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In Reply to: RE: Better how? posted by Mr Blue Sky on May 17, 2015 at 20:43:31
The $300 Jelco SA-370H that I bought had a reservoir for oil fluid damping of tonearm motion. It also had a standard bayonet mount detachable headshell, which is very convenient for switching cartridges. You can have multiple cartridges already mounted in their own headshells so they are perfectly aligned. All you need to do is reset tracking force when switching cartridges.
I've never owned a Rega tonearm, but there is a design flaw in the spring-applied tracking force system. At least I believe it is a flaw. The spring applies upward torque to the tonearm when set to zero. You balance the tonearm and adjust the spring dial for the correct tracking force by releasing some of the spring tension. It was made this way with the notion that it would reduce effective mass by placing the counterweight closer to the pivot. In theory this is correct. However, the amount of reduction in effective mass is miniscule and the tonearm becomes considerably unbalanced as a result.
The best method of spring applied tracking force is when the arm is balanced and the spring is used to apply tracking force so the arm remains dynamically balanced like virtually all other tonearms that use a spring to apply tracking force. Anyway, because of this erroneous tracking force system, many Rega owners set the spring dial to maximum, which eliminates any force from the spring, so they can set tracking force using the counterweight only. They claim the Rega tonearm performs better that way.
Therefore, if you decide to buy a Rega tonearm, I would recommend buying an AudioMods Rega tonearm. If you read about all the modifications in the link below, you'll gain a better understanding of other things that AudioMods improves on the Rega.
Good luck,
John Elison
Follow Ups:
> > Anyway, because of this erroneous tracking force system, many Rega owners set the spring dial to maximum, which eliminates any force from the spring, so they can set tracking force using the counterweight only. They claim the Rega tonearm performs better that way. < <
Not certain who you think "they" are? From my experience, the reason audiophiles tried that method above was based on something completely different:
The real flaw in the RB design (and perhaps other spring/dynamically balanced designs) ... and the MAIN reason audiophiles began setting the spring to max, was an attempt to try "defeat" the springs inherited resonance, which smears the sound considerably.
In vain tho; not only is "defeat" impossible via the dial, this setup further compounds the arms most negative sonic characteristic(*)!
With > 2 decade worth of experience modding an RB300, including it's eventual spring removal, I can honestly (by virtue of experience not hearsay) recommend others to use it as ORIGINALLY designed; it sounds best that way, despite any so-called "erroneous" claim.
(The only way to "defeat" the spring's inherited resonance at any setting; is to remove it (or by some damping method)!)
I demo'd the Audiomod arms not long ago (will need a second arm soon). Impressive design, unfortunately not so much sonically. Could've been my expectations, perhaps the system or setup was compromised; that said, I'd still entertain a weekend home demo.
Still have much respect for Rega's. As for Jelco, never been a huge fan. However; recently heard what TTWeights did with a modded 750 w/Ort Cadenza Black. That was impressive.
(*)with dial set to max: less spring tension = lowered freq + a much longer duration: the energy (from cartridge into the arm) would EXCITE the spring, further smearing the sound ...
In an effort to defeat the spring, I have anti-skate set to zero and the tracking force dial set to zero, using only the counterweight to set tracking force. Am I better off cranking the dial to max (3 grams, I think?) and then using the counterweight?
> > In an effort to defeat the spring, I have anti-skate set to zero and the tracking force dial set to zero, using only the counterweight to set tracking force. Am I better off cranking the dial to max (3 grams, I think?) and then using the counterweight? < <
Again, not only is the spring not defeatable, it's resonant signature becomes more prominent under lesser tension, hence use the arm as designed; it sounds best that way.
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