Unexpected issues with Rega planar TT, a respectful manufacturer product?


About a year ago I bough a Rega planar 2 turntable. I do not play much LPs, I bought it just for a few LPs I have. It should have around 20 hours of burn-in now. It turned out that a more than $600 unit has  a 1-dollar phono cable incorporated into it (which, by some reason is called a "premium" one). In fact, I did not see an RCA cable that bad even with cheap equipment. Well, not really nice but this was not yet fatal. A few weeks ago,  my attempt to use the TT has failed. One of the channels did not work, and after a few tests it was clear that it is TT, one of the RCA terminals. There was no force made on it or something similar.

Surprisingly, i did not find a technical support option on the Rega web page, they merely send you to their dealers. I have contacted the local Rega dealer and the answer was that they can check replace the cable at a some cost (whereas supposedly, it has a "life-time warranty" and it is a practically new unit). My question was, if they have some instructions to replace their "premium" built-in RCA cable, that I could follow for the replacement. Since then, there was no answer. I also contacted the US/International Rega dealer with whom I bough the TT, still no answer. 

In addition, the TT has another problem, just from the beginning. Normally, when it is powered on, the plate moves to the opposite direction. After several  (identical) attempts (on/off), it may finally choose the right direction. This is of course quite bothering but i did not try to clarify this issue before since i do not use the TT often. 

Normally I try to avoid complains but i think that this case is "quite special".

128x128niodari

Thanks Steve again. 

Each time i play an LP i realize that this is the sound. But i do not have many well-recorded LPs and i think there are less well-recorded LPs than CDs. A few well-recorded LPs sound better for me than the corresponding CDs, but most of the music i like are better recorded on CDs (jazz, classic and even many rock albums). And it is a bit too much care one should take for LPs also changing sides every 20 minutes and hearing noise caused by LP scratches etc.  

The dealer from which I bough the TT has replied. I asked him if the cartridge can be replaced.  I will also try to move the stylus. The $95 cartridge on the page looks like one I have. 

 

Allegedly Rega Carbon is AT3600L, which could be purchased for half the price of Carbon. Just saying.

 

@niodari  - WRT analogue vs. Digital - I cannot disagree with the points you raise.

Personally - I listen to digital, but more for background music e.g. when friends are over 

But if I want to "escape" and be bathed in sumptuous reality of a live performance, or get nostalgic about times gone by I turn to vinyl. + a glass of wine or Single Malt 😎

Most of my vinyl is quite old, but I do have some new artists that I consider worthy of the investment e.g. Ed Sheeran and Jason Moraz Sam Smith, Lorde, Black Eyed Peas... that have produced  exceptionally well engineered albums that have been very well pressed.

I have also invested in some very fine quality orchestral vinyl albums that simply transport me into the concert hall for the entire album

But one of the surprises for me was the exceptional engineering quality.of some of my older albums.

  • For example, the album  Better Days - with Paul Butterfield, Ronnie Barrou, Amos Garrett Geoff Muldaur, Christopher Parker and Billy Rich
    • It transports me back in time to one of those smoke filled little music halls found in so many cities
    • it is raw talent and raw music with amazing vocals
      • without overproduction,
      • just plain simple music that melts away those pops and crackles.
  • There are many others albums I have that evoke a similar emotion - but for me this album is the pinnacle of my collection

The other thing about vinyl - it lets you explore music that is not offered in digital format - like the 1959 pressing I have featuring "Trad Jazz" artist Chris Barber - which is a throwback to my childhood years because he was a favorite of my brother.

I also have some great music stores in the area selling "previously enjoyed" vinyl, so the exploring can also be quite a lot of fun and very rewarding

When it come to vinyl, I like the fact that I have to get up to change sides - it "encourages" me to listen more intently to the entire side.

Some of the newer vinyl albums I mentioned, I also have in Digital format and on my system - they both sound exceptional, too the point where it is difficult to tell them apart.

But I do tend to gravitate to the vinyl version in those moments I want to immerse myself in the music

Even though I have had a turntable since 1981 - I switched to Digital for many  years, but then I decided to dust of the turntable and in that process, I found a whole new listening pleasure.

That's my journey 👴

Apologies for the long post - Steve

 

 

Hi guys!

The problem with my turntable is settled.

@audphile1 your suggestion that it's cartridge was important. The first time I discovered the problem was with my new SET tube integrated amplifier. First I thought it's the amplifier. When I understood that  it was the turntable, my first thought was that it it's the RCA cable because the way how it looks.  I did not think then about the cartridge. 

@williewonka, your note that by removing and reinserting the cartridge something can be changed, pushed me to try this. I watched the video (thanks again),  these operations turn out to be not difficult.  I removed the stylus and it was not difficult to see that among the two ends of the styles which connect the the stylus with the   wires, the one corresponding to the right channel was not in the right position - it was bent further to one of the extremal positions. I just bent it to the middle position symmetrically to the end of the left channel. 

That "simple", which unlikely would have been possible without your help

Before that, just yesterday I ordered AT3600L cartridge after watching the video that compares it with the original Rega carbon cartridge, which costs about three times more and unlikely is better  (thanks @knock1 ​​​​). The delivery takes at least one month but there is no urgency any more!

Hey that’s awesome!
as far as cartridges…I used Goldring E3 and it was a notable improvement over the stock Carbon. You might as well upgrade. What’s the point of AT cartridge that’s supposedly the same as carbon?