I had the RCA cable replaced under warranty and the problem is gone. I also had the RCA connectors upgraded to Furutech 126(g). I would recommend this upgrade for anyone with a rega deck.
Rega TT-PSU drops right channel
Hi everyone. Recently my RP6 starting dropping the right channel as soon as the needle hit the record. My routine is (with the TT-PSU powered off):
- place the record on the platter after a nitty gritty clean
- power up the TT-PSU while giving the platter a nudge
- clean record with anti-static carbon brush
- needle drop
First I thought a tonearm wire was loose on the cartridge or something along that line. But, if I switch the TT-PSU to 45 and then back to 33 my right channel works just fine. I know Regas ground to the right channel. Could something be wrong with the cable between the TT-PSU and the table? TT-PSU malfunctioning (I think it is still under warranty).
Thoughts / recommendations? TIA
- place the record on the platter after a nitty gritty clean
- power up the TT-PSU while giving the platter a nudge
- clean record with anti-static carbon brush
- needle drop
First I thought a tonearm wire was loose on the cartridge or something along that line. But, if I switch the TT-PSU to 45 and then back to 33 my right channel works just fine. I know Regas ground to the right channel. Could something be wrong with the cable between the TT-PSU and the table? TT-PSU malfunctioning (I think it is still under warranty).
Thoughts / recommendations? TIA
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Scott...thanks for the update. I was pretty sure it didn't have anything to do with the power supply. If you have to dress the cable just right in the retainer clip to keep it from humming, then there has to be a break somewhere in the cable. Either in the cable jacket or at the point where the cable enters the tonearm itself. It seems you have it solved for now, but it really should be fixed permanently. I would take the arm off and send it back to The Sound Organization, (the Rega importer here in the states) and have them fix it or replace it. Is it still under warranty? This will probably just continue to get worse until you fix it for good. |
OK, I now know for sure what caused this hum problem. There is a RCA cable retainer on the RP6 that prevents the cables from pulling on / away from where the RCAs enter into the plinth. Somehow the RCA cables had moved in the cable retainer and was causing hum some or most of the time (probably due to the inertia of the platter starting). After adjusting the cable position in the retainer I found the sweet spot where there is no hum at all and now my phono preamp sounds the quietest it has even been with the volume at 60%+. Hope this helps other Rega owners... |
Scott, glad you got it fixed! I still don't understand how a power supply can affect the ground on an isolated tonearm? I've seen many things in all the years I was in the high-end audio business, so really nothing should shock me. I'll add this to my collection. Thanks for reporting back on the cure... |
Scott, the ground wire for the tonearm is soldered to the inside wall of the arm tube, (well, on the old style RB250/300 series it was anyway). Why don't you try to call Rick at Audio Alternatives in Fort Collins, Colorado. He is not only a master Linn turntable guru, but has sold Rega longer than probably anyone in the states. Maybe he has encountered this and will know how to fix it. Please let us know what you find out. http://www.audioalternative.com/ |
@mofi, My new routine is: - put on record after cleaning - turn on TTPSU (usually at 33) - switch to 45 on TTPSU - clean record with carbon antistatic brush - switch back to 33 - needle drop (first time tonearm, cue has been touched) I've never had a right channel out problem with the above order of steps. I almost always get the right channel out problems if I do not do the 3rd (and 5th) steps. My dealer has told me in the past (before this problem started) that Regas ground to the right channel and do not use a separate ground wire. Is this achieved through the tonearm wires right to the RCA male plugs or is the TTPSU involved in the right channel ground? |
Scott...weird dude! Try doing the same scenario you mention above but don't "switch TTPSU to 45, then to 33", just raise and then lower the arm and see if this works. By raising and lowering the arm you are flexing the wire inside the arm tube and this might be what is causing the problem. I know the RP6 uses that new metal support beam that runs from the arm base to the spindle. Maybe this is somehow " electronically coupling" the arm to the motor/psu? I'm just grasping at straws here, but I really don't understand how an isolated tonearm can be interfered with by a separate power supply unit? |
I can reproduce this scenario with the needle not on the record by: - play record at 33, right channel is out - lift tonearm - switch TTPSU to 45, then to 33 - tonearm / needle down, both channels work great The groovetracer ref subplatter is how the table should have come. Mine spins freer / longer than the factory RP8 subplatter. |
Just found this. Interesting... |
Scott...IMHO it's not the power supply. The motor/power supply is in no way electronically connected to the tonearm. If you are switching the PSU from 33 to 45 and back again with the record playing, it is probably the little extra vibration and/or the increase/decrease in speed that accompanies this switch that is acting upon the cantilever/tonearm and bringing the right channel back. Really the only way to troubleshoot this is to maybe take your table to a dealer and swap out the table/psu one at a time to see what the deal is. I personally think it has to be either the cartridge or tonearm wiring that is a fault. |