New Rega Motor, glad I waited

[JohnMichael]

Well now the motor will not arrive until Monday. Since I have Monday off it will give me plenty of time to do the mod and give a listen. I thought about removing the old motor early but I want to listen to the table with original motor so I have the most recent audible memory. I will be playing a classical recording and a jazz vocalist for the before and after.

[JohnMichael]

The motor will be here and I am as nervous as a pregnant nun. I have not soldered in years but I think I can, I think I can. I have read and reread the instructions. I have everything I need.

[JohnMichael]

The new motor is in and the table is sounding good. More info and pictures to follow.

[JohnMichael]

Here are some pictures of the mod. The first is the table without the platter and next with the subplatter taped down so the subplatter does not fall out along with the bearing and oil. The third picture shows the old motor and board. Then I have a picture of old and new. Lastly the area for the motor is empty and I have the double faced mounting tape in place and the two wires are the switch wires that I need to solder to the board.

[JohnMichael]

The rest show the newly mounted motor and the pcb. The last is the subplatter and new shiney pulley for the belt. The soldering was the least of my worries and the centering of the motor was a little tough. Turning the table up and down to mount and check was frustrating. A stand that would allow you access from the bottom while you worked would have been nice. I also did not press hard enough for the motor to adhere to the plinth and at one time it was loose so I opened it back up and really pressed it down.

Since there have been manufacturing variations through the years with Rega I had to remove the bearing shaft and place a washer underneath. This raised the subplatter so it was in better alignment with the belt. Not every Rega needs this but lucky me mine did. Of course then I needed to remove my rubber triangles you saw in the first picture.

I am glad it is finished.

[JohnMichael]

Initial listening notes are the Telarc recording of the The Rite Of Spring with Lorin Maazel conducting is not as agressive as I am used to it sounding. Bass is better and easier to tell the bass drum from the tympanis.

Diana Krall's Quiet Nights is more focused and seperation from jazz players to the string section is greatly improved.

Back to listening.

[JohnMichael]

After installing the motor I am impressed and would like to hear a fully up to date Rega. The more I listened last night the more I was impressed. The timing is much better which really helps with musical flow and bass lines are much easier to follow. Bass sounds deeper and punchier.

I was surprised by how loose the old motor was mounted. I found it interesting that the motor said it was a 50hz. The circuit board of the original table was much simpler than the new one.

Now I only need the Rega TT PSU which will allow electronic speed change. Instead of changing the belt to different pulleys I can press a button. I do have a number of 45 rpm records and would play them more often with easier speed changes. Of course the TT PSU will need to wait. I think I have tweaked enough lately.