Is it all its cracked up to be?

[matthewpiano]

OK, so I started a thread about the Rega TT PSU last night, wondering if it would improve the speed stability of the RP3. In the meantime I thought I'd pull my old Pro-ject Debut III out with the stock Ortofon OM5e cart on it. I did a quick alignment and balance check and had a good listen. Much better stability than the Rega and a sound which, while clearly limited by the basic cart, suggests the Debut is potentially capable of serious performance.

Is the Rega all it is cracked up to be? If it is, why does a £200 budget Czech deck better it in some respects?

 

[plastic penguin]

Think that any table, especially around that price point has its limitations or achilles heel.

One thing I like about my Pro-ject is how it accepts a much better cartridge, hence why I haven't been tempted the Rega stuff.

 

[Oldenbroke]

Like all things hifi, there are fans and detractors for any named piece. The key is to listen and make up your own mind according to your own taste and hearing. I chose the RP3 because it sounded great to me, not that it sounded good to a reviewer. In your opinion the Project is as good Or better...great, but why did you buy the Rega? Did you compare it with anything else? Don't intend starting a turntable battle but there seems little value in trashing one in favour of another when it's all personal taste in the end.

 

[matthewpiano]

I'm not trashing anything, merely asking a question and interested in other's thoughts. There are many things that are great about the Rega. I've just always perceived that they are seen as the king of affordable turntables, and I'm surprised that my own experiences haven't been quite as clear cut as I might have expected. A little friendly debate is good - it is part of the point of forums IMO!

 

[plastic penguin]

Just a quick thought, Matthew: I know it's a bit of faffing but try a different cart (one of the Goldrings or Ortofons) on both tables and see if there is any perceivable difference.

 

[Oldenbroke]

Just seen earlier post, sincere apologies and foot now

removed from mouth.You are right about there being

a fair bit of buzz about this particular TT. With sound

memory being what it is, I struggle to identify differences

unless they are patently obvious. I did listen to PInk Floyd

Wish You Were Here several times because there are long

notes. The RP3 definitely sounded better with the TTPSU

than without. Couldn't hear it so clearly with faster moving

pieces. I would safely assume other tables will be better or

worse. The next step up, RP6 etc should bemore controlled

but yet to do a comparison.

 

[matthewpiano]

Just a quick thought, Matthew: I know it's a bit of faffing but try a different cart (one of the Goldrings or Ortofons) on both tables and see if there is any perceivable difference.

Good thought. I have thought about a 2M Red which I think should work well on either turntable without having to mess around with shims on the Rega.

 

[gregory]

Just a thought, did you balance the Rega with scales, when mine was set up at the shop it was 0.5 gms out, so running at 1.3 gms instead of 1.8, can make a big difference.

 

[Al ears]

As stated by Oldenbroke turntables at this price point are going to be very much a take-it-or-leave-it item when it comes to subtle differences. Whether a different colour drive belt matkes any difference at all is all down to the ears of each listener.

Ease of set up versus slightly better speed stability? You take whatever you deem most important depending on what sort of music you tend to listen to most.

I feel Pro-ject turntables have come on in leaps and bounds over the years and, if I were back in that sort of position, would take one over the cheaper Rega's any day.

What is going to matter quite a bit on these lower-cost options is the quality of cartridge the factory fits.

 

[Sabby]

I've had a similar experience to Matthew, except in my case it was the venerable Linn Sondek up against the Project Debut. I am sure that there are many here on this forum that will scoff at the suggestion that a Debut Carbon can possibly sound better than a Linn, but this is purely my personal oplinion and based on what I heard. The Project was much more lively and energetic with bags of detail but maybe a little rough around the edges. The Linn by comparison was dull and boring, despite having the better cartridge. In case anyone is thinking that the Linn wasn't properly set up being the cause of it's poor performance, I can assure them that it was set up by a Linn guru, a person that restores Linn's for a living, so no problems there. In my opinion the Linn Sondek is vastly overated, especially taking into consideration the costs involved in bringing a 30 odd year old turntable back to peak performance and all the paranoia that goes with the proper setting up process.

 

[altruistic.lemon]

A cartridge isn't going to help speed stability if that is the fault with the Rega, in fact it may become more noticeable.

 

[matthewpiano]

OK, I've upgraded to the white belt and I've also tried a TT PSU today. Finally, with both of these upgrades in place, the RP3 sounds magnificent, to the point where I'll probably have to consider a Rega Fono phono stage before too long to get the best out of it. I'll definitely be getting a TT PSU for it. I'm quite glad really - nice not to have to go backwards after investing in the Rega a couple of years ago.

 

[stevebrock]

excellent - I still regard my RP6 as fantastic sounding still - I also have a white belt & cermaic bearing

 

[Dougal1331]

I was going to suggest a 2M Red, but you got there first.... The Project is a cracking deck which punches well above its weight.

May have to dig my RP3 out of its box, I broke a cartridge-wire a couple of years back and have never got round to fixing it!

 

[stevebrock]

Consider a Nagaoka MP-110, fantastic cartridge and I preferred the presentation to the very good dyn 10x5

 

[plastic penguin]

Are these white belts interchangable? and would it make any difference to the Pro-ject?

 

[stevebrock]

Are these white belts interchangable? and would it make any difference to the Pro-ject?

interchangable between Rega decks? or Rega & Project Decks

 

[DIB]

I'm following your turntable adventures with interest, as I do with other folks tales of upgrades/tweaks etc.

As much as I like my trusty old P3 I can't help but think that I would like to go to the next level sometime in the new year, but the P3 is such a good performer for the money (particularly with the 2M blue onboard) I fear that it will be a costly exercise for significant improvements. I'll see what 2014 brings.

..

 

[plastic penguin]

Are these white belts interchangable? and would it make any difference to the Pro-ject?

interchangable between Rega decks? or Rega & Project Decks

Could you use it with my Pro-ject? or do they make their own upgraded belt and TT PSU?

 

[stevebrock]

PS thought you would of at least got the Focals or Totems!

were the PMCs discounted?

 

[stevebrock]

Are these white belts interchangable? and would it make any difference to the Pro-ject?

interchangable between Rega decks? or Rega & Project Decks

Could you use it with my Pro-ject? or do they make their own upgraded belt and TT PSU?

Thank fook for that PP - You do have a GSOH

I am saving up for the green belt

 

[plastic penguin]

PS thought you would of at least got the Focals or Totems!

were the PMCs discounted?

Not the Focals with Leema. Yes, heavily discounted since the Twenty range came out. Moooooosively good.

 

[stevebrock]

i knew you wouldnt be able to keep it from us

 

[CJSF]

I'm following your turntable adventures with interest, as I do with other folks tales of upgrades/tweaks etc.

As much as I like my trusty old P3 I can't help but think that I would like to go to the next level sometime in the new year, but the P3 is such a good performer for the money (particularly with the 2M blue onboard) I fear that it will be a costly exercise for significant improvements. I'll see what 2014 brings.

..

Hi DIB, not as costly as you think . . . first, a new metal sub platter from £60 to £200, they all seem to work well, I plumped for a middle price Isokinetik GT @ £120? White belt, £20, and a ceramic bearing £10, yes you can go further but in cost effective terms, these are the basics and biggest bang for your buck IMHO. Start looking at acrylic type platters, arms, cartridges and full make overs, value starts to diminish, you have to be a nutter like :bounce: me to go down that route The very fine tuning is worth it, but when cost is a consideration, I doubt the wisdom?

I might even go, 1, white belt . . . 2, sub platter and ceramic bearing together, especially if you went for the 'Iso GT sub platter', they do a package?

CJSF

 

[DIB]

I'm following your turntable adventures with interest, as I do with other folks tales of upgrades/tweaks etc.

As much as I like my trusty old P3 I can't help but think that I would like to go to the next level sometime in the new year, but the P3 is such a good performer for the money (particularly with the 2M blue onboard) I fear that it will be a costly exercise for significant improvements. I'll see what 2014 brings.

..

Hi DIB, not as costly as you think . . . first, a new metal sub platter from £60 to £200, they all seem to work well, I plumped for a middle price Isokinetik GT @ £120? White belt, £20, and a ceramic bearing £10, yes you can go further but in cost effective terms, these are the basics and biggest bang for your buck IMHO. Start looking at acrylic type platters, arms, cartridges and full make overs, value starts to diminish, you have to be a nutter like :bounce: me to go down that route The very fine tuning is worth it, but when cost is a consideration, I doubt the wisdom? I might even go, 1, white belt . . . 2, sub platter and ceramic bearing together, especially if you went for the 'Iso GT sub platter', they do a package? CJSF

Cheers, do you never sleep?

Cost is always a consideration for me and 2014 is shaping up to be a costly one for our household for one (non hi-fi related) reason or another,

I'm not hung up on getting on the upgrade escalator, however if I ever saw a good deal for one of those Pro-Ject 6 Perspex models then who knows...

.