Just share with you another new and simple tweak from a fellow enthusiast, Dennis of North Carolina, USA :

Rega 3-point mounted tonearm tweak

Photo courtesy of Dennis showing the new tweak

(He also uses #3 BDR Racing cones under his P5 which sits on a 50 lbs granite slab)

This is in fact a simple and effective tweak for a Rega 3-point mounted tonearm which costs you next to nothing and it's really worth trying.

1. Get rid of the wood screws Rega uses.

2. Get 3 Stainless Steel 2” (3 @ 6-32 X 2" or M3X50 mm) screws, stainless steel nuts (or wing nuts) and washers( no lock type).

3. Drill straight through the plinth and fasten them hand tight + ¼ turn and you’re done.

"You will get better resolution and natural tone with a solid bass presentation. Very nice Tweak!" - Dennis

Try out this 3-point mounted tonearm tweak today!

I would like to thank Dennis for sharing with me this brilliant yet simple idea and also for allowing me to post it here. Cheers!

* I have tried this mod with satisfactory results......you may want to read>>

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After almost "completely"upgrading my P2 TT with the easy plug-and-play gadgets, I can't help eyeing at the 18 mm chipboard plinth (2 kg) which is a little too thin and light for my liking. Finally, I decide to try on a more massive 2"(51 mm) fiberboard plinth.

Why fiberboard? Fiberboard is considered a better choice compared to chipboard as it has better anti-resonance property than chipboard. The new P3-24 TT plinth is also made of fiberboard of around 20 mm in thickness.

My DIY plinth is based on the following measurements:

Dimensions : 448.0 mm x 360.0mm x 51.0 mm

Diameter for main bearing housing : 18.0 mm

Diameter for tonearm hole: 25.0 mm (~1")

Diameter for pulley hole: 21.0 mm

Distance between main bearing and pulley (centre to centre) : 68.0 mm

Distance from main bearing to tonearm (centre to centre) : 222.0 mm

This new 2" (51 mm) plinth is about three times the mass (~6 kg) of the original chipboard plinth and it would help to reduce the vibration (main bearing, motor assembly and from the ground through the rubber feet etc) from reaching the record surface and the tonearm.

Top view with 18 mm diameter main bearing

Bottom view

It is not too difficult to transfer the main bearing and the RB250 tonearm from my old P2 plinth to fix onto the new fiberboard plinth. Since my motor assembly is already out-board *, I only need to align the pulley such that it is centrally located in the 20 mm diameter hole. Put back the ball bearing , add a few drops of (80w/90 hypoid gear) lubricating oil, aluminium sub-platter, silicon belt and the acrylic platter just takes me another couple of minutes! And now, the new turntable is ready to play my favorite records!

The result is a significant sonic improvement, less background noise, more details and clearer music/sound.

Try it out yourself and enjoy the permanent improvement with a small outlay ( around USD 100.00 in my case). The new TT also looks better with this thicker plinth, more like a traditional turntable-the vintage Thorens TD160 or Linn LP12.

* DIY out-board motor ( click to read more on......)

* Acrylic Plinth ( click to read more on......)

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"Thanks, Jim, for this additional photo!"

You are never lonely "immersing" yourself in the world of turntables as many around this world are sharing the same passion as you do (in turntables).

I have come across a lot of fascinating DIY and tweaks in various turntables. I hope I can share with you some of these beautiful works of my friends from time to time...

I would like to thank Jim of England for sending me pictures of his fabulous masterpiece created from Planar 2 and my aluminium sub-platter. Enjoy....

Pictures - courtesy of Jim ( England)

"I have made this base from Birch plywood with a 3mm hardboard top layer to give a rigid support to the motor. It has sorbothane and spiked feet ..." said Jim.

The proud owner of this interesting project said :

" ..... neat, innit? .... It sounds tasty too ....."

Thank you, Jim

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Dual pulley (33.3/33.3 rpm) Standard version DP2(60Hz)-USD42.00
Short version:DPS2(60Hz)-USD45.00
                      DPS1(50Hz)-USD45.00

Silicon belt (light brown) -  USD20.00

We notice that in much more expensive Rega models like P7 & P9, the pulley systems used are different from that of the lower series of Rega turntables. Let's take a closer look at this dual pulley system with two rubber belts which is used in these higher series TT to drive the sub-platter/platter. Can we use it for our humble turntables?

Don't be surprised that this dual pulley system could also be applied to our other Rega TT's like Planar 2/3, P1, RP1, P2, P3, RP3, P3-24, RP6, P25 and P5 TT's....

Why do we want to use dual pulley and two rubber belts???

With one tiny belt, there is less efficient energy transfer. Thus it is ''strenuous'' for the motor to move a combined load of more than 2 kg (sub-platter, platter, record.. etc). However, if two belts are used, much more energy is transferred to turn the platter. This is evident from half the time taken for the platter to attain full speed with two belts compared to time taken using single belt.

Recently, I further upgrade my Planar 3 with a dual stainless steel pulley. The turntable is tested (for 33.3 rpm only, since this Planar 3 is without an external power supply (PSU) for switching between 33.3 rpm and 45 rpm). And I am glad that the result obtained is not only shorter time to attain full speed as I've mentioned earlier, but steadier speed of rotation and pitch stability, thus a very significant sonic improvement for turntable.

Dual Pulley (model DP1) for 50Hz (replaced by model DPS1)-USD45.00

(Suitable for all Rega models)

Dual Pulley Standard version (model DP2) 60Hz -USD42.00 (for all models except P3-24/P5/P25/P3 TT's)
Short version (model DPS2) 60Hz- USD45.00 ( suitable for all Rega models)

Pulley puller , PR1 : USD12.00

* Note: For P3, P5 and P25 TT's, shorter version stainless steel dual pulley would be more suitable:

Click to read on short version dual pulley >>

Jpittman2 (USA) commented in vinylengine :

Better pitch stability and better delineation of instruments and vocalists within the soundstage. Have Rega P25, removal of plastic stock pulley and installation of Mr Lim's pulley was a BREEZE. Recommend this as a very cost effective upgrade and haven't even put the white belts on yet. If you are on the fence on this upgrade.....just do it!

mattlynch (U.K.) commented in vinylengine:

before i fitted the new pulley i played inxs kick and the gorillaz the fall ,then played them again with the pulley, immediate impressions are of a cleaner presentation, on one of the inxs tracks there is piano at both left and right extremes of the sound stage, previously these pianos were coming from a long way behind the speakers, with the new pulley those same piano's are brought forward and extended farther out to the left and right of the sound stage, bass on the gorillaz lp seems faster even though the deck is actually playing slower than before!

Discus (Sydney) commented in vinylengine:

My next upgrades was Michael Lim's double pulley. i did not expect the improvement will be big after the white belt, but this again took me by surprise! This took my P3-24's sound quality to a higher level. I am experiencing all these guys' same experience with this double pulley and at the time I had only one white belt and one stock belt while waiting for another white belt to turn up. Luckily it turned up two days later and again, I couldn't believe it, the white belt add stability to the bass and firm up the image yet again, although slightly but so worth it. Thank you Michael, the double pulley has made the biggest improvement compare to all the previous ones.

watercourse ( California) commented in vinylengine:

.... I have to admit that I installed the double pulley last night I (couldn't wait), and wow! talk about putting some snap into the system! Holy mackerel! This P5 is now freaking amazing sounding to me, as good as some much more high-ticket TT's I've heard for under $3500K(I'm talking VPI, Scheu), but the Shindo TT still sounded better, but mostly in pitch stability and solidity of sound image. This could have been synergistic thing with an all-Shindo system. But we're talking $20K here for the table alone, and I 'm not even close to being disappointed in my P5's sound after all this work.

And

Just as a follow up, the setup is still sounding fantastic with Michael Lim's two mods: the double belt pulley and motor isolation base.

fretlessVI ( Montreal, Canada) commented in vinylengine:

My last upgrade was the Michael Lim double pulley(with white belts) which seems to have nicely tied together all my other upgrades. It's as if the image has been fine focused with the added bonus of more articulated bass. By the way, those of you with an RP3 you can use the standard Lim double pulley without having to modify the motor mount or the pulley itself.

Joerg Winter of Germany commented ( P25 ) :

Dear Michael, Now I've listened quite a while with the new dual pulley and I must say I am really pleased with it and it was another sonic improvement for my P25 (even if the assembly was not as easy as I hoped ...).

Ian Benson of Glasgow, UK commented :

Hi Michael, I have received the pulley and have had it running for a few months now, its a vast improvement over the stock issue and compliments all the other turntable mods I have made perfectly. The pulley maintains it perfectly... great product at a great price. Ian Benson

Mark Bodrossy of Hungry commented ( P3-24 ) :

Hi Michael, The double pulley works beyond my expectations. It solved the pitch stability issues I was dealing with, but to my surprise it brought lifelike relalism, fast transients, more details, controlled still lively bass. All this without sacrificing any of Rega's strength or ruining the Rega sound. Mark

Michael Minucci of NJ, United States commented (with dual pulley and silicone belts upgrades) :

Michael, Just installed the dual pulley on my P5. Just wanted to say it's an outstanding upgrade. I have a delrin platter which is slightly heavier than the standard glass and it comes up to speed much quicker now. Speed stability is also improved and the sonic improvements especially it seems in the lower end is tighter and more defined. For anyone who is not sure about this upgrade due to fears of removing the original pulley just order the pulley puller. The old pulley came off easily without the need for any acetone. Well worth the $12.00.  Thanks.  Michael  N.J. USA

Dave Mitchell of UK commented (with dual pulley and silicone belts upgrades) :

Hi Michael,  A (very) quick update. Pulley and belts fitted to my Rega Based self build turntable. Stunning! Rhythmically everything has just snapped into place! You may have to wait a while for further comments – I’ve got a pile of vinyl to plough through. In short, two things have not been difficult to hear – The timing & rhythm are stunning and the solidity of the sound as imaging are superb! Even my much better half, a self-confessed ‘tone deaf’ lady has made very positive comments.  Dave

Dale of San Diego, California, commented after upgrading his P3-24:

The double pulley really helped my turntable....

Salvatore and his friend of Rome, Italy commented :

The pulleys are here. They are perfect . Thank you for everything.

Antonio of Caserta, Italy commented :

Hi Michael,  I had time to try your pulley and I can confirm now that it is very very good. The sound and the stage are improved a lot, especially because I have the chance to use two belt, of course better than one. Thank you very much and congratulation!  Ciao  Antonio

Trygve of Norway commented (with dual pulley and silicone belts upgrades on RP3) :

Hi Michael,  The pulley and silicone belts were received a couple of weeks ago and I installed them right away. I agree with other purchasers of the double pulley in that it yields a significant improvement in pace, rythm and timing or what is termed PRaT. I feel this upgrade was very worthwhile in my setup. Trygve

Scott of Mount Pearl NL, commented (with stainless steel dual pulley upgrade on RP3) :

Hi Michael,  The pulley showed up today. It makes an amazing difference to my setup! Wish I had ordered this a long time ago. Thanks again! Scott

Read more on dual pulley upgrades>>

Gear pullers to remove pulleys

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By "Simple steps" to improve or upgrade Rega P1 or P2 turntables in my earlier post, I only referred to simple plug-and-play solutions using readily available parts in the market. I didn't touch on any upgrades involving "installations". But recently I came across some requests by Rega P1 users on how to improve their humble turntable further, other than just the plug-and-play upgrades....

Well, you may also try on these "not-so-simple" steps to further upgrade your Rega P1 :

1. Remove the motor from the board and place it onto a stainless steel isolation base,IB22, to isolate the motor vibration such that the motor now effectively becomes an "out-board" motor (refer to my earlier post on motor isolation base for Rega P1 ( P2,P3) for details).

2. Replace the original Rega RB100 tonearm wires with new ones (end-to-end without joints as the origin Rega wires are joined at the tonearm base and arm tube), and also provide separate earth wire to solve the humming problem associate with using the moving-iron (MI) Grado cartridges as the Rega RB100 uses one of the negative wire as earth.

Just to summarize on the complete upgrades I have done on my own unit of Rega P1 being part of my tweaking experiments:

a) 'Plug-and-play' upgrades

1. Upgrade plastic end-stub and counterweight to stainless steel underslung counterweight.

2. Change the resin sub-platter to anti-resonance aluminium metal sub-platter.

3. Replace the wooden fiber platter to acrylic platter with lower centre of gravity.

4. Upgrade the Ortofon stylus to OM30e.

b) Intrusive upgrades

1. Fix the motor onto the motor isolation base (reversible).

2. Upgrade tonearm wires with separate earth ( non-reversible ).

c) Additional upgrades

1. Upgrade the plastic pulley to stainless steel pulley.

2. Add a 3-point stainless steel VTA spacer.

3. Aluminium feet.

If you are not upgrading your Rega P1 to higher series yet at the moment, have some fun tweaking what you have in hand. Moreover, most of the upgrades are transferable to more expensive Rega models should you decide to upgrade your humble P1 in the future, i.e. to P3-24 or P5. This is something I always like about Rega- simple, upgradeable and 'timeless'.

List of Rega upgrade accessories : Click to read more >>

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