2. analog
  3. 1209912242

Rega RB 1000 - Outgunned by Origin Live?

After years of Sotas, Regas, Thorens, etc etc I have done a U-turn in thinking I bought a Technics SL1210. In fact, I was spurred on by things I read on this site and a tip-off from a friend. The turntable is great, but I am not convinced about the Technics arm. So, I've bought a plate that can take Origin Live and Rega tonearms. I have an opportunity to buy a 2nd hand Rega RB 1000. However, I haven't seen much written about this arm. It won product of the year in it's category quite a few years ago and that's all I can find. Does anyone out there have any first hand experience or knowledge of this arm? It seems (at least when bought new) to be rather expensive for what looks like an RB300 with better bearings and lack of black paint. Do the the Origin Live arms (I'm thinking the Silver) really have the edge over the RB1000 (at least in the positive reviews). The Silver has been put onto SL1200s for some time and seems to work well. But that RB1000 looks pretty fine...
dsa
cytocycle
1,043 posts
 
The RB1000 doesn't mount like an RB250/RB300 so I don't think it will mount on the Origin Live board. quoted from manual "It is fitted to the plinth by a 3-point fixing."

I had a Technics SL1210M5G and later moved to a table with an RB300. I prefer the Technics arm by a long shot over the rega arms.... GET KAB silcon damper for the Technics and rewire the arm... I sold my Technics to a friend and he put the damper on and it totally transformed the table.

or if you want to change arms you can get an SME mount and install and SME IV or something similar.
dsa OP
63 posts
 
Thanks Cytocycle for the response. I checked with the manufacturer of the plate- it just needs three extra holes drilled to accommodate the the three point mounting system. As for the Technics arm- I would have to detach the arm and send it OS for the re-wire work. If I'm going to go to that much trouble I thought I would go the whole way and get a new arm. I feel that the arm was designed for a time when a different range of cartridges were available and when design priorities were different. However, Kevin from KAB has a strong and well wrought argument for the quality and design attributes of the Technics arm. On a different note, I'm going to put in a post regarding a couple cartridges I own.
cmk
397 posts
 
Hi Cytocycle
Interesting comment about the Technics arm. I think Kevin feels the M5G version with the upgraded tonearm wire is good enough that it may not be necessary to rewire the arm.

Just curious about how you feel the sound of your current rig differs from the Technics?
More to discover