Sub-plinth for Rega P3-24

[bassraptor]

Anyone knows if it can be done, made of acrylic or wood, how it is done, who would do it, and what effect if would have on the sound, if any?

I'm in the midst of a rather outlandish experiment with my green P3-24 ...

[bimmerman]

Adrian in SS2 may have the resources to do it since he also sells DIY acrylic turntables. Another idea which I've been sold on lately is the sandbox.

[bassraptor]

Sandbox? How does that work for a sub-plinth? pray share ...

[mugenfoo]

what's a "sub-plinth" ?

[jazzy939]

These links may have some clues..

http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/teres/teres.html

http://www.deadwaxcafe.com/vzone/sandbox.asp

[bassraptor]

Thanks jazzy

There you go, mugen


My definition would be a plinth beneath the main plinth ... i'm looking to see if I can add another layer beneath the p3 ...

[jazzy939]

bassraptor,
I was also toying about having a sub-plinth for my Pioneer's TT.. idea has been dormant until now..

[mugenfoo]

Thanks jazzy

There you go, mugen


My definition would be a plinth beneath the main plinth ... i'm looking to see if I can add another layer beneath the p3 ...

so u want the P3's rubber cup feet to be sitting on another board, then the board is placed on the rack's board?

How about this alternative, remove the P3's rubber cup feet and replace it with some exotic spike footers or that Ceraball type of feet (that u recently sold off) sitting onto a thick piece of acrylic board. Then that acrylic board can either mount directly on the rack (best if the acrylic board is spiked to the rack also).


But to digress abit, the P3's weakness would be its glass platter IMO. It's not massive enough, and being glass, it rings. Then that fuzzy felt mat , just adds well .. "fuzziness" to the sound. Must be a far cry compared to your CA Performance's thick acrylic platter right ?

[bassraptor]

Ha ha, the glass platter is in storage, i now use a thicker acrylic platter, and a new belt. opens and cleans up the sound considerably.

Yes, removing the feet is another option ... I'm looking at Mapleshade's threaded brass footers.

My secret ingredient is the arm ... but i'll be labelled as crazy if i mention it now, so let me get it all settled in first ...

[mugenfoo]

Lemme guess, u installed a Unify or Graham tonearm on the P3 issit? hahahaha

[bassraptor]

Nope ... ha ha ... Graham? I wish indeed!!!

[kamen555]

[quote="mugenfoo"]

Thanks jazzy

But to digress abit, the P3's weakness would be its glass platter IMO. It's not massive enough, and being glass, it rings. Then that fuzzy felt mat , just adds well .. "fuzziness" to the sound. Must be a far cry compared to your CA Performance's thick acrylic platter right ?

The best would be acrylic platter right? Where can get ah? And pricing is what range? Will it work on the normal plastic sub-platter of the P3? I'm thinking of upgrading some stuff on my P3, since I gots no money for anything new (amplifier, speakers or new turntable...).

[cmboy]

Acrylic platter is an alternative to the glass platter and boils down to personal preference after comparison or just a matter of being convinced. You can also consider aftermarket tonearm upgrade parts like Michell counterweight, a better cartridge or Rega color mats (which I do think is marginally better sounding than the stock black mat). The acrylic platter may cost some few hundred bucks. Ok..over to you, you weigh your options of what you may afford in due course.

[mugenfoo]

[quote="kamen555"]

Thanks jazzy

But to digress abit, the P3's weakness would be its glass platter IMO. It's not massive enough, and being glass, it rings. Then that fuzzy felt mat , just adds well .. "fuzziness" to the sound. Must be a far cry compared to your CA Performance's thick acrylic platter right ?

The best would be acrylic platter right? Where can get ah? And pricing is what range? Will it work on the normal plastic sub-platter of the P3? I'm thinking of upgrading some stuff on my P3, since I gots no money for anything new (amplifier, speakers or new turntable...).

Can't quite say for sure that Acrylic is "the best" material for a platter.

But that being said, a few super high-end TTs do tend to use acrylic as the platter.
You form your own conclusion.

[cmboy]

I think its because of current availability, designer preference and suitability of acrylic material that hi-end makes implement it. In those days past, most Japanese to EU makes used cast and machined alloy for the platter. One example is current range of Thorens, some with acrylic platter as standard. I reckon its a new approach to another sonic level, whatever the designers thought of it.

[wabun]

Hi, this is not my idea but from Pink Fish Media and Digital Drive, I tried with my Planet, the sound improvement is huge ! So i summarized out those have significant improvement tips over here to Planet user who intended to do the "overhaul" ..happy DIY

Modification:

(1.) Damping-paste the aluminium tar sheet all over the internal planet chassis
especially the motor, paste the motor body, lens mechanism support.
(2.) Tighten the transport screw.
(3.) Remove the links shown between the two large caps in pic 1 and solder in a pair of 47 ohm resistors. Take these direct to the output terminals via short wire links. Why use resistors? Well, the output op amp is integrated onto the output filter IC and isn't the most robust device in the world. The resistors give a little buffering against cable and input capacitance - just in case.
This one measure alone gives a dramatic reduction in output impedance for nearly 1K ohm down to 50 ohms.
(4.) CHanged the 150pf ceramic capacitor around the DAC to Polysterene 150PF
(5.) Changed the power supply diode to Schottky
(6.) Changed C11 & C12 from 470 uF to 1000uF









Yahoo ! My Planet has a new Life ! !!!

[wingman]

Wabun....

Good for you and enjoy.

cheers

[cmboy]

Planet is quite a dated CDP design, surely mods will benefit.

[wabun]

Planet is quite a dated CDP design, surely mods will benefit.

Not all CD player can improve by modification,old CD player like Revox B225 proeferred to left it untouch. Those CDM 0-2 machine
also the same, TDA1540, 1541 machine is good to modify back to non-oversampling by disable the sampling chip. The Planet modification is worth do so, it sounds a lot better than the stock one. Cheers !

[flemingoh]

Hi Wabun

Read this with interest. Have the planet myself but no skill to DIY. Know of any sifu that can help (for a fee of course). Am located in KL.

Thanks!

[Amir]

Congratulation to the successful modification. Very good.

[ongaaron]

Hello to all Rega sifus. I just purchased a P3/24 with TTPSU / Musical Fidelity XLPS V8 phono. Absolutely delighted with it for the last 7 days but wondering what else can i do to enhance its performance? Thank You in advance.

[RobA4]

Cartridge!!!

[ongaaron]

oops! sorry. miss that out. Rega Elys 2

[cmboy]

P3 only so much can be enhanced to about double the price you paid for and nearing model P5 territory, thats it as far as the mechanicals and architecture. Then the choice of cartridge and phono stage (more bucks) and how the rest of your amplification can take advantage of the TT source potential. Meaning, hellava great TT but amplification not up to par to take advantage.. (in not so many words).
If you're expecting double or triple the performance for a P3, you just have to look at another make or model.

Acrylic platter upgrade will change the tonality to some degree (personal preference plays a role here and many owners don't really complain or bother about changing from glass to acrylic). A Denon MC cartridge might be a wise buy but ensure your phono stage is up to par for great potential.

[ongaaron]

In your opinion, is my phono stage up to the task?

[mugenfoo]

oops! sorry. miss that out. Rega Elys 2

U might want to get (borrow or buy also can) an alignment gauge and experiment with the various geometries.

The Rega standard 3rd screw is but one of many settings u can try out.

Different alignments, different sound. Costs you nothing to try them out.

[cmboy]

If the V8 comes with a wall wart, a custom bigger PSU transformer can increase the performance a little more. I'm guessing the V8 may be opamp based and swapping with better quality opamps can also benefit from better sonics.
Nevertheless I'm guessing its likely better than those budget phono little boxes from other makes.

[RobA4]

I am always of the view that the constant need to enhance performance of gears actually detracts from the real fun of just listening.

Well.... get an Exact cartridge if you must. Should just about do it.

[ongaaron]

Is there alot of inprovement compare to elys2?

[RobA4]

Give it a side by side test and you should note the difference.

[mfhoh]

Hi ongaarron

In addition the above, perhaps some attention to what the t/t is sitting on will be beneficial. The Rega t/ts have very basic isolation system and attention to this will pay dividend before venturing to the nemurous aftermarket upgrades on the Rega tonarm and t/t.

My 2 cents

[gc]

Ong, the new P3-24 come with uneven poor quality plastic sub-platter, you might consider the local aluminium sub platter from mike.

[mugenfoo]

Ong, the new P3-24 come with uneven poor quality plastic sub-platter, you might consider the local aluminium sub platter from mike.

Wow !! is the original plastic sub-platter really that bad ??
I know the P1 and P2 main platters aren't the flattest ones in town, but the P3 sub-platter even ? So in this case, even if the user upgrades to a nice acrylic aftermarket big platter, it might still wobble due to the subplatter ?

Any other P3 owners can verify this to be a common production problem, or could be just a rare one-off case ?

[happett]

Uneven? I don't really think it is uneven. Michael was showing me the difference between the plastic sub-platter and the aluminium one. If you tap your finger on the plastic one, there is a clear audible sound. Whereas when I tapped on the aluminium or alloy one, the sound was muted or deadened or absorbed somehow. Michael said this will reduce resonance. He also showed me the difference between the standard glass platter and the acrylic one.

[ongaaron]

I think i should do a side by side test at asia sound. Which gives better inprovement?..the sub platter or acrylic platter, or do i have to upgrade both?

[mugenfoo]

I think i should do a side by side test at asia sound. Which gives better inprovement?..the sub platter or acrylic platter, or do i have to upgrade both?

If u can spare the budget, go for a P5 or equiv... its a much more "serious" TT.

[cmboy]

Wow !! is the original plastic sub-platter really that bad ??
Any other P3 owners can verify this to be a common production problem, or could be just a rare one-off case ?

Rega P5 and below have the same plastic composite subplatter as supplied. Its been known its been found that it may be slightly out of round but never really an issue in practice. Platter wobble is something else altogether. If its visibly wobbling up down, thats not good and obviously a defect or flaw.
Me still using my ori subplatter with acrylic platter and don't see a problem here.

To all those wondering about acrylic or retain original glass platter. Acrylic platter does alter the sound and tonality to some degree and its entirely a matter of PERSONAL PREFERENCE after audition. Its up to yourself to believe whether its better for you or not. Nevertheless it comes with a price on top of your new Rega purchase. Dealer won't give a damn whether you use it as a dinner dish coaster or a flower pot base. They profit from the sale if you buy it.
BTW, I've always wondered why Rega themselves never introduced a model with acrylic platter, perhaps there are valid reasons best known to themselves and I'm disregarding the cost issue, which I'm confident isn't an issue. P7 & P9 platters cost more than the arm and base TT.
Having said all this, I own one (not the one from AS)?.. primarily for an academic reason.
My 2 sen.

[RobA4]

I have the P5 and it is indeed all the TT you need without going into the RM10k plus side.

[mllum88]

Cheap tweak. Remove felt mat and place 3 small pieces of bubble wrap from a new chocolate tin (any brand of chocolates) in a triangle on the platter.

Place LP on top of bubble wrap and enjoy. Dont bother about VTA (life is too short). If you dont like the sound, then it wont have cost very much.

The gains are an openness and airiness and organic naturalness that makes the sound of the LP on a felt mat in comparison seem dead and dull.

Just my 2 cents worth from 25 years ago when I used to play with the Rega 3.

Thanks

[cmboy]

Tweaks to the Rega are so many and mileage varies. Me prefer the cotton mat as best all rounder...maybe NOT the ultimate to some ears, but my preference is this after trying macam macam.

[hoyhoysum]

Yup Get a P5

[cmboy]

I'm lucky to fool around with a P9 most of the time, with loads of the rarest vintage LP's...and all for free...kindest courtesy of a best buddy so nearby.

[mart43]

Sorry to bring up old thread but can anyone tell me what wattage the 47 ohm resisters should be? Thanks

[wabun]

Sorry to bring up old thread but can anyone tell me what wattage the 47 ohm resisters should be? Thanks

I used 1/2 watt.. honestly it is not particular, you can use 1/4watt or lower but the tricks is higher wattage resistor has lower noise and I am using carbon composite instead of the metal film, more analog and less edgy..

[BrAvO]

Good Job, Wabun.

Any ideas to MOD the Rega Apollo?

[wabun]

Good Job, Wabun.

Any ideas to MOD the Rega Apollo?

thanks.. I never come across Apollo, sorry as I dunno whether you can have sonic improvement after the midification. Planet is proven result, one can expect at least 50 % sonic improvement after modification. at least 'measure with my ear'

[mart43]

Thanks for advice. Hopefully get the mods done on the weekend.
Just going to change 150pf ceramics (I've got some 150ph 630V polystyrenes, are they ok???) and bypass the output filter.
There seem to be some mixed feelings on the web about the values to use for C12, so i think will leave alone.
Also going to change mains lead and dampen internals.

[wabun]

Just going to change 150pf ceramics (I've got some 150ph 630V polystyrenes, are they ok???) and bypass the output filter.
There seem to be some mixed feelings on the web about the values to use for C12, so i think will leave alone.
Also going to change mains lead and dampen internals.

150pf polysterene sounds best compare to polypropelene. I am using 3x 50PF polysterene in parallel since I got it in hand. another significant area is using automotive windscreen rubber to "damp" the motors ( both driver & spinner motor), bkful not to over cover it, left space when lens track to the end of the disc, and remember to bypass the output C-R network which really slow down the music. and change the diode to schotky, parallel it with ceramic cap. lastly use OSCON Sanyo electrolitic for electrolic caps, I tried Elna, but OSCON sounds firmer in bass & more clean music background.. cheers & happy DIY

[ryder]

Me still using my ori subplatter with acrylic platter and don't see a problem here.

I'm lucky to fool around with a P9 most of the time, with loads of the rarest vintage LP's...and all for free...kindest courtesy of a best buddy so nearby.

May I know which model do you own, the P5, P7 or P9?

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