2. analog
  3. 180647-122106

Current sensing phono stages w/Rega?

Hey folks,

Anyone using Channel D Lino C 2.0 or the Sutherland Little Loco with a Rega RP8? 

I got some great advice here on researching my first cartridge and phono stage upgrade.

Cartridge was upgraded from the Exact MM to the Ania Pro MC on my Rega RP8.

After researching the suggested phono stages, I home demoed a Musical Surroundings Nova III (with both stock walwart and optional LPS), Rega ARIA MK3 MM/MC, Black Ice Audio F159, and a Konus Audio Vinyle 1000MC Mark II.

The Konus is the only current sensing unit and the one I like the best. 

Two other current sensing units I would like to try are the Channel D Lino C 2.0 and the Sutherland Little Loco but came across the following:

The Absolute Sound Channel D Lino C 2.0 review excerpt:

Briefly, any phono cable/tonearm combination where twisted-pair-conductor cables are employed and the two conductors are not connected to the turntable (or shield) ground can be used. An example of a tonearm/cable that can’t be used would be a standard Rega ’arm where the shield is connected to one of the outer shells of the RCA, which is also a signal connection.

Stereophile Sutherland Little Loco review excerpt:

Your tonearm wiring must be fully balanced between cartridge and phono preamp, with no connections between any of the tonearm leads and ground. That means that the Little Loco won't work, for example, with your Rega arm, unless it's rewired. 

Has anyone rewired a Rega to work with either?

Thanks everyone!

hleeid
lewm
12,537 posts
 

Since hum by conventional definition is usually 60Hz or 120Hz, you really cannot filter it out without destroying bass response.  I don't understand "floating ground" with a single-ended connection. (You say Rega does not use a balanced connection; SE is the only other alternative.)  In an SE circuit, the signal MUST see ground or maybe that is why you have hum. (One normally gets a very loud hum if audio ground is disconnected.) In a balanced phono circuit, the signal is divided into pos and neg phases and audio ground is left to "float", which is to say there is no ground reference.

dover
2,187 posts
 

The problem with Rega tonearms is that instead of earthing the tonearm through a separate earth lead like most arms, they use the left channel negative wire ( blue ) to earth the arm ( there is a strap inside the arm base connecting the left channel negative to the physical arm).

Its a stupid system and prevents Rega arms from operating with balanced inputs.

Notwithstanding that, Rega will wire an arm for use with balanced inputs on request. I have seen this for use with the balanced inputs on an Aqvox phono.

 

 

jc51373
516 posts
 

@dover

 

Thank you Dover!! Yes I’d prefer them to do it since they chose this stupid method of grounding that creates limitations.

The one thing I will say for Rega is they support the heck out of their products. I love the TT so I don’t want to give it back to the dealer but I also HATE this limitation.

jc51373
516 posts
 

@lewm 

 

It just means it's not to earth (see plug on Rega power supply), it's floating because it's using the ground of the other piece of equipment through the RCA rather than the neutral wire of the power supply on the power supply itself. So simply put, it's a ground not attached Earth, just some other thing, in this case Chassis. 

lewm
12,537 posts
 

What is the “it” in your last post?

More to discover