Been a busy bunny today, built a flat pack for Hazel, brownie points! Then got on with the TT VTA shims, powesupply and a good few hours of listening. Set to with the shims first, interesting to look at the construction of the Rega in a little more detail, chip board plinth, simple self taper screws holding the arm in place, at least expected bolts holding the arm? Ah well, it certainly works and has proved its point over many years, so who am I to complain. Removing the arm was straight forward enough, but care needs to be used when re-tightening the screws, a bit heavy handed would strip them from the chipboard plinth? I installed 3mm worth of shims, after Chebby told me the difference between the Ortofon M2 and Regas own, was 3.5mm. Initial reaction was the top end on female voice had cleaned up, but had become a bit clinical, (but not glassy as I had reported in the very early days of the M2 Blue) . . . ? plus a general feeling of more control, but only a feeling, very subtle. Moved onto the retro fit P5 TT/PSU, standard fitting to the P7 and P9. First worry, destructions suggest 'getting the PSU as far away from the cartridge as the lead would allow', practical distance in my case 14", the connection lead must be 4-5ft long! Next problem, the din type plug into the back of the TT is a tight!!! fit, as I said, the construction is not heavy, careful persuasion eventually got it in, not with out a bit of ****!!! No hum pickup from the PSU, 14" is OK. Tidy up, look **** and span, switch on, first impression . . . solid, especially to the lower frequencies, and better image separation, subtle yes, but it was there, in fact the words 'subtle control' applies to the presentation as a whole. Little bits extra were heard as I tried track after track, I was also aware that the top end was loosing the earlier clinical edge, the cartridge was playing in to its new VTA???? All OK, but as I said, it was subtle, £150?? Give it time . . . a pile of LP's beside me, enjoying the music so far but I still had this £150?? thought. Final thought, velvet platter mat, 2mm, makes the extra VTA 5mm . . . ? Nothing for it, simply remove and be prepared to burn my brain with a glass top end! Wow . . . the subtleties, no longer subtle, extra inner detail was amazing, Jazz in the Pawnshop opens with a saxophone, the fingering could be heard, something I have never been aware of before, an ambiance was apparent, again not heard before, following the music was natural and easy, voices in the club were plain, unfortunately I dont speak Swedish . . . Back with the velvet platter mat, good but boring by comparison. During this time, now about 4hrs, the top end had really settled down. On with Miserere, the top 'C' in the first track usually holds on but only just, sailed through, I did not cringe, same with Contate Domino, there is a soprano in the choir that really goes for it!!! perfect, Finally, the walling female on 'dark-side', the M2 did not break a sweat. Begs the question in my mind, is the Rega compromised by its felt mat? it is in my humble opinion, holding back all the good points as indicated above until it was removed. From what I heard before the changes, the P5 is held back in its standard form as well, just my view, how it performs with a Rega cartridge I have no idea, maybe a better match? This is how the TT installation has ended up:
. . . thumbs up . . . :dance: CJSF
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