A member here recently posted this, I have not read it yet, keep in mind, it may be old, i.e. digital stylus gauges didn't exist when it was written.
Cartridge Setup
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2016/1/17/a-beginners-guide-to-cartridge-setup
Turntable advice / opinion on setup / sound.
Hello all you analog experts. I am seeking some advice, opinions and direction to try, based on my tastes and setup.
I’m not loving my current TT sound but there are variables that could cause this. For reference, my favorite TT I ever owned was the ClearAudio Champion Level 2 (wish I never sold it) because it was warm and had a huge stage.
- I listen to every style of music, smooth jazz to hard metal.
- I have to turn the volume way up to get the get the level I like which at times has hiss and a tiny bit of hum. Compared to digital sources which have none of these issues.
- I find this setup to lack huge stage and warmth.
My current system is:
- Rega Planar 8 w/ Alpheta 2 MC cart.
- Cambridge Audio -> Alva Duo Phono Pre amp
- Mark Levinson -> No 585 Amp.
- Martin Logan 15a Renaissance -> 8FT apart/ 3ft off the front wall and 3 FT from each side wall. I sit 9FT away from the speakers.
The turntables I am considering are:
1) Musical Fidelity -> M8XTT
What cart would you use?
2) Michell Audio -> Gyro SE Turntable
3) Clear Audio Champion Level 2
Thank you all in advance for any guidance and opinions you can offer.
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- 185 posts total
Here is your Tonearm’s Manual https://www.rega.co.uk/download/TA-RB880-RETAIL-UNI.pdf Overhang is 14.5mm You should have the included Protractor which has markings for the Inner and Outer Null Points. Can anyone measure them from the centerline of the spindle and tell us what they are in MM _________? |
Rega doesn’t go into that simply because they assume you’re going to use a Rega cartridge which are all standard with a three-point mounting system. The supplied protractor has only one alignment grid on it when used with a nonstandard cartridge that provides a modified Stevenson geometry tweaked to Regas specification. Your null points would be approximate if based on the Stevenson alignment. I believe its well known that Rega publishes a pivot to stylus distance of 222 millimeters. I’m pretty sure all Rega cartridges weight 6 grams and the arm is considered medium mass at 11 grams. |
mostly locking you into their cartridges is nasty IMO. Printing manuals in light gray on white is nasty. Not giving specs is nasty. No height adjustment is beyond nasty. Hats off to Ortofon for making their R versions to fit Rega’s 14mm height.
It would be nice to know what the RB880 arm’s null point distances are, for people who do not have the protractor overhang is 14.5 mm inner null point _______ mm? outer null point _______ mm? /////////////////////////////////// P-Mount Staandards didn’t catch on, a shame the industry couldn’t agree on some part of cartridges, say make them all 16mm high, cantilever angle the same: thus VTA/SRA automatically right, then make most arms with fixed height (always need a few arms with adjustments for perfectionists) ALL arm fittings could have adjustment for azimuth like Micro-Seiki 505’s.
We can use our protractors for any arm if we know overhang/inner null/outer null |
IMHO, you have an excellent audio system that is being held back by your phono pre amplifier. Before you get rid of the P8 (a wonderful TT by most accounts), I’d get a phono preamp that is on par with the rest of your audio gear. The most important aspect of any audio system is that the gear be well balanced so that there’s a synergy. One component that is not equal to the others compromises them. Best of luck in fine tuning your system and enjoy the music!! 👍
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- 185 posts total