Planer 3

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Esra Yeknom

Esra Yeknom

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Joined 2004
#1
Helo,

I have chance of buy turntale rega planer 3 with nagaoka boron mc11 cartrige. Has any experience of cartrige with these planer 3? I cannot find any thing on these nagoaka(?) on internet. Sory for my english quality 🙂

Thank for help

Esra
 
#3
I'm not familiar with the artridge, but the Rega 3 is a decent table. I'd be cautious putting it in a suspended plinth. The arm can benefit some from mods.

These teflon counterweight subs do a good job.

dave
 

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#4
Esra Yeknom said:
Helo,

I have chance of buy turntale rega planer 3 with nagaoka boron mc11 cartrige. Has any experience of cartrige with these planer 3? I cannot find any thing on these nagoaka(?) on internet. Sory for my english quality 🙂

Thank for help

Esra
Click to expand...

The Rega Planar 3 is a fine turntable, performs at its best on a
small light and rigid shelf attached to a solid wall. Its possible
to convert to a suspended design but you really need to know
what you are doing, you will also destroy the value of the
turntable in the process.

Better to start with a suspended design and modify that.

The Nagaoka MP11 Boron is an upgrade derivative of the once
popular MP11 cartridge. From what I remember the compliance
of the Boron is a little high. The standard MP11 has a rich sound
as is quite sensitive to capacitive loading. A new Boron stylus
(the boron refers to the boron cantilever) is not cheap.

🙂 Sreten.
 
#8
I have a planar 3 and I realllyyy like it. Be sure to hear it first before you do anything to it. I have a Garrot cartdridge on it.

Sreten,
What do you mean with suspended design? Any pictures on the net of this? I currently use a TNT style diy rack.

Miguel
 
#9
krishu said:
please, tell me more about these counterweights. Are those commercially available or DIY?

May I use this picture on my website? I would like to write below that picture where it is taken from.
Click to expand...

These are a new commercial product built by a local fellow. Originally developed for the local hifi dealer to improve the Rega Arms coming on some of the Audio Note TTs these have Peter's blessing. My buddy Chris has one of the earliest units and it did make a big difference (his unedited review below).

I have been given the task of selling these on the internet (and to distribute to dealers). Production numbers will be small for now, and i haven't got firm pricing yet -- but they will be competitively priced with other offerings, i'm expecting a bit less -- at least at 1st. Packaging will be simple as the docs (at 1st) may be sketchy). I actually have the 2 counterweights in the picture.

Yes you can use the picture.... please just attach my email to them (i'll email the right one) for inquiries. I am currently developing a bew web site to promote these, and a few other diy bits projects the local community is working on (ie wooden phase plugs -- i have the 1st batch of prototypr RS 40-1197/Fostex FE103 plugs sitting on my coffee table)

by ChrisB
As one of the legion of frugal_'philes not quite capable of doing it all myself, I'm always on the lookout for the maximum tweak value for the buck. A couple of years ago I rationalized ( i.e. downsized) my audio system after 10 years of (if not quite stagnation, then at least) inertia.

Via the magic of the multinational garage sale_known as EBay, the famous Scottish maker table/arm combo was turned into a Rega P3 and RB250 arm (and extra cash for other goodies). This_unusual combination ( the cheaper arm on the next model up table)_was based on the recommendation of Lou Reda: " Chris, it just might sound better, once you deal with the stock wiring,_rear stem and counterbalance."___(or expletives to that effect - quite the colourful analogies from our friend)

It's_no secret that the stock wiring in the RB250 and 300 arms is_"less than_optimal", and the RB250 arm stem and counterbalance are a joke. Having rewired the arm with Cardas litz wire, the next step was to deal with the issues at the other end of the arm. Having heard_several generations of prototypes of_stems /counterbalances in Lou's backroom "lab", on AudioNote 'tables at the local dealers, (modifed RB300) ,_as well as the Origin Live / Expressimo Heavyweight combo_in another system,__I was eager_to try the former in my own table.

As far as installation is concerned, it was a slam dunk on the RB250 - the plastic rear stem on mine was barely more than finger tight, although the metal stem on RB300's may be more of a challenge.__Assuming your_cartridge azimuth and VTA are already dialed in, the only additional requirement is a stylus force gauge_in the case of the 250.

Oh, the sound? In as few untechnogeek phrases_as possible - bigger sound stage (width and depth);___deeper,_tighter and articulate bass_with my AudioNote _IQ-II mm cartridge; smoother more relaxed and open midrange and_extended highs.

One of my favorite recent recordings is Patricia Barber - "Modern Cool"_' - textures on plucked and bowed double bass_or cello strings are palpable and brushes on_cymbals/ drumskins_have the impact and decay that I recall from the live concert. "Constantinople" - I wish my CD player sounded this good. Actually,_on second thought,_maybe not.

The best $XXX investment to the front end of my system yet ( next up, Silver wire and cartridge tags?)
Click to expand...

dave
 

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#10
I'm not sure what you mean by a suspended plinth, I was
referring to a suspended subchassis design, you do have
to know what you are doing for these.

Regarding the counterweight mods :

They make a lot more sense with the RB250 than the RB300
fitted to a Planar 3. As the RB300 steel counterweight stem
and Tungsten weight is much better and more expensive than
the plastic / steel combination of the RB250 and that the
Planar 3 is second-hand you'll find value for money is poor.

I'd leave the Planar 3 pretty much stock and investigate
building an advanced support for it.

There was once a very groovy German kit to upgrade the Planar
3 to effectively a Roksan clone, this could be worth investigating.
(i.e. copying)

🙂 sreten.
 
#11
Planar Upgrade

There was a kit available here in the UK some years ago,made by CS Audio(I think) called the Split Slab.
This consisted of a new top/bottom plinth Xerxes style,but was more like the Pink Triangle Little Pink Thing.
I believe PT had a hand in the design of the split slab.

Regards,
Paul.
 
#12
Re: Re: Planer 3 (Nagaoka MP11)

sreten said:

The Nagaoka MP11 Boron is an upgrade derivative of the once
popular MP11 cartridge. From what I remember the compliance
of the Boron is a little high. The standard MP11 has a rich sound
as is quite sensitive to capacitive loading. A new Boron stylus
(the boron refers to the boron cantilever) is not cheap.

🙂 Sreten.
Click to expand...

Picked up one of these (Nagaoka MP-11) used, and mounted it on a Sumiko Pro-Ject 1.2. Seems I may have the capacitive loading you mentioned as there is a marked high frequency rolloff. Wouldn't have guessed it from the specs as 47K and 100pf *seem* normal. Cartridge resistance is listed as 4900 ohms. Phono section is vintage HK730 receiver - which has worked fine with many other table/cartridge combos.
specs here: http://harmankardon.com/specifications.asp?cat=REC&ser=&prod=HK730&sType=H

High frequencies do not seem distorted, only attenuated. Bass, Midbass, and lower midrange all see OK too. Any way to accomodate this cartridge on this table (if I crank the treble, it begins to sound decent - or at least normal) - or is it just shot?

Also have a later model Carver Receiver that I could swap with the HK. Any thoughts?
 
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