Recently acquired a Planar 3 with Exact, but it seems to track very low, i.e. almost scraping the record - does this look right? Also looks like it needs a VTA shim, but Rega don’t like those, it’s a standard Rega arm and cartridge so should be correct height.
Hi,It does look low from the pic, is it an original Rega mat?
The centre spindle looks to be short, hence the question on the mat depth.
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Looks too low to me.
…and to me - what’s the tracking weight? DGP
When I bought my first turntable, Rega P3 with Exact, few years back, I had the same issue and I sent the cartridge for a investigation, which then showed that suspension had a issue. Got a new one back and it didn’t have the same issue.
I’ve heard that about 10 years back there were a lot of butylrubber which didn’t have right specs. That is used on many cartridges and might have caused the issue.
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Thank you for all the comment so far.
Yes, as far as I know, it’s the standard Rega felt mat, but it’s a lot thinner than the one on my old Planar 2. The Rega 3’s glass platter is thicker than the 2, so the centre spindle protrudes less - or should the “3” have a different central sub-platter with a longer spindle?
Track weight is 1.75g.
I’ve got a P3 and an Rp6 and had a few exacts over the years, as others have mentioned, could be a depleted suspension on the cart, a mate had the same happen.
Should add that the new ND range of carts from Rega are different class compared to the old exact.
It looks too low. Check the VTF as it may be too high. if it’s ok then maybe the cantilever or suspension had collapsed?
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Probably not related.
But has the bolt been tightened correctly, looks like there is a gap under the head.
My Rega Exact looked exactly the same and there are a few discussions about it on the net. As long as the rear makes no contact with the record and it sound ok to you I would not worry unduly about it. It’s a ‘low rider’.
That’s the only side on cartridge photo I can find of my P3/Exact but you can see even here that the tail of the front section seems a little lower
I’ve had a look around the web, and yes there are similar comments, but about a 50-50 split on whether it’s a problem or not!
I compared it with my old Rega Bias, looks to be the same basic construction, although I appreciate they are years (and £pounds) apart, but the comparison shows my Exact to be much lower (both in the air for the picture, not on the record). Should they look the same?
Does it sound ok to you? That is all that really matters.
Having said that, once doubts set in …
Good question, and that’s the central part of course.
Considering that my old deck was a 40-year old Rega 2 with a Bias, and then with a VM95E, I’m a little underwhelmed by the tiny improvement from a 3-year old Rega 3 with an Exact and a 24v motor and external Neo mk2 power supply. 
That’s essentially why I started looking around at it, double checking the tracking force (which was correct), which is when I spotted this possible problem. I wasn’t expecting a massive difference, but I’m struggling to hear a significant one.
Your instincts are right, there should be quite a step up in performance. Have you a friendly dealer?
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Perhaps I am wrong but I would not expect a significant upgrade. You are comparing two same tier decks with each other. Sure, one is newer and had a few revisions but if the older one is in good fettle any sonic improvements will be subtle at best. Even the cartridges will not give ‘a night and day’ step up. What I would expect with a proper functioning Exact is a little more high frequency extension and refinement.
A better cartridge will solve that and the RB303 is probably a better platform to upgrade so the OP’s investment was not a waste imho and my limited knowledge.
Like I said, the Exact can ride low and sound perfectly ok. Tip wear and hours are unknown so a change in due course would probably a prudent step. I did not find the Exact to be an over exciting cartridge but found it nice and evenly balanced.
Personally I would still not to aim too high, whilst a great turntable there are limits to what it can do. Luckily there are some lovely capable cartridges that do not cost the earth.
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Comparing yours with mine, your Exact is definitely riding higher than mine, only about 1mm but that’s all it takes at this level 
Ref Winnethefoo “A better cartridge will solve that and the RB303 is probably a better platform to upgrade so the OP’s investment was not a waste imho and my limited knowledge.”
One option I had (suggested by the dealer) was to go for a new Planar 3 RS for £1,100, which comes with an ND5 I think. But I chose the cheaper option of a second hand P3. I still like everything else about the one I’ve purchased, but I’d hoped to get some use out of the cartridge it came with before spending more! Adding an ND5 now would total almost as much as a new RS.
Can you return it and up spend?
I can’t see any other resolution (other than changing cartridge).
FWIW I did enjoy the Exact and found no reason to change it whilst I had the P3 but we’re all different.
Perhaps you fell foul of Marketing telling you how much better the new version of the P3 is than the old one.
Turntables (and their set up) are fickle things. Hope you can bring this to a happy conclusion.
PS. I can’t see how a ND5 would better a correctly functioning Exact.