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Rega P3-24, RB300 and Grado Gold... VTA

I can't find any definitive info about matching a Grado Gold cartridge, with its arm height requirements to achieve the recommended VTA, to the Rega P3-24 and RB300 tone arm.

So, this is a request for anyone's knowledge or experience in this regard. Can it be done out of box, or are Rega-supplied spacers needed?

The cost of the TT and Power Supply Upgrade is steep enough for me, so I'd like to use my existing set of almost new Grados. If that is not possible, what would be a reasonable compatible cart for this TT and arm? I assume the RB300 is the currently available default tone arm for the P3-24.

Thanks!
-Gritingrooves
gritingrooves
2002ss335
84 posts
 
I would be surprised if you could find any cartridge that did not benefit from having the VTA adjustable.

If you do not want to buy an adjuster then you can go to a bicycle shop and get washers of different thickness instead of paying for the Regas.

VTA adjuster
piedpiper
753 posts
 
The arm that comes with the P3/24 is not an RB300 but an RB301. It has the same height but has the 3 point mount. The Rega carts are an unusually low 13 mm high as opposed to most others which are 15-20 mm high. The Grados are 17 mm high so you would need a 4 mm spacer. You can get the 4 mm Rega spacer or you can get 8 mm wide x 2 mm high nylon washers from a hardware store. You'll need 6 of them so you can stack them 2 high. I haven't compared the sound so I can't vouch for which is better. Either will provide the correct height for your Grado. I'm not aware of any aftermarket VTA adjusters that accommodate the 3 point mount of the later upper models of Rega arms such as the RB301, RB700, RB900 and RB1000. The above link is for an RB300 type arm and will not work for your RB301.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,366 posts
 
I had a Rega 25 with a Grado Sonata low output. I wasn't terribly happy with that match. There was always a hum problem, and the sound was too thick, brown, and fuzzy. I had a VTA adjuster on it which was needed for proper installation. I kept it for a little while and then moved on.
piedpiper
753 posts
 
Rega/Grado hum can generally be alleviated by rewiring the ground connection, disconnecting the ground from the left channel ground and connecting a separate ground wire from the arm and attaching it to the motor housing and then to the preamp as per most turntables.
gritingrooves OP
22 posts
 

Thanks for your input, folks.

Last night I came across this URL, which puts a positive "spin" on using a Grado Gold with the latest P3-24:

http://www.lpgear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LG&Product_Code=REGA03&Category_Code=TURN

They didn't mention anything about tweaking (spacers, etc.). From what I've read, some of the hum issues reported with the earlier P3 are not to be found with the new model. That would be good news.

From what I've read about the Rega cartridges, I think that, money aside, I would rather use the Grado Gold carts I already own. But the issue is still moot. I hope someone can report success with the Gold and the new P3-24, since one can't always trust an on-line review. What you folks have reported could still be an issue with the new arm and table.

In addition to the cart VTA, I'd probably want to get a different mat. This means raising the arm even more.

BTW, I have a couple of Thorens mats. One is the old ridged one, and the other is a thicker mat. On the Thorens this mat left very little spindle left over for warped records or a clamp. I wonder if this would be true on the P3-24 as well.
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