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Rega reference belt disappointment

My RP3 is about 11 to 12 years old and has the original belt and I thought it might be time to replace it. I figured I would get the Reference EBLT belt, and why not? Rega’s site shows how much better it is with respect to wow and flutter, right?

The disappointment comes from testing both old and new with my phone RPM APP. 
The old belt has a WOW of around plus or minus 0.08 %. The new “Reference” belt shoots up to plus or minus 0.27%

Ok the App may not be the most accurate with respect to the actual value displayed but the repeatability would suggest the new belt is worse than the old. So what the hell, Rega? I will give it a few more hours to see if it settles in but so far I’m disappointed.

I tried to post my pic’s of the app results but couldn’t figure out how.

 

neversatisfied
lewm
13,567 posts
 

Yep. Armorall, their original product, is now out of favor because it dries out the rubber even on tires. They do make other useful products.

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,747 posts
 

Armor All is crap, and this has been common knowledge for decades.

 

DeKay

neversatisfied OP
88 posts
 

I can put the old belt back on and the numbers drop right back down which makes me believe the sub platter is clean. I will continue running it for some time to see if it improves. Worst case scenario, I have a spare belt. It does piss me off that I spent $100 on it though.

I should have known better.

viridian's avatar
viridian
5,229 posts
 

So "no", fair enough. It may just bed in with more play, as dekay suggested.

noromance's avatar
noromance
10,100 posts
 

Try turning it inside out and retesting. 

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