Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: DeepGroove Rega Subplatter Mod Accessory by OMalley

Model:	Rega Subplatter Mod
Category:	Accessory
Suggested Retail Price:	$179
Description:	Rega Sub Platter +Bearing Upgrade..
Manufacturer URL:	DeepGroove
Model Picture:	View

Review by OMalley ( A ) on February 22, 2006 at 19:13:44
IP Address: 68.44.112.122

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for the Rega Subplatter Mod

Well I got the DeepGroove subplatter and it has made a big improvement.
first thing i noticed after the subplatter settled is that when i spun the platter without the belt attached it spun for a much longer time than it did with the the plastic subplatter ... and it seemed smoother too. The ruby bearing probably causes less noise - this is a one jewel movement device now.
Oil used was labelled "SRM/TECH Ultimate Turntable Main Bearing Oil" which was supplied by the seller. (This was an ebay win.) It seems to work as well as the Valvoline 80W gear oil I had in the bearing well before.
How did it sound? I put on Jaco Pastorius which i had played the day before with the plastic subplatter and now the bass definition was really tight and detailed. previously bass thumped or deeply twanged but now there was much more noticeable definition in the bass note. the electric bass Jaco played on "Donna Lee" had a pebbly sense to it and the rest of the bass on that album offered up much more weird detail. Cymbals set in the air, drums tapped independantly and seemed more in the distance, strings had more definition. There was more magic. I expect cello will be very sweet. And trumpet and sax ... the sense of expectancy engendered by my first experience tells me something!
Next I put on a VOX disc, Alfred Brendel playing Schubert. This record has NEVER sounded this good. Piano sounded real. We have a piano in the house and my daughter plays so it was sensational to hear that record sound so realistic. Piano notes are more delicate or have more weight as the instance requires, wow and flutter are _non-existant_ and the flow of the music was noticeably sweeter.
I was considering the OriginLive DC motor over the Heed powe rsupply because on the OriginLive there is a feedback control which helps to compensate for 'moments' of change and you can switch from 33/3 to 45 by a setting on back. But I may not have to go there so soon now. The whole point of going to the DC motor was to eliminate the speed issues that I thought might be coming from the cogging AC motor ~ That cogging motor still must go but, for the moment, it seems the speed issues are almost fully extinguished due to the DeepGroove.
personal aside: the best part about incremental upgrades is the thrill you get from each 'noticeable' upgrade and the childlike expectancy you get get looking forward to the next. I have been made convinced that this turntable will exceed my expectations and it will probably be the last turntable I buy. [this is where i hear an evil laugh in the background bwahaHAHAHAHA]
one small note: I put this subplatter on a NAD533 and the centering ring prevented the medite platter from dropping down. The centering ring had to go, then the platter sat flat on the subplatter. Removing the centering ring was easy with a toothpick.

Product Weakness: none. i DID have to pay for it
Product Strengths: it works, will last forever, and i got it for $113 on ebay ~ YEAH!

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Conrad-Johnson SA250 Sonographe
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Conrad-Johnson PV10BL [2x 12AU7 RCA cleartops]
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	NAD533/RB250 w/ TechnoWeight
Speakers:	Paradigm Reference Studio 100v2
Cables/Interconnects:	Kimber hero and monster
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	jazz, classical
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	none. i DID have to pay for it
Product Strengths:	it works, will last forever, and i got it for $113 on ebay ~ YEAH!