Help Setting up Rega P2 Turntable

S

stupidcl

Audiophyte
Hi all.

I recently bought a Rega P2 turntable used, which included a new Shure cartridge. This is my first decent turntable.

I have a feeling it is not set up properly, though. As a record reaches approx. halfway through a side, the music becomes distorted, lots of sibilance. This is not due to the condition of the records.

Are there tutorials or tools I can use to do this myself, or is it something I’m going to need to take in? Thanks in advance for any help, I appreciate it.

Best,
Clayton
 
B

BGLeduc

Junior Audioholic
The good news is that the Rega has limited adjusments to worry about, so set-up should not be too hard. I went through set-up about 6 months back when I got a M97xe cart. There are really detailed set-up procedures published by guys like Mikey Fremer, but for me, I wanted something somewhat quick and easy, yet with good results.

There are resources on line. I found a great step by step, but I do not have a link. Try Googling "Turntable Setup". The one I found had a great, easy to follow procedure to get the cart aligned in the head shell. My Shure came with a cardboard alignment protactor which is essential to getting the cart set right in the head shell. You can also find those on-line.

Once its aligned, all you have left to do is set the tracking force, and anti-skate.

I am not too crazy about the procedure Rega provided to set tracking force. Balance the arm; then turn the weight "X" rotations per gram? Way too much margin for error.

I bought the Shure track force gauage (about $20), which may not be the last word in accuracy, it makes me feel that I have gotten things a lot closer to accurate. One the cart is alinged in the head shell, and tracking force is set, just dial the anti-skate to match the tracking force. Voila.

In my case, that all worked wonderfully. I am not hearing any significant inner groove distortion, unless the vinyl in question had sufferred some previous abuse.

Brian
 
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