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Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Expressimo Audio Rega Heavyweight Accessory by robotk

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REVIEW: Expressimo Audio Rega Heavyweight Accessory

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Model: Rega Heavyweight
Category: Accessory
Suggested Retail Price: $90.00
Description: Assymetrical counterweight replacement
Manufacturer URL: Expressimo Audio
Model Picture: View

Review by robotk ( A ) on December 16, 2003 at 19:54:45
IP Address: 65.81.175.184
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for the Rega Heavyweight


I bought this product based solely on the reviews I have read on Stereophile and other publications. Like everyone else who buys this thing, I bought it expecting to be completely disappointed. I was not.

The table is a Rega P25 with a RB600. This table was a fairly significant improvement over the P3 I had with greater smoothness in all aspects of the sound as well as much more solid images. The table sits on a spiked IKEA/Target table. Overall, prior to the addition of the Heavyweight, I'd describe the Rega as fast and exciting if a bit on the thin side.

The Heavyweight itself is a nice chunky piece of machined steel with a removable weight for light carts and a set screw to fasten the weight directly to the arm. It replaces a high density tungsten CW with double O-ring attachements. The arm VTF spring is disabled and the pressure set with a Shure gauge.

The addition of the Heavyweight has proved to be a worthwhile one. It has effectively fleshed out the sound of the Rega and made the sound even smoother. Most noticeably, however, it has added more punch to the bass. Overall, I guess you could say the Rega is a bit warmer with the Heavyweight -- but not excessively so. Just enough, for my taste without any sacrifice in speed.

The bass improvement is fairly noticeable and very much welcomed -- notes are easier to make out than before.

The only real dispute I have with the literature and other user's experiences is that I have seen no change in the soundstaging/imaging qualities of the table.

In the final analysis, the Heavyweight provided a very pleasant and worthwhile incremental change. If I am not "blown away" it is only because the difference was not as profound as changing from a P3 to a P25 as the reviews would have me believe. This is nitpicking though -- the sound with the Heavyweight is richer and improvements in bass quality make this one of the few tweaks that this skeptic believes actually works.


Product Weakness: Price - I can't get over the fact that a small piece of steel should cost this much. As far as tweaks go, however, this one is definitely worth it.
Product Strengths: Richer more well rounded sound with better bass delineation and emphasis. Slightly smooths out some distortion I was hearing on some records


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: Primare A20MkII
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): None
Sources (CDP/Turntable): Rega p25/ Grado Plat/ MF X-LP
Speakers: Spendor 3/5
Cables/Interconnects: PBJs
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Indie rock
Time Period/Length of Audition: 1 week
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Expressimo Audio Rega Heavyweight Accessory - robotk 19:54:45 12/16/03 ( 13)