.
bob19096 OP
3 posts
 
Thanks, Rick and Mingles. A consistent pattern is developing here, I think.
bobgates
535 posts
 
Unfortunately the RB301 has taken a step backward from the original classic Rega RB300. Quality control has fallen off considerably; I briefly owned a brand new P3-24 and was disappointed buy the finish of the tonearm, particularly around the headshell where there were burrs that were not filed down after casting. The way the antiskate is set is downright cheesy. Also the instructions that came with the table are about useless; I'll never buy another Rega turntable.
pops
2,273 posts
 
I had the same problem when I had the RB300, it got to the point where it would jump back and skip on the final track of an album and not drift into the dead zone - not matter what setting I used...
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