Problem with new Rega P3 + Elys 2 cartridge

[admin_exported]

Hi all I'm new here and not the most hi-fi savvy person in the world so please bear with me. I just bought a Rega P3 with an Elys 2 cartridge and put the whole thing together last night. I've immediately encountered a problem which I'm presuming is due to an error I have made in setting everything up. When I put the needle down on a record, it is as if the tonearm is too low and the needle lies so deep against the record that the sound that comes out of the speakers is just a distorted mess. When I raise the height lever slightly, it sounds fine but doesn't allow me to leave it there. I've tried adjusting the bias on the tonearm but this doesn't make any difference. Is there something obvious which I'm not doing or does this sound like there may be a manufacturing error? Any help/advice gratefully received!! :help:

 

[chebby]

Sounds like you are applying too much tracking force...... Turn the tracking force dial back to zero...... slide the bias setting back to zero...... remove the mat...... now turn the counterweight (clockwise or anti clockwise) until the arm balances and the stylus tip 'hovers' about 5 mm from the surface of the glass platter...... put the arm back in it's rest and clamp it...... dial the correct tracking force value (about 1.75 I think) and set the bias/anti-skate slider to about 1 (Rega arms typically don't need as much bias as the instructions state)...... now try again...... all this assumes the TT is on a dead level surface (as in 'measured with a decent spirit level in both directions side-to-side and front-to-back' not just 'looks level')...... sorry for the dot dot dots everywhere but paragraphing is currently disabled here on the forums so I wanted to force some spacing between steps.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much Chebby. I will try this out when I get home later today and report back!:cheers:

 

[chebby]

Do all the 'balancing' with the stylus guard off (so take care).

Also, whilst balancing the arm, it can 'drift' back to the arm rest. so you may need to 'encourage' the arm to a position over the glass platter with use of a smooth, vertical edge like the edge of a greetings card or plastic rule. (I used to have a short length of smooth plastic piping about 1/2" diameter for this. The arm could slide up and down against it without friction).

 

[AmigaNut]

I have a Rega RP1 with the Ortofon OM5 and when set up as per instruction (plug and play), I found the cartridge dragging on the Vinyl. I adjusted the weight and it was better. But not happy at this I contacted Rega by mail (they do not do email).

They sent me a new cartridge and stylus (F.O.C. under warranty) apparently they reckoned the cantilever was damaged.

It is now perfect.

This is just my piece of info, but it may not be your problem.

AmigaNut