Just out of curiosity, why didn’t you kept your Dynavector you had before with your P9?
…because the package included a new cartridge at what amounted to a discount, with the XX-2II having >500hrs use. I also believed in the benefits of 3 point fixing and at the next change of cartridge I would have opted for an Apheta 3.
The Apheta is just the best all round solution for me. I cannot say, however, which would have sounded better…maybe they would have just sounded different. I suspect that the P10/Apheta synergy is strongly in favor of the Apheta.
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Re: the Aura, it is such a great match for Naim amps - the transformer in mine hums in unison with the one in my SuperCap.
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You need to get it to hum out of phase with the SC!
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Thanks. With my RP8 the dealer always removed to arm to change the cartridge. He said it was necessary to avoid damaging to pivot assembly. I don’t ever remember him using a torque wrench. Mind you I never needed a shim. I can’t think the SQ would be affected because it’s just a mechanical fixing which just need to not move.
Phil
The RP8 does not have the ceramic brace as far as I know, so it is not/less affected by the whole issue. Everything I wrote above (including the scanned Rega and distributor materials) was specifically about the P10 and the ceramic brace.
(Even on an (R)P8 maybe you could still damage the foam by too much torque, and I would still use the correct tool, especially the first time. A dealer who does it every day might not, but then I don’t care if he ruined my P8 as it would be his problem.)
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Hi blacksheep,
I changed the tone arm cable on my LP12 several months ago - as long as you are careful - there is no need to do any suspenssion adjustments. You need to make sure there is enough cable slack when you plug into your tone arm so that it doesn’t pull the armboard out of postion. Just take your time.
I spent some time to read some forums on the shim and Rega subject. Rega indeed doesn’t advise using shims, but advises also not to clean lps, lol.
Be it Steve Hoffman, vinyl engine, audiogon…I found a lot of members enjoying non Rega cartridges on Rega decks, after having tried first the Rega cartridges.
A lot of users recommend using shims, in the case of non parallel arm to the platter. The cartridges most cited are ortofon, Lyra, Dynavector, and benz micro. In some cases they had to install a heavier counterweight.
quote? I don’t think this is in the Rega book, for example. They might, I am just not aware of it, or they might have in the past.
Linn certainly did, but AFAIK this was in a time when “cleaning” meant the horrible “antistatic” fabric pads - they just chose the lesser evil, I believe.
Yes, of course. Lots of people recommend things that are wrong, and others are right. I can only recommend to read the Rega book and come up with your own opinion. They give the reasons and do the math.
Everyone can come to their own conclusions, but I would not buy a deck from the company who I believe have no idea what they are talking about
In fact, we do not worry ourselves about different thicknesses of records, warps in records, errors in determining parallel by eyesight.
Anyway, looking forwards to your (auditory) observations FR.
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They recommend the shims because they have tried, not trusted Rega.
They have tried Rega carts , then wanted to explore other carts, and finally preferred the sound of these other carts, using also a shim.
I am not saying that everybody prefers non Rega carts, but there are a lot. Other prefer the Rega, of course.
I tried at dealer place a Rega Apheta 2 on Rega Rp10. Then the dealer installed a Delos with a 2mn shim. I preferred the Delos without hesitation. Have heard 15 mn with Apheta and 15 mn with the Delos.
There is theory and experience. I don’t say you have no experience, but you haven’t tried other carts on Rega and haven’t tested a shim personally.
If you think that a lot of people who use a shim and enjoy the sound more than Rega carts without a shim are wrong, I can’t argue more.
Roy Candy said several times that he thinks it’s not necessary to clean lps. It’s a fact.
In an interview I read many years ago, he said that the stylus is pushing the dust. No need to clean.
I have no idea why you think we need to argue about this.
I have not even doubted this. I am just saying that Rega would most likely recommend to use the different cart without the shim, and they are making the quite compelling and simple geometrical argument that a 2 mm shim does f all. It’s simple Pythagoras in fact.
Like I said, maybe. Without knowing when this was, and the real quote, I cannot comment on it. The Linn stance made sense back in the 70ies, too. As mentioned, they are not pulling punches in the book, I would guess that it would be there if they feel strongly about it
I wonder if the Delos would have sounded better without a shim…that’s the main question.
I think that comparrisons with an Apheta 2 are not particularly relevant now,
…but…
I have no doubt that Lyra make excellent cartridges.
Enjoy the music…getting more and more interested in how it sounds for you FR.
Bon chance!
Phytagoras…interesting. It’s maybe another case when theory can’t always be applied. I read a lot of cases when members tried without a shim and with it, and preferred with . For them it’s was immediately better.
But some cartridges work better without, even if the arm is not perfectly parallel.
Why? I don’t know.
Trying is always best, but the book is a rather good read
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My dealer tried with and without. I trusted him. He tried that before I came to listen to both cartridges.
I am sure that it will sound great…let us know!
Having to fit shims, bigger weight, etc was the reason I just sold the P10, as it all gets complicated and then you have the problem of not ever knowing if it’s right, wrong, close, etc the list goes on.
I wanted a different sound that the rega cartridges just didn’t offer, I spent a good chunk on a new cartridge and the last thing I wanted after doing this, was compromise, so I changed the turntable to one that can handle it.
I certainly wouldn’t want to fit shims to a P10, or different weight, it goes fully against what the P10 is designed for, low mass is its way, start changing this and you might as well just sell the P10, is my view.
As I said I think the P10, apheta3 is the sweat spot and if you don’t like what it does, sell it.
On another note, my aura is dead quiet, no hum whatsoever, even if you put your ear right next to it.
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I agree that Rega is designed for low mass cartridges. I once tried a Koetsu black on the Rega P9, with an optional heavyweight. I wasn’t ideal.
However the Lyra and Van den Hull are light. The Lyra has even 3 points mounting. I don’t need additional weight.
As for the shim, it takes 5 mn to mount.
Anyway, your SME is on another league globally, and can carry a lot more cartridges than the Rega arm.
If I had the cash, I would go for the 20/3, for sure.
@bongoman- with your Marten speakers I think trying a valve phono stage may just do it for you…Entry level Allnic or Tron Convergence would be nice to try in the similar price range as the Aura. No, they are not slow and plodding…Just a thought.
ATB,
Mark
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