MAIN BEARING MOD FOR REGA TURNTABLES!

Wow! This is a Bearing Damping Ring (BDR), designed to fit tightly around the main bearing housing of Rega Turntables, just below the locking nut. 

I have a customer, Paul Sullivan, to thank for this upgrade. Paul ordered several Platter Damping Rings (PDR) from me some time ago and was incredibly impressed with the results on his Garrard 301's. He then ordered a custom sized Motor Vibration Absorber (MVA) and a main bearing damping ring. Here are the comments I received from him following fitting:

' The damper rings are extremely effective.  The motor ring dramatically reduces motor noise and the bearing ring results in a massive increase in bass extension which in a turntable that already has a reputation for excelling in this department is remarkable.  The bearing damper ring is as effective as a Deflex thrust pad and is a simpler and more elegant solution.  The two combined also result in much more revealing and transparent sound with a deeper soundstage.  Rumble is way below surface noise levels and to hear it at all (at 1m distance from the loudspeakers) on an unmodulated groove, I had to turn the volume up to a level that would generate over 118db if music was actually playing. '

As you can imagine, this got me thinking. I started experimenting - Vibration is the key. Holding a Thorens main bearing between thumb and forefinger, you can feel a small but noticeable vibration when running. Placing a stethoscope on it, you can clearly hear the noise generated. This bad energy has to go somewhere - and it's going to go into the sub-chassis via the bearing housing, or (even worse) into the platter via the spindle.

I previously assumed that a BDR would not work on a Rega as most of the bearing housing is surrounded by wood. The Rega I have here has a Manticore Mega Bearing (massive housing) fitted, so I could not try it. I recently had the opportunity to fit all my upgrades to a customers Rega 3, so tried one on it - sure enough, it works!

Fitting the BDR is a two minute job (no glue needed), and it comes complete with instructions. I'm sure you'll agree with me that anything that lessens vibration in a belt driven turntable is a good thing and at £7.00 it is an absolute bargain!