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Rega RP10 VTA shims

I am sure this applies to the RP8 as well. But I have an RP10 and bought two of the 2mm shims to accommodate the VTA of a Kleos cartridge. My dilemma is that the single shim does tighten the bass to where i prefer but the highs and mids drift from what I prefer. With both shims the highs and mids are, in my opinion, exactly what I want, but the bass control starts to slip away. Does any one know of a 3mm shim? I think that would bring everything into line. I will experiment with tracking force, but am reluctant to drift to far from 1.75 which was ideal on my old LP12. I looked at Acoustic Signature but this are drilled for the RP6 which uses a smaller screw. Also I am considering the Groove Tracer counterweight, but I really don't see that as the correct solution for this issue, but rather a tweak once the VTA is corrected. So my question is, anyone have an RP8 or 10 that has come across this issue and have you found a different supplier of shims for the Rega. I have thought about filing my extra 2mm down but realize I cannot maintain a perfectly flat surface.
128x128theo
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
5,101 posts
 
Try these guys:

http://www.soundsupports.com/page9.htm

If they don't have it, maybe they can make you one.
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jcarr
382 posts
 
Dear Theo: The Kleos was designed to have a vertical height (headshell underside to stylus tip) of 17.377~17.48mm with VTF applied. Let's say 17.4mm. I believe that the Rega cartridges are 14mm high, and Rega's tonearms and shims are designed accordingly.

IOW, you probably need to bring the base of the Rega tonearm up by 3.4mm to make the Kleos level.

If Rega cannot provide a custom shim for you, I would bring one of your shims to a machine shop. Ask them to caliper the inner and outer diameter, then have them make up a custom shim of 3.4mm thickness (if the machinist can make 3.43mm thickness, even better).

If you have a range of tonearm shims made to varying thicknesses, say 0.3mm apart (or even 0.1mm if the pricing allows you to make 10 or a dozen), you have a fairly predictable method of experimenting with SRA. Shims of more than 3.4mm thickness will result in tail-up SRA with the Kleos, and shims with less than 3.4mm thickness should result in tail-down SRA.

Or as Elizabeth said, you could install the two Rega-supplied 2mm shims, then add an LP mat of 0.6mm thickness to take up the difference.

hth, jonathan carr

PS. When changing the tonearm bearing height, recheck the VTF and overhang, and correct them if they have shifted.
theo's avatar
theo OP
2,698 posts
 
Jonathan, Thank you so much for your response. I have found some shims that are available in .5MM increments.
I am planning to order those and set it to 3.5MM I realize that is just .1MM to high. But if I fand that the performace is "dialing-in" to an optimum sound, then I can
approach a machine shop and have a custom 3.4MM machined so I have a solid shim rather than a stack. I had thought about Elizibeths suggestion, but felt (no pun) that a thicker mat might effect the sound or benefits of the ceramic platter.
But this explains why I get better performance at 4MM than I do at 2MM, although at 4MM the bass was to muddled although deep. I am excited to try the 3.5MM and then narrow it to the 3.4 as budget permits.

Mr.Carr, your help and advice is greatly appreciated and invaluable to me and I am sure all Rega owners owning or seeking Lyra. Thank you very very much.
Theo

PS. I do have a question, what is your advice on de-magging
a Lyra, I see small metal filings, I have no idea how they get there playing vinyl, but I see them in my magnifing glass?
cartridges.
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drubin
3,275 posts
 
Theo -- can you tell us about those 0.5mm shims?
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