Turntables, Arms & Cartridges

Despite the substantial 6.7kg mass of the alloy platter it is brought very swiftly up to speed thanks to the combination of its high-torque AC synchronous motor and dual belt drive. Absolute speed was very slightly slow at –0.13% (but adjustable in this SP model) while the peak-wtd wow and flutter is a respectable 0.08%, the latter comprising some 0.04% wow at ±4.5Hz (the resonant frequency of the sprung suspension, perhaps) and 0.04% flutter at ±13Hz, both sidebands clearly illustrated on the W&F spectrum [Graph 1]. The peak at 13Hz coincided with a dominant mode at exactly the same frequency seen on the through-bearing rumble measurement [not shown here]. Otherwise the substantial stainless steel/bronze inverted bearing delivers a low –69dB DIN-B wtd rumble, improving still further to –71dB through the vinyl groove – testament to the effectiveness of the alloy platter, with peripheral rubber ring, and integral cork mat. The figure is largely unaffected by the use of the record clamp.

The partnering AVID TA-3 tonearm – an unbranded Rega RB330 – offers a medium 11g effective mass and compatibilty with a wide range of pick-ups. Friction within Rega's pre-loaded 'zero-play' bearings is an excellent <10mg in both horizontal and vertical planes while the resonant behaviour of its one-piece alloy tube and headshell is as clean as we've come to expect   see Graph 2, below]. The main bending mode occurs at 110Hz with a harmonic or torsional mode at 185Hz followed by a high-Q resonance at 700Hz – a distinctive feature of earlier Rega tonearms [HFN Aug '15 and Feb '18]. Taken as a package, the TA-3/RB330 is almost ideally suited to the Volvere and represents very fine value engineering. PM