Rega reference belt disappointment

Rega and speed stability should not be used in the same sentence.  They have never been able to get it right.

  If the old belt still is in one piece just clean it and continue to use as a new product from Rega will be a waste of resources.

  If you value speed stability consider a Direct Drive table

With an occasional application of Armor All a rubber belt can last essentially forever. Drying out is what kills rubber belts. That's what I use on the rubber belt on my 1977 Ariston turntable.

Sometimes the tolerances of the newer tables are a bit different from the old and I would think the new belt is designed around the newer models. I had a speed issue with my Basis when I changed to a new belt and the problem was corrected with a new motor pulley. You might try a new standard Rega belt and see if it works better. 

In the long run, Armorall , at least the original product that makes rubber tires shiny, is not a good choice for a TT belt because it may make the belt slippery and also may dry it out prematurely.

Listening before you did the check, could you REALLY hear a difference?

Guessing no?

If you haven't already- replacing the plastic subplatter with an aftermarket steel/aluminum one  can make a noticeable improvement. 

So I’m not asking about longevity (amoral? We all know that destroys rubber), it’s just the wow is higher. Just trying to stick to the original point for simplicity.

RPM is spot on, only the wow percentage is higher.

I did mention that these old ears don’t hear a difference anyway.

Sub platter is a GrooveTracer Deluxe model. It’s been on the table for years

ArmorAll is mostly water I believe. I wouldn't use it on a tt belt.

I often read that Armorall should not even be used on car tires. So what does that say?

@neversatisfied 

Try, Origin Live for a new belt. I've used them on my Rock 7 and VPI for years.

That is a disturbing result. Did you clean the entire belt path, pulley and circumference of sub platter, with pure alcohol when replacing the belt?

Run in the belt for 50 hours and then repeat you method of measurement .

DeKay

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.

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

DeKay

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.

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

Try turning it inside out and retesting. 

It’s a round belt, more of an O ring than a belt actually.

But was it cryogenically treated before you tried your experiment?

Does a turntable belt have a break-in period?  If so, then maybe you should give it time and then retest.  
 

Was it cryogenically treated? You would need to ask Rega but they claim it was.

Now I wonder if….  Interesting timing for your post.  I have a P5 with Groove Tracer sub platter and Platter.  I upgraded to Neo TT PSU a couple of years ago (whole other post).  Long story short, I was checking to see if motor was rubbing against platter and noticed the white Rega belt was sloppy (on TT for quite a while) put new spare white belt on. No more slop. But considered purchasing new reference ELBT.    Food for thought

I guess I'm just confused as to why you don't contact Rega first, or your local Rega distributor, and tell them about this issue and they might have an explanation/solution.

This way you don't have to engage this forum to speculate about what the issue is, which doesn't really help you much

Complaining here before even reaching out to the manufacturer seems to be putting the cart before the horse, in my humble opinion.

So, bimmerlover....I would very much like to contact Rega. In fact it was my first reaction. If you would be so kind as to provide me with their contact information I will do so straight away, because Rega does not provide that information on their site. Obviously I will contact the shop from where I purchased it. I would be foolish not to. In fact I will be doing so right after "engaging" this forum once again.

I am so very sorry to have posted my question on this public forum and caused you to loose precious time from your very important life. I apologize for enjoying the suggestions of the friendly and helpful people here, and on probably every other public forum I am a member of. It is usually a very social and happy experience 

I am also very sorry that you feel that someone asking for advice on a forum is "complaining". I do not recall complaining. Perhaps it appears to be complaining due to your overly pleasant disposition. But I could be wrong.

The good news is, you do not need to reply to this thread and longer.

P.S. Apologies to the good folk here. I just came back from a colonoscopy so I might be a tad grumpy.

Edwards Audio Blue Belt. They are a component parts supplier to Rega and make a bely under their own name. It's the best belt I have ever used for Rega turntables and Edwards turntables.

+1 contacting Rega

I don’t think bimmerlover Is worried about his precious time or he would not have given you a sincere response because it’s true many people do that. They don’t exhaust their options for a true resolution before coming to the forum. There’s no reason in taking offense to that. This is a discussion about your issue and frustration. I don’t remember their number but I’ve contacted them many times over the years as a Rega owner and their support in the US is phenomenal  

I don’t see why someone can’t seek suggestions on a friendly forum while also contacting various other sources. I guess it’s my fault, I always felt hanging out on a forum was like going to your local pub and chatting with the guys. I see I was wrong and I will take that into consideration on this particular forum going forward.
Problem solved anyway. I sold the RP3 and bought a new P6.

While I was there, I showed the two independent app results for the WOW to the guys at the store. They too, were surprised at the wow being doubled with the new belt and would mention it to their Rega rep next time he comes around.  
The new P6 is awesome.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

@neversatisfied 

Congrats on the new TT....I started with an 80s Planar 2, then RP6 to an RP10 and now a P10.  Maybe Naia is next ; )

Again...don't take offense for coming here to chat.  My point is that this is a specific issue with the results of a new purchase so the first thing to do is call Rega and get it resolved and not take the opinion of folks here.  Even if you got lucky and found one person that also had an RP3 and upgraded their belt, it still doesn't definitively answer your question.  The folks in TX that support the US truly are among the best hi-fi support in the industry so don't forget about them.

Thanks dhite71, it’s a sweet deck.

I read many people are contacting Rega directly. I wish I could but their site gives no contact information. I mentioned this to the Rega authorized shop where I purchase my kit and they agreed that people should be able to go straight to Rega. However the only option, at least here in Canada, is the store-rep-Rega-rep-store route.

If anyone has that contact information please feel free to forward it to me, for any future needs.

@neversatisfied

US Distributor for Rega:

The Sound Organization

soundorg.com

support@soundorg.com

Always responsive and helpful, in my experience.

@dekay 

Run in the belt for 50 hours and then repeat you method of measurement

The belt drive system adds another layer of "settling" time. The belt itself needs to stretch and adjust to the platter and sub-platter as the turntable starts. 

Yes, a rubber band needs to settle. Bring on the naysayers! ;)

Yes, Rega turntables, particularly the Planar series, can take a bit of time to settle into their speed after the belt is engaged. This is normal and often attributed to the design of the low-torque motor and the nature of the belt drive system. 

No, it's not possible to create a rubber band with perfectly exact elasticity. While rubber bands exhibit elastic properties, they don't behave perfectly according to Hooke's Law, and their elasticity deteriorates over time due to factors like UV light, temperature, and stress.

Hooke's Law states that the force required to stretch or compress a spring (or a material exhibiting elastic behavior) is proportional to the displacement. However, rubber bands don't perfectly adhere to this law. While they initially exhibit a linear relationship between force and extension, this linearity breaks down as the rubber band is stretched further. 

Rega belts are tested:

Yes, Rega drive belts, including the Reference EBLT, are extensively tested to ensure accuracy and consistency. The Reference EBLT is molded on custom tooling, cryogenically frozen, and barreled to remove flash, resulting in a cross-sectional roundness of 0.075%. This process guarantees the highest achievable level of accuracy. 

@neversatisfied 

Here's the contact info with phone

I have spoken with them several times and alway patient and helpful.  I am embarrassed that I cannot remember his name or home country but one of the main gentlemen there has an accent and is so knowledgeable.  Even though you moved on, I encourage you to relay your experience to them for insight.

Soundorg (North American distributor)
1009 Oakmead Drive
Arlington, TX 76011
(972) 234-0182
soundorg.com

I’m happy to say the belt on my new P6 is giving great numbers right out of the box with no break in needed. This reassures me that the one I put on the RP3 was defective. Perhaps I will get some feedback from the shop once they talk to the Rega rep.

Thanks for contact info!