Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Rega RB600 Tone Arms by afro18

Model:	RB600
Category:	Tone Arms
Suggested Retail Price:	$695.00
Description:	The RB600 is a high performance version of the legendary RB300 tonearm.
Manufacturer URL:	Rega
Model Picture:	View

Review by afro18 ( A ) on December 24, 2003 at 08:52:55
IP Address: 66.203.10.69

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for the RB600

Preface: Let me first qualify this review. I have this arm running a Goldring 1006 on a Moth Alamo (think P2) base. It's running into a Cambridge Audio A500 with Klipsch SB-2 speakers. I have upgraded the platter on my turntable to acrylic and use a KAB Super-Grip record clamp also. In my past, Iâ€™ve used a Thorens TP-20, Moth RB-250, and a Moth RB-250 with all the Origin Live modifications.

All this noted, my first piece to review with is The Warm Sound by Johnny Coles. This is the version on 180-gram vinyl released by Classic Records. Listening to this recording, I noticed that the bass was more crisp and dynamic than with other arms. The overall sound was translucent, with space and dynamics around the piano solo. Any listener to this album will be encouraged to hear that thereâ€™s no distortion of Mr. Coleâ€™s horn; as his horn has a bright tinge about it reminiscent of Harmon-mute Miles Davis.

Secondly, I auditioned the RB-600 with Piano Works by Franz Liszt. This is a 180-gram recording pressed at the RTI factory for Stereophile Records (marketed by the magazine). Although the details on the album say it was mastered in 20-bit digital quality, the RB-600 had no trouble extracting analogue sound from this disc. The piano had a full tone, with more dynamics and detail than the 250 with full Origin Live modifications! This arm, which I am inclined to contribute to its very low baring tolerance, actually cleanly separated the harmonic support from the melodic phrasing on this recording. A lot of cheaper arms tend to â€˜smushâ€™ these both together into one harmonic stream. With the 600, space and detail are two areas that are given the royal treatment.

For a final view, I needed a vocal piece to test vocal quality of this table. I use decided to use the original mono Verve pressing of Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Songbook, Volume III (V-4026). The horn section has presence with a sharp and bright tone. The pace of the song is conveyed with very detailed rhythm. Moreover, Ellaâ€™s voice has reverb, soft dynamics, and is quite transparent. My only complaint is that her voice should have â€˜harshâ€™ dynamics, as she can vary the volume of her voice quite a range.

Overall, this arm is a noticeable upgrade from the Origin Live 1. I think that this arm is worth the upgrade over the stock 250 and 300. If you are looking for a great arm at a great price, this one can be had for just over 400 bucks. Go for it!

Product Weakness: Need additional part for VTA adjustment.
Product Strengths: Great Transparency. Very rhytmic (as most Regas). Lots of space between notes. Easy to mount.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Cambridge Audio A500
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	None
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Moth Alamo with Acrylic Platter
Speakers:	Klipsch SB-2
Cables/Interconnects:	N/A
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Jazz instrumental, Classical, Jazz Vocal
Room Size (LxWxH):	20 x 20 x 10
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Need additional part for VTA adjustment.
Product Strengths:	Great Transparency. Very rhytmic (as most Regas). Lots of space between notes. Easy to mount.