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Hello,My dealar suggested that to make any real improvement to
P3 one must change the motor and add a seperate REGA power supply.
His comment was that this would almost be 90% P5. The extra
cost comes close to the cost of P3. I wasnt happy because there is a speed control (33/45) on the power supply.I just wanted to check with you. What do you recommend?
Follow Ups:
Stock rocks! No problem with my stock P3 at all. If you want a speed control for the Rega, you might want to look at Heed Audio. I have included the link. They are very reasonably priced. If you live in Belgium, I believe the speed control "on the fly" feature between 33 1/3 and 45 rpm is an option.Also, a guy in Belgium who posts on the Pink Fish Forum, has had very favorable comments on the Heed. He posts under the name Dexter. However, do the homework, and make the call yourself. FWIW, I am very suspicious of the dealer who gave you the 90% of the P5 business.
The usual Rega upgrade route, is simply to save your money and get the P5 if so desired. Me- I'm happy with my P3, and need the money for my record collecting pursuits. Take care!
It's pretty easy to make a dual phase supply for any synchronous motor TT and give it alterable phase angle (quadrature). Total cost is about $50 if you already own an ipod or other MP3 player, you can have as many speeds as you like.I'm not sure about the motor change. I thought the new motor used a different, more rigid, mounting method.
I thought the new Regas used a DC motor, thus the lower vibration. Thats the theory behind the origin live DC motor swaps.
The new Rega motor is a synchronous motor, as far as I know it is internally identical to the old motor but uses different fixings (maybe someone who has used both can confirm or deny this). The new drive is "tuned" to the motor by altering the relative phase angle of the nominally quadrature pair, thus the motor and drive must be done together.As I said, it is relatively simple and cheap to replicate do this yourself on any existing synchronous motor. All you need is an Ipod, a T amp and a couple of small transformers, all up it costs about $50 if you have the Ipod already.
Yes, the new motor instead of being slung on rubber bands is a much lower vibration design that is glued rigidly to the plinth.
If you change phase angle and relative phase voltage on a synchronous motor you can normally find a "sweet spot" with much lower vibration. The new Rega drive is tuned to this sweet spot for the motor which is why the motor and drive go together.If you build your own drive you have to find your own sweet spot, fortunately it's obvious.
I have a planner 3 which has not been used for a number of years. When I tried it the other day the turntable was slow and I suspect the rubber band drive is old and slipping.
Any ideas and where can I get spare parts?
Thanks
Richard
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
These usually go for $25.www.gcaudio.com usually has reasonable prices
marc g. - audiophile by day, music lover by night
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Hi.If your statement represented Rega, I would launch a complaint to the consumer council if I were a Rega P3 owner.
Are you serious?
c-J
PS: my 30-year young stock 125II spins properly as I check its speed from time to time on a strosbscope platter plate.
Hello,How clever question. Answer is I do not know.
I was just talking with a Rega guy and asked him if they
could do the arm rewiring kit for me (I always suspected
Rega cabling, RCA's etc) and he said if you want to improve
something better put a new motor and seperate power supply.That is it.
Hi.Like anything else, listen to stories of both sides.
Vendors want to grap your wallet's hard cash. Whatever they tell you got to be screened & digested before taking in.
Whoever tells whatever to you does not matter, the bottom line is:
do you find your P3 got speed fluctuation? Do you actually HEAR anything affecting your LP music??If not, wait & see. Don't jump the gun on vendors' talks.
c-J
Hello c-J,Thank you.
I am fine with the P3, my only reservation is it just loses the thread in complex music. As I am writing this I am listening to Santana (great music btw), and I can hear this. Could be the cartridge of course.
I did not measure or investigate the speed but I took it granted (I know I should not perhaps) from fellow inmates that Rega runs fast, and the speed is not very stable.
I of course would not surrender the wallet without a check with you people. Thank you, Regards, Zuheyr
I would check your deck before assuming this. After reading that Rega decks used to run fast I checked my P3 with a strobe disc and it runs at exactly 33 1/3 without any variation that my tired old eyes can detect. It's rock steady. I think if Rega decks really ran fast and variable as you believe, they probably wouldn't be so successful. Best to check before spending money you don't need to!
Old style means it is kinda loosely mounted with a couple of little rubber "o" rings. If it is that type there is a motor upgrade kit available from Rega for $175 (link below). If you already have the newer motor, there is no upgrade for your P3 in that area. A tone arm re-wire would be an upgrade. Brit Audio will do a Cardas rewire for $129. Incognito is about $200.
Oh, your dealer is full of it if he says the motor and outboard power supply is the only thing you would need to upgrade in your P3 to get 90% of a P5. The more rigid plinth and RB700 tonearm of the 5 makes up a lot more than 10% of the deck's improvement over the P3.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
Hello,Thanks Henry. I bought the P3 about 11 months ago. As far as I can see it must be the new motor. I completely agree with you, that is why I wanted to check with the inmates. I know a good motor is probably very critical, but cannot almost turn P3 into P5.
I am in Belgium, so I am afraid the arm rewire is a problem. I had been asking it around here for many months. I solder, did tube amp kits etc but I just dont have the nerve to do the rewiring.
You might e-mail inmate Garth. He lives in Germany and likely would know a re-wire source for you.
HenryA 12-gauge shotgun is the ultimate arbiter of disputes - G. Gordon Liddy
Thank you Henry. Done. Regards, Zuheyr
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