2. analog
  3. 1030920010

RB-300:help ;I think I'm wacked

This thing cracks me up. I just replaced my old immedia rpm arm with my rb-300. Now, I know it sounds good, I knew that. But yet it still blows my mind, enough to make me laugh uncontrollably, like when I eat chicken from the barbaque and it taste better than I can comprehend.
And here is more to laugh at. Not only are these things all over used, but the most expensive rega arm is 1000 bucks. ONLY 1000 bucks. Brand new retail.
O.K., forget about price. I would like your help in taking this thing to the limit. I have already done the following; rewired with a single run of cardas from cartridge directly to M. Yee phono parked right along side of table, added weight to the counter weight, not much, (about 50 percent of origional small weight), and backed off the spring pressure as to not have it touch or bind (can't have that, right?), and stuffed the arm with foam, and replaced the silicone insert at the headshell, you know the one, the one those origional cheesy wires come out of.
Does anyone know of any more succesful, or popular mods that have ever been done? Any different ones? Any experience with different wire? Nothing is too rediculas for me. I wonder if this arm might eventually become close to the best possible. Sound absurd?
basement
kr4ef94
208 posts
 
Nothing too ridiculous? I built an SME-type dovetail slide with VTA adjustment for the RB300. Makes setup easy and secure.
twl
3,251 posts
 
Okay, here we go. You have to get the Origin Live or Expressimo Audio structural mod. It replaces the rear stub, with a better one that is coupled differently. This is the biggest single thing you can do to your arm. Then get the HeavyWeight counterweight from Expressimo. This is not just a heavier one, it has an offset hole, so it drops the weight below the arm tube. Major improvement. The finger lift is microphonic, so you can either grind it off, or damp it well. Set the tracking force to 3 grams, which will defeat the spring, and set the VTF with a scale. It sounds like you may already have done this. You should also get the OL or Expressimo VTA adjuster, so you can really dial-in your VTA. A little self-stick felt on the headshell can help with vibrations before they get to the arm tube. I like the felt better than rubbery compounds like Blu-Tak. The rubbery stuff just catches and releases the vibrations, and the felt quiets them. I have found that 2 rubber O-rings on the Counterweight helped, though. You've already done the re-wiring. Also, play with the tightness of the arm nut that holds it to the plinth. It should not be too tight or too loose, there will be a tightness level that sounds best. Find it by experimentation.

All in all, the RB 300 is a very good arm that can be brought to "giant killer" level with these few mods. The RB250 can go a little higher than the 300, but the 300 will be very close.

If you like the modded RB300, you should hear the OL Silver Tonearm. It will knock you over. You can do better with the OL arms, than any of the up-market Rega arms. For modding, the 250 is best, and the 300 second best. The 600,900,and 1000 are too expensive and don't mod any better than the 300.

If you do all of these mods, your arm will sound about twice as good as it does now. I know that sounds amazing, but it will.
david99
1,467 posts
 
Well,heres a tweak I've read works.
Bust off the finger wand on the head shell.
Well,maybe busting it isnt cool but cutting it off and filing it clean will do.
From what I've read the finger wand is microphonic and the removal of it cleans up the music some.
Do it I dare ya!!! I couldnt do it with my old RB-600.
More to discover