Rega White Belt...how the heck???


So some of you may have seen my last post about my disapointment with my Pro-Ject table...I ended up jumping on what seemed a killer deal on a Rega RP3 (And, a killer deal on the Groovetracer Reference Subplatter and Delrin platter)  after getting it all set up  (came with the Elys 2 mounted)  I was very happy with what I was hearing, although the bass, while definitely very present, was muddy and boomy.  I had heard about the white belt,  and was very skeptical that it would have any effect on the over all sound I was hearing, as was stated in the many reviews I read, so I was hesitant to pick one up.   The reason I did was...well, the stock drive belt did seem to kind of flop it's way around the pulley,  and it might help speed stability, if nothing else.

I was pleased to hear I was wrong! Now, the "test" record of choice for me is Rush's Permanent Waves.   more attack and punch in the low end than I first heard when I got the RP3!  Still a little boomy over all (from what I understand,  that's the sound of the Elys 2, and I did end mounting the 2m Blue from my Project on the RP3...COULDN'T BE HAPPIER NOW!)  But a subtle difference either way.

What I want to know (if someone could explain)  why it is...that the drive belt could possibly have an effect on anything tone wise. I can't seem to find the correlation between the two, but the proof was in the listening,  and while it is a subtle difference,  it's definitely there!

tehchuckelator
" What I want to know (if someone could explain)  why it is...that the drive belt could possibly have an effect on anything tone wise. I can't seem to find the correlation between the two, but the proof was in the listening,  and while it is a subtle difference,  it's definitely there! "

A loose belt can't keep the platter running at a consistent speed. Also, if you have a brand new phono cart, it needs to be broken in. The difference break in is huge. You can literally hear a change from record to record.
I had the white belt on a RP-6, and quite frankly I couldn't hear any difference between it and the stock belt. YMMV.