Rega P2 ND5 issues

[keybatonman]

Just looking for some advice...
I have a 2016 Rega P2 (so no user changeable anti skate). I've recently upgraded the cartridge to an ND5. Whilst it is a huge upgrade in sound quality, I'm encountering problems and looking for advice.
Firstly, I should say the table is level and I use scales to check the downforce 1.75 as recommended by Rega.
My issues are:
*Tone arm pulls to the right (away from the record) when dropping
*Skips fairly frequently
*Seems distorted at times, especially in louder music, and more towards the centre of the record.

I should say no such problems with my old cart - but sound quality nowhere near as good (except for the distortion).

Any help or thoughts hugely appreciated,
Thank you!

 

[nopiano]

Welcome to the forum.

Your explanation certainly implies too much anti-skate. What downforce did your previous cartridge track at?

I’m not sure if there’s a hidden adjustment somewhere, but others here might know. Must admit I thought only the P1 was preset, but maybe your early-ish P2 was also. 😢

 

[nopiano]

A quick google led me to this YouTube video which looks remarkably helpful if you fancy a bit of DIY.

And I found previous threads here that earlier P2 had preset antiskate.

View: https://youtu.be/bb8STonWhg4?si=iH_LprO_qmdbv6yK

 

[nopiano]

And a massive thread here…

https://www.vinylengine.com/turntable_forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=100125&sid=652a23bcd215acac753975ef73307435

 

[keybatonman]

Welcome to the forum.

Your explanation certainly implies too much anti-skate. What downforce did your previous cartridge track at?

I’m not sure if there’s a hidden adjustment somewhere, but others here might know. Must admit I thought only the P1 was preset, but maybe your early-ish P2 was also. 😢

Thanks for this, and I'll have a look through those links too. The rega carbon I think was around 2g. I'm starting to think I might have bought something that is just not quite compatible with my turntable

 

[nopiano]

Thanks for this, and I'll have a look through those links too. The rega carbon I think was around 2g. I'm starting to think I might have bought something that is just not quite compatible with my turntable

Well, to be frank, you have. But it is fixable, and will sound more refined than the Carbon, which is pleasant but a bit subdued iirc.

Or you might sell the P2 with the Carbon, and save your new Nd5 for a Rega P3 If finances permit.

 

[daytona600]

• carbon Tracking pressure 2-3 g
• ND5 Tracking pressure 1.75g

Can you change the Bias & the VTF
Rega are great for fiddling with and are very sensitive to
VTA , VTF , Azimuth , Zenith , Surface placed on , Shims , Spacers , Belts , PSU
Mats , Platters , Inner Platters , Counterweights , Isolation , Feet

Technics are great for , remove record from sleeve , place record on deck , Enjoy Today or in 40 years

 

[RoA]

Well, to be frank, you have. But it is fixable, and will sound more refined than the Carbon, which is pleasant but a bit subdued iirc.

Or you might sell the P2 with the Carbon, and save your new Nd5 for a Rega P3 If finances permit.

This although it won’t solve your issue right now.

 

[Rui]

A quick google led me to this YouTube video which looks remarkably helpful if you fancy a bit of DIY.

And I found previous threads here that earlier P2 had preset antiskate.

View: https://youtu.be/bb8STonWhg4?si=iH_LprO_qmdbv6yK

In reality don´t know what to say ,not even Pioneer turntables in late 60´s with original catridge had such a bad sound, when already some years ago i heard about the return of vinyl and not records ,

i knew it felt like a scheme, i hear records since i can remenber myself, and buying them started with 11 years old, Wings were my first record, the second was from John Lennon(maybe because i used to hear to the Beatles), today i´m tired of seeing new turntables with really bad sound ,

as the cartridges are very bad , in the past the AT first model, this refering to 79 and 83 ,when Pioneer turntables started to have from factory with a brown cartridge and a green casing stylus ,

when buying a yellow one it was already good , today the new AT series less expensive cartridge sounds a lot worst than in the past, the arms that were said to be good are made of plastic or PVC and will not work for a so bigger number of years ,

like more than 50 years , and i´ve heard people complaining about longer time albums ,at the end of each side it sounds not that good, it´s the result of a bad arm with weak anti-skating, that are said to be good, like a Rega model .

 

[matthewpianist]

I had a Planar 2 for a while, and found the anti-skate to be quite poor. The Planar 3 is a big step up, and if you can afford to make the change, it's worth considering. Having said that, I currently have the Planar 3, and an Audio-Technica AT-LP5X, and the AT is the one being used. Read into that what you will.

 

[nopiano]

In reality don´t know what to say ,not even Pioneer turntables in late 60´s with original catridge had such a bad sound, when already some years ago i heard about the return of vinyl and not records ,

i knew it felt like a scheme, i hear records since i can remenber myself, and buying them started with 11 years old, Wings were my first record, the second was from John Lennon(maybe because i used to hear to the Beatles), today i´m tired of seeing new turntables with really bad sound ,

as the cartridges are very bad , in the past the AT first model, this refering to 79 and 83 ,when Pioneer turntables started to have from factory with a brown cartridge and a green casing stylus ,

when buying a yellow one it was already good , today the new AT series less expensive cartridge sounds a lot worst than in the past, the arms that were said to be good are made of plastic or PVC and will not work for a so bigger number of years ,

like more than 50 years , and i´ve heard people complaining about longer time albums ,at the end of each side it sounds not that good, it´s the result of a bad arm with weak anti-skating, that are said to be good, like a Rega model .

I think we need to recognise that 99% of buyers want ‘plug and play’. In the 1970s turntables came without a mains plug, never mind a fitted cartridge and preset tracking force.

This Rega needs modifying if you want a different cartridge, that’s all!

 

[matthewpianist]

I should add, even a P3 needs some modifying for some cartridges. Of course, all will be easy with a Rega cartridge, but once you start to look further afield there's usually a need for shims underneath the arm to achieve the right VTA (unless you take Roy Gandy's word that VTA doesn't matter).