Rega Planar 3 : Heavily upgraded yet produces a sound that I don't like
I have the Rega Planar 3 turntable for 30 years now. It had
an original everything including a 100$ nottingham analogue cartridge/stylus.
Sound was not bad but pretty basic....
A few years ago I started upgrading it. I did all the
upgrades together and the result is... not good. The sound is very accurate but it is too bright, there is almost no
Bass and drums have no attack whatsoever.
I can't eliminate where the problem is because all upgrades
are irreversible.
I know that the
Ortofon Rondo Red has a very bright sound but still...
Here is a list of the upgrades :
1. ISOkinetik ISOvert Rega Tonearm VTA Adjustment Kit
2. Cardas Litz purple phono cable
3. ISOkinetik Tonearm Low CG weight
https://www.analogueseduction.net/isokinetik-upgrades-and-parts/isokinetik-isoweight.html
4. Ortofon Rondo Red Cartridge/stylus
5 Linn Linto phono pre amp (an old but outstanding piece which has a cult following).
6. I use Rega Elicit Apmplifer
I found a relevant thread I started a few years ago. The tech specs I listed there show no mismatch: "Rondo red: Recommended load impedance 10-200 Ohm Linn linto: The input impedance measured 165 ohms at 1kHz http://www.ortofon.com/products/cartridges/moving-coil/mc-rondo-series/mc-rondo-red |
"I tried a Ortofon Red on my Planar 3 based on all of the bang for the buck reviews. I added a spacer to help with the VTA etc. Hated the sound it was basically as you described. " Dougsat, I will make sure VTA and speed are correct of course but I do tend to suspect the cartridge. Speed was never an issue with my previous cartridge. What would be a better all around cartridge at the same price and a little bit more that could balance accurate sound that will still sound... warmish and not kill the drums ? |
Regarding VTA, mentioned above, here are 2 images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AQ4z20Lw9QczeRBqYEcEexC5pD66FdTE?usp=sharing |
A quick update.. The local Rega dealer kindly agreed to lend a Rega phonostage next weekend to take home and replace my Linn Linto to help isolate the guilty component. Assuming this doesn't help, the next step would be to try a new MC cartridge. Would a Rega Ania MC cartridge that costs more than 600 pounds be a golden ring in a pig's nose ? Again, assuming it solves the problem, wouldn't it be more economical to just sell the TT and buy another one that fits my phonstage/system ? |
Problem solved ! Well... most of it ... I decided to start the Rondo Red setup from scratch. All I knew is that the dealer who sold it to me used a Baerwald protractor for Rega to set the Cartridge alignment. I read that a Stevenson protractor for Rega can be better. I used the Stevenson and bingo ! Now there is a nice Bass, drums have a decent attack and sound stage is much much better. I ended up spending 8 hours yesterday listening to my good old vinyls. The sound though, is still on the bright side. When Barbra Streisand sings "Memories", at timing 01:38, sound is too bright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWoQW-b6Ph8 In a climax part of a symphony wind instruments sound a bit too bright. So at this point I finally end up enjoying my P3 TT but sound is a bit inferior to my Digital department (Linn Karik transport + Carry Exciter D/A) . Bare in mind that my Linn Linto phonostage is MC only so I'm afraid MM's are not an option for me. To resolve the brightness issue, I have to buy a better MC cartridge like the Rega Annia for 800$ or similar. Anybody here tried the Annia MC ? Any recommendations for a decent MC ? |
