Rega RB1000 and VTA Adjustment

Theo: "Unfortunately some of us listen to the music with critical ears." Gee so sorry, I just listen. Thanks again Theo for reassuring me that this hobby is full of self-absorbed toolbags. I dont care if you bash my rig, but please dont flatter yourself at my expense. "Listening to music with critical ears" could possibly be the dorkiest audiophile phrase I have heard to date.

G_m_c: thanks again for your response. I love the ability to change records in seconds. Thinking long and hard about purchasing a 90X or XYZ. Bought a Heavyweight which will arrive on Thursday. Very excited.

A discussion I may be able to participate in.
First, I totally agree on the flyfish comment. Here in So. Fl. it is awesom.
Re. Rega I also have a P9 with the RB 1000. I had the 501 with it but have now made a switch to a Van Den Hul Black Beauty Sp.X The combination with the correct spacers is excellent.The 501 was good but the VDH is much superior. The 90X should be a good match.
Now the interesting part about this thread is that I am looking to upgrade the arm. I have reached the conclusion that the Rega table can stay for a bit longer but I am on the verge of purchasing a Schroeder DPS. The design is fastcinating and I hope sounds as good as it looks.
I know many Goners will be critical of the Schroeder on the P9 but why not. At some point I am sure I will get the twitch again and change out the P9 but for now this may be a bid improvement with the ability to change VTA
and fine tune. Also, eff. arm mass is important. The RB 1000 has an EFF. mass of 10. The Schroeder 12 with a certain type of wood used in the arm.
Make sure the cart. is suited to the tonearm mass.
This is a great hobby.

Hello Rich62 and all,

I would like to add some of my findings using almost exact front end rig as yours.
Besides 9/1000 combination there is Klyne 6 preamp, as well as Rowland Consonance on occasion.
The cartridge used is ZYX Airy 2 Cosmos Crystal, which is nude version of Airy 2.
In short this is one absolute fantastic combination, quite unlike any other cartridge which I used before (Audio Technica ART 1000,
Madrigal Carnegie One, AT -170 ML). The synergy between cartridge and tone arm is awesome, but I would like give you some thougths on the way to improve your sound while tweaking your 9. The detail explanation of all my tweaks can by rather long, but to put it in a few words, the 9 works better if you take of any of necessary part to play the record.
I know that this sound rather strange, but each of these tricks are reversible, without any kind of damage to the 9 itself.
I went on that route because I was taking off the plastic lid the other day in order to mount the cartridge. The music become significantly clearer, but at the same time without any of the nastiness such as the rise of the upper registers. It took me quit some time to realize that all this happened just because of taking the lid off.
After that take off the beautiful maple surround off and there another level of progression in the same direction took place.
I was flabbergasted by the whole new picture which that rig produce. After that, I take off the plastic box which surrounds the motor assembly below the turntable. Jet another (but this time very small) progression. At the end I replace the feet of the table with aluminum spikes (better than wood or brass in this location).
All this is easily reversible and in case that you are not sure in some of your findings you can put back that part and listen again. But you would not, I am sure.
All this leads you to one completely new and rather strange ( very small) 9 which I find beautiful in his new found minimalism, because the whole turntable is now just a little bigger than the record itself.
There are quite a few tricks which you can use in order to further improve your 9 such as outer and inner weights for the record, shims and weight for the tone arm, and you can send me an e-mail if you want, and all will explain you my progress with the 9/1000 combination in details. I can send you some pictures of my creature if you like.
Hope that this helps. All the best,

Docsavage: If you purchase the Schroeder tonearm, please make a posting about your findings. Never heard about an owner of a P9 changing out the tonearm. Van Den Hul's are incredible carts, if you have not already, you should get the april or may issue of HiFi+ magazine that had a great article about Ven Den Hul.

Great hobby, insane at times but great. I fish in Central Pa, (Spruce Creek, Penn Creek area) lots of fun. Some day I will vacation to the keys for some salt water fly fishing.

Kate,
Very interesting and logical tweeks.
All that stuff can add resonance!
I bet it is very minimal and sleek looking, as you say.
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