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Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
My question is, would they put out enough power to drive the fact 8 speakers?
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
A new wiring loom for the R-200 is £90 on eBay. The anti-skate / bias also appeared to be knackered and that is widely considered to be virtually unrepairable. It's pushing 40 years old so it has done a reasonable turn.
Decided to opt for a new Rega RB220 tonearm as a replacement, this decision was aided by my attraction to the Audio Technica VM95 range of cartridges which seem to suit the RB220 but (according to popular forum opinion) not so much the R-200. The 220 also has manual anti-skate.
After a little more research I also decided to get a Rega Neo PSU power supply. The old model (which is identical in function and internally) is still available at an end of line price of £189 (full price for the new version is £260).
So, tonearm replacement was pretty straightforward, just some careful alignment of the new tonearm and the pilot holes for the three point fixings (which do not accurately align with the Rega template!) and it went in nicely. I chose the AT-VM95E cartridge to get me going, it seems.like a good starter option and a decent template to hear the upgrades through.
Because i can't stop tinkering I also got a new felt mat to replace the original plastic thing and made some cork isolation feet to act as shims for levelling.
The Neo PSU has a big impact on the background noise even with the old R-200 arm. It provides for a much blacker background allowing for the music to be revealed clearer. It also has a micro adjustment for speed which I found really useful to set the turntable at exactly the right speed using an RPM App. There is a single switch to change between 33 and 45 rpm. Useful.
The tonearm and cartridge are a nice combo. The music is now much more toe-tapping and rhythmic, more detail revealed and I can hear longer decays on the percussion. Even at lower conversational volume the music is far more engaging.
I think there is only so far I can push the system on the environment I have it. It's a dinner table listening setup mostly, but I push it a little more after dinner sometimes. Need to look at cables again at some point and the better cartridges in the VM 95 range are tempting, but happy that each upgrade seems to have paid a reasonable return.
Now most of my listening is done on ATC SCM45A's plus a PSI A255M sub in the studio, with Trinnov room correction.
I have an Audio Technica AT-LP140XP turntable in that room.
Digital converters are Avid MTRX and monitor controller is a Grace M905.
For general listenin one living space has a Rocksan Attessa with B&W 606's.
I am very impressed with the Attessa- the only problem is it is fiddly with universal remotes.
Another room has a Denon AVR-X2600H plus B&W 685 S2's.
The studio sounds much better but that is more down to the acoustic treatment and the Trinnov.
The other rooms aren't appropriate for that.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
Music...
McIntosh SACD player
McIntosh pre-amp
McIntosh power-amp
Michell Engineering Orbe SE turntable with Benz MC cartridge
Harbeth Super HL5+ speakers
Various SONOS boxes around the house
Don't think I could improve on this setup in my compromised listening room (i.e. my lounge), although I'll probably add a decent music streamer at some point.
AV...
Marantz universal disc player
Marantz AV amp
B&W FPM rear and centre speakers (paired with Harbeths as front L&R using pre-outs from AV amp to McIntosh power-amp)
BK Electric XXLS400 subwoofer
Tom Evans Grove MK2 MC phono
Bluesound Node 2i with power mods and upgrade power supply
Audiolab 6000CBT cd transport
Topping D90SE DAC
Tannoy SC3000 speakers and Rel Subwoofer.
Second system
Homemade turntable. Rega geometry. Perspex construction. Delrin bearing, machined aluminium sub platter, 3kg Delrin platter. Michelle Texhnoarm 2 with wiring upgrades. Nagoaka MP500 MM cart.
Topping D90 DAC
Frugalhorn XL speakers, subwoofer.
Cambridge Audio P50 & T55 in the office with a Marantz CD player and B&W DM4 speakers on self made brackets using turnbuckles.
This amp is 50 years old this year. It looks and works like new.
The latest addition might be the most impactful though; have added a REL T5x subwoofer to my B&W DM4 speakers and my word what a game changer.
As well as filling out the lower bass (which the DM4s do lack) lt has smoothed out the midrange, given more separation, and massively improved the timing.
The REL is really fast, drum rolls are a whole new thing and there is real grip in the bass. Sounds great with the beautiful midrange and top end of these vintage monitors..