I thought I'd post some screenshots of my DIY Rega 25mm thick Acrylic platter and Stainless/Aluminum bearing hub assembly for my P3.
The hub is very much like the P9 except I chose to use a ball bearing. The P9 does not use a ball bearing.
My platter is 9mm thicker than the "Sheer Audio" platter you see advertised at Musicdirect. I do not use the felt mat so I machined a counterbore to contain the record label.
For the bearing/hub assy. I chose to use stainless steel and integrated a hardened steel pin inside the axle which rides on the ball bearing. I surface ground the contact areas for a super smooth low friction platform. No VTA changes resulted in this modification.
Benefits include speed stability due to the near perfect concentricity of the new bearing/hub, the standard Rega plastic hub is not perfectly round, in fact I found flat spots all over mine. Bass is also tighter and cleaner with the acrylic platter. I find myself cranking up the volume level because everything just seems smoother due to these 2 upgrades. I also have a Heavyweight and Cardas arm rewire, short of an outboard motor I've pretty much modded this TT out.
The cart. is a Koetsu Black. Last year when my Aurum Beta-S met its untimely demise I had intended to upgrade to a better TT so I bought the Black with that in mind.
Anyway, a couple of members asked me to post pics so here they are. 🙂
http://www.geocities.com/fsmillie@pacbell.net/index.html
The hub is very much like the P9 except I chose to use a ball bearing. The P9 does not use a ball bearing.
My platter is 9mm thicker than the "Sheer Audio" platter you see advertised at Musicdirect. I do not use the felt mat so I machined a counterbore to contain the record label.
For the bearing/hub assy. I chose to use stainless steel and integrated a hardened steel pin inside the axle which rides on the ball bearing. I surface ground the contact areas for a super smooth low friction platform. No VTA changes resulted in this modification.
Benefits include speed stability due to the near perfect concentricity of the new bearing/hub, the standard Rega plastic hub is not perfectly round, in fact I found flat spots all over mine. Bass is also tighter and cleaner with the acrylic platter. I find myself cranking up the volume level because everything just seems smoother due to these 2 upgrades. I also have a Heavyweight and Cardas arm rewire, short of an outboard motor I've pretty much modded this TT out.
The cart. is a Koetsu Black. Last year when my Aurum Beta-S met its untimely demise I had intended to upgrade to a better TT so I bought the Black with that in mind.
Anyway, a couple of members asked me to post pics so here they are. 🙂
http://www.geocities.com/fsmillie@pacbell.net/index.html
Ball bearing
Horror!
You are breaking the sacred TT rule: no ball bearings!
I personally have no experience with BB, but seems like kinda consensus exist between all TT gurus regarding this matter. What kind of bearing is used - any precise zero-backlash stuff?
What about rumble with the volume all the way up? Any lubrication/grease?
2. Record lable recess looks very deep. Do you use a clamp? Any spacer below?
Regards and congrats for beautifully done work.
Michael
Horror!
You are breaking the sacred TT rule: no ball bearings!
I personally have no experience with BB, but seems like kinda consensus exist between all TT gurus regarding this matter. What kind of bearing is used - any precise zero-backlash stuff?
What about rumble with the volume all the way up? Any lubrication/grease?
2. Record lable recess looks very deep. Do you use a clamp? Any spacer below?
Regards and congrats for beautifully done work.
Michael
Ball bearing confusion
Sorry but I don't know of any manufacturers that don't use a single ball bearing. I'm confused by your statement regarding ball bearings.
My label recess is 0.020(1/2 mm) deep which is pretty standard in the industry.
The bearing well holds enough oil to immerse the ball bearing in oil, covering the area of friction.
I use a wooden clamp at the moment, unthreaded. I may go to a threaded unit in the future, not sure.
Sorry but I don't know of any manufacturers that don't use a single ball bearing. I'm confused by your statement regarding ball bearings.
My label recess is 0.020(1/2 mm) deep which is pretty standard in the industry.
The bearing well holds enough oil to immerse the ball bearing in oil, covering the area of friction.
I use a wooden clamp at the moment, unthreaded. I may go to a threaded unit in the future, not sure.
Attachments
Would you ever consider selling your modifications to others like me? I always like to experiment with my Planar 3 and would be interested in purchasing your platter and hub assembly. Reply here or email me directly with a reply.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Vinyl Addict,
Have you ever tried to make one of those rings that holds down the outer edge of an lp? I am talking about something like Clearaudio's "Outer Limit". I really want to try this but not at $800!! It would seem that something similar could be made at a much more reasonable price point. I would like one that would fit my Rega, but I am only starting to research the possibilities. Any thoughts? I am still interested in your Rega steel bearing and your platter as well. Thanks!
Have you ever tried to make one of those rings that holds down the outer edge of an lp? I am talking about something like Clearaudio's "Outer Limit". I really want to try this but not at $800!! It would seem that something similar could be made at a much more reasonable price point. I would like one that would fit my Rega, but I am only starting to research the possibilities. Any thoughts? I am still interested in your Rega steel bearing and your platter as well. Thanks!
Outer ring
I designed my platter so that it could work with such a ring. I just haven't gotten around to making it yet. The reason Clearaudio charges so much is that the material alone is very expensive and the labour is also costly.
VPI is offering the same ring for less money, you may want to check that out but remember that it must fit snugly around the platter or it will be a major detrement to your vinyl playback capability.
The ring needs to locate or fit snugly around the circumference of the platter in order to maintain both concentricity and balance.
The standard glass Rega platter is smaller in diameter to that of an LP so the ring cannot fit around the glass platter. There is a way around this but it involves another device to center it, not worthwhile, IMO.
I designed my platter so that it could work with such a ring. I just haven't gotten around to making it yet. The reason Clearaudio charges so much is that the material alone is very expensive and the labour is also costly.
VPI is offering the same ring for less money, you may want to check that out but remember that it must fit snugly around the platter or it will be a major detrement to your vinyl playback capability.
The ring needs to locate or fit snugly around the circumference of the platter in order to maintain both concentricity and balance.
The standard glass Rega platter is smaller in diameter to that of an LP so the ring cannot fit around the glass platter. There is a way around this but it involves another device to center it, not worthwhile, IMO.
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