Jason36 said:
Can anyone confirm whether these would be different / better than the Elys2 (does anyone have either of these fitted to a Planar 3) and whether one is stronger than the other.......As already mentioned I would like to improve detail and hopefully achieve faster timing whilst retaining a strong bass / mid and treble mix.
I have been working for 18 months on upgrading my Rega TT, I have gone much further than you probably want to. However, my first changes made improvements very much in line with your wishes. These upgrades will work on any cartridge you may choose:
1 Rega White Drive Belt £21.00
2 Metal Sub Platter £99.99 or £124.99
3 Ruby Saphire Bearing £14.99
4 Isoweight £49.99
Item 1, from a Rega stockist is a fundimental upgrade, cheap and I found as good as a PSU Rega power supply, faster timing? more accurate! but still out as almost certainly it will be runnig fast? see below.
Items 2 - 4 can be got from: Isokinetik.co.uk. Plastic sub's on Rega are known to run slightly fast 'deliberatly', so they say? Metal subs are the correct size and therefore run at the right 33.3rpm speed.
I have bangged on about these mode before, and I will do again, they are value for money, believe me, try the white belt first, it can a revelation. Ruby Saphire bearing is less important, The Isoweight stabalizes the arm, worth the money IMHO
A final point is tracking weight, I have found this affects the sound dramaticaly, slight less than slightly more . . . Problem, most seasaw ballances are not acurate enough if you want the best out of your cartridge. Digital scales are the answer, £22 to £25 on fleBay.
Non of the above is complicated or dificult to do, just requires a little thought and care, the rewards are high. Taken to the highest level you can run a £500 - £800 cartrige to good effect on your Rega 3 if you wish.
One at a time, try the White Belt befor you puchase the new cartridge, you will be suprised . . . backing off the cartridge down force by 0.1 or 0.2gs is another cheap move forward. The sea-saw guage will do for the time being . . . you will get the idea?
CJSF