Random Bits

A while back I bought an Ortofon APJ-1 headshell adaptor to be able to use my EMT and SPU-A cartridges on normal tonearms meant for 52mm cartridges. Somewhere in my shuffling I have misplaced it and have no idea where it is. Annoyingly I had to order another one. It arrived this week and it has allowed me to try using the venerable EMT TSD-15 on my Technics. It sounds pretty excellent as you would expect.

I’m sure I will eventually find the original one I have. I must have put it somewhere really safe.

Another project I have going on is a restoration and tweak of my old Rega Planar 2 from 1976. It needs the motor cap changed, bearing cleaned, tonearm rewired (it’s the original Rega R200 arm), a new tonearm cable fabricated, a new lid and various other things. I thought I would get some new feet for it so scoured Aliexpress for something suitable. I ended up purchasing what look to be copies of the Finite Elemente Ceraballs. They are identical in construction and came with the option of steel or ceramic ball bearings. Additionally there are some rubber and cork pads to stick on as well.

Should be pretty cool. I got them in a Shindo gold colour, which will compliment the walnut frame of the turntable. We shall see if they sound any good…

You can see the ceramic bearing in place here and the rubber retention ring.

I’ll post some pics of the Rega, and it’s progress as time allows.

I may have also bought another Step Up transformer… always fun and games.