Rega Heavy Tungsten Counterweight

As I noted previously, I recently moved up to a Dynavector 20×2 High Output Moving Coil cartridge from a Dynavector 10×5 High Output Moving Coil (and a brief, ill-fated experiment with an Ortofon 2M Black Moving Magnet).

One important physical difference between these carts is their respective weight. The 10×5 weighs 7.3 grams whereas the 20×2 weighs 9.2 grams.

As a result, when you try to balance the cartridge on a Rega P3-24/RB301 turntable/arm combination, you’ll soon find that the stock stainless steel tonearm counterweight must be pushed back all the way to the end of the tonearm.

This isn’t a problem per se. It is still possible to properly balance the tonearm using the stock weight.

Nonetheless, I thought it might be fun to experiment with the heavy version of the Tungsten counterweights that Rega manufactures.

The standard tungsten weight, like the stock stainless steel weight, is 91 grams; the heavy version is 113 grams. Apart from the weight itself, the heavy version can be easily identified by the thin groove that is cut into it.

Tungsten metal is denser than stainless steel so both weights have a much smaller profile. (The stock stainless steel is on the left and the heavy Tungsten on the right.)

The smaller profile is especially handy if you use an aftermarket spacer/arm height adjuster to adjust VTA (stock Rega tables/tonearms, of course, do not permit VTA adjustment and company founder Roy Gandy eschews the importance/significance of VTA adjustment entirely).

Anything above a 2mm increase and you’re likely to find your dustcover will be sitting on the tonearm counterweight and, therefore, won’t close properly. If you happen to be one of those people who plays records with the dustcover closed, this will be an impossible situation.

With either of the Tungsten weights, you can raise the VTA and still have enough clearance for the dustcover to close properly.

At any rate, the heavy Tungsten weight allows the counterweight to be much closer to the pivot point of the tonearm with the 20×2/RB301 combination.

Some audiophiles claim that results in appreciable sonic benefits including tighter, deeper bass and improved tracking.

I won’t lie about that. After listening for a few hours my ears can’t really detect that much of a difference. That’s not to say there isn’t. It could be the limitations of my ears or even the RB301 tonearm itself.

At any rate, I’d caution that if you intend to pursue this upgrade specifically to achieve improved sound, you might find yourself disappointed. But if you’re doing it for more immediate, practical purposes such as those I’ve described above, the heavy Tungsten counterweight might be useful.

If nothing else, it certainly looks cooler!