£300 upgrade - how would you spend it for me?

[Littlelondoner]

Hi, I am new to this forum and having read lots of opinions I am in quandary about how to improve my hi-fi system. If you can spare some time to consider how I could achieve the most improved sound from my system for an additional outlay of maximum £300, I would appreciate it.

I listen to a wide range of genres from rock and jazz to classical. I have a roughly equal amount of LPs and CDs and I am currently confined by my family for my "serious" listening to a small study room 9 x 9 feet (2.7m x 2.7m) .

My kit is:-

• Rega Planar 3 purchased in 1986, fitted with an Ortofon Red MM cartridge 10 years ago and has had no further upgrades
• Rega Fono A2D preamp
• Arcam Delta 90 amplifier
• Arcam Delta 70.3 CD player
• Mordaunt Short MS15 speakers mounted on spiked tripod stands

I use good quality RCA and speaker cables. All the units including the turntable are in/on a floor standing spiked tripod type unit standing on wooden floorboards.

The obvious upgrade choices seem to be these:-

• 1. Rega turntable wall bracket
• 2. Rega 24V upgrade kit
• 3. Rega NEO power supply
• 4. Have the orginal Rega phono cables from turntable replaced with modern ones

Note that all of upgrades listed here are to do with the turntable. However, I am not averse to my £300 taking another direction such as better speakers or even a DAC - we have started to use streamed music into SONOS speakers in other parts of the house.

Looking forward to hear what you may suggest

 

[Al ears]

Hi, I am new to this forum and having read lots of opinions I am in quandary about how to improve my hi-fi system. If you can spare some time to consider how I could achieve the most improved sound from my system for an additional outlay of maximum £300, I would appreciate it.

I listen to a wide range of genres from rock and jazz to classical. I have a roughly equal amount of LPs and CDs and I am currently confined by my family for my "serious" listening to a small study room 9 x 9 feet (2.7m x 2.7m) .

My kit is:-

• Rega Planar 3 purchased in 1986, fitted with an Ortofon Red MM cartridge 10 years ago and has had no further upgrades
• Rega Fono A2D preamp
• Arcam Delta 90 amplifier
• Arcam Delta 70.3 CD player
• Mordaunt Short MS15 speakers mounted on spiked tripod stands

I use good quality RCA and speaker cables. All the units including the turntable are in/on a floor standing spiked tripod type unit standing on wooden floorboards.

The obvious upgrade choices seem to be these:-

• 1. Rega turntable wall bracket
• 2. Rega 24V upgrade kit
• 3. Rega NEO power supply
• 4. Have the orginal Rega phono cables from turntable replaced with modern ones

Note that all of upgrades listed here are to do with the turntable. However, I am not averse to my £300 taking another direction such as better speakers or even a DAC - we have started to use streamed music into SONOS speakers in other parts of the house.

Looking forward to hear what you may suggest

Welcome to the forum
You forgot the obvious replacing the stylus / cartridge. Ten years is a long life for a stylus, depending on usage.
However it sounds like you really need a wall mount for that turntable

 

[aversaurus]

Rega Mira 3 amplifier one of the best I ever owned really have a soft spot for it great sound stage very musical lovely little amp

 

[Al ears]

Rega Mira 3 amplifier one of the best I ever owned really have a soft spot for it great sound stage very musical lovely little amp

Are you suggesting he replaced his amp with a second hand Mira 3?
Not too sure where he will find a one for that money.

 

[Al ears]

Of you are lucky you could get this and a replacement 2M Blue stylus for your £300

REGA Turntable Wall Bracket - Black | eBay

<p>REGA Turntable Wall Bracket 2016 - Black. </p><br /><p>Selling my used genuine REGA wall bracket, suitable for PLANAR 1-2-3 turntables. </p><br /><p>The bracket is in very good condition with only minor marks which are barley visible. These are amazing lightweight but very stiff frames...

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[aversaurus]

Yes you can pick up a used Mira 3 for round £300 from time to time

 

[Al ears]

Yes you can pick up a used Mira 3 for round £300 from time to time

Interesting, must keep looking. Most I have seen , that are actually still working, are 400 plus

 

[Littlelondoner]

Of you are lucky you could get this and a replacement 2M Blue stylus for your £300

REGA Turntable Wall Bracket - Black | eBay

<p>REGA Turntable Wall Bracket 2016 - Black. </p><br /><p>Selling my used genuine REGA wall bracket, suitable for PLANAR 1-2-3 turntables. </p><br /><p>The bracket is in very good condition with only minor marks which are barley visible. These are amazing lightweight but very stiff frames...

www.ebay.co.uk

Thanks very much - I half expected someone to suggest the turntable bracket, but was surprised that you think a blue stylus would improve the sound more than the other Rega upgrades. I haven't listened to my vinyl much in recent years so may wait a while before replacing the red stylus with a blue one. Thanks again.

 

[RoA]

Get a streamer and a years subscription

 

[plastic penguin]

Replace the cartridge with a ClearAudio Concept (approx £200) and the balance on records

 

[Al ears]

Replace the cartridge with a ClearAudio Concept (approx £200) and the balance on records

he might have to shim up....

 

[plastic penguin]

he might have to shim up....

What's drainpipes got to do with hi-fi?

 

[Al ears]

What's drainpipes got to do with hi-fi?

That would be shimmy up....

 

[plastic penguin]

That would be shimmy up....

Yikes, trust me to get it wrong.

 

[DCarmi]

If not done so already the Rega could probably do with a new belt. Cost about £15.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I'd spend it on more 4k films for me, personally!

 

[Friesiansam]

I'd spend it on more 4k films for me, personally!

I have a list of CDs I want!

£300 would buy a lot, especially as I don't mind buying good used ones.

 

[nopiano]

Looks like most ideas have been reflected already. But if it was my kit I’d get:-

1. a new 2M Blue stylus, £139
2. used Chromecast Audio from eBay, c£50
3. one year sub to Qobuz, £129.99

I’d find the extra £20 somehow! Let us know what you decide.

 

[shipworm-archaism-recede]

Given your confinement to a small room for 'serious listening', might you get more bang for your buck from a nice set of headphones?

 

[TrevC]

Audio-Technica AT-VM95ML Dual Moving Magnet Cartridge.
Brilliant.

 

[Tinman1952]

Raspberry Pi 4 plus Volumio....... via USB to
Topping D10S

£150.......perfect. 😁

 

[daytona600]

New Stylus
RCM pointless buying records without cleaning them

 

[bigfish786]

Can you back a horse at 3-1 cos I’m struggling with £300 😂

 

[hokey]

Raspberry Pi 4 plus Volumio....... via USB to
Topping D10S

£150.......perfect. 😁

I just set mine up last week... Raspberry Pi 4 plus Volumio....... via coax to Schiit Modi > Schiit Vali2 > Drop 6XX.

It's better than Christmas.

 

[Al ears]

I just set mine up last week... Raspberry Pi 4 plus Volumio....... via coax to Schiit Modi > Schiit Vali2 > Drop 6XX.

It's better than Christmas.

and all for £300 ........ Amazing!