New TT Advice Please

[MCE]

Hi all,
I've just brought my NAD 3020B amp and B&W DM110 speakers out of retirement and I'm looking for a turntable to run with them. My budget is limited so I'm thinking either the Rega Planar P1 or Project Primary E will be my best option.
Any thoughts and / or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Al ears]

Hi all,
I've just brought my NAD 3020B amp and B&W DM110 speakers out of retirement and I'm looking for a turntable to run with them. My budget is limited so I'm thinking either the Rega Planar P1 or Project Primary E will be my best option.
Any thoughts and / or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Either of those decks would be fine, just depends which you can get for the best price.

 

[MCE]

Either of those decks would be fine, just depends which you can get for the best price.

Thanks, the Rega is approx £100 more than the Project, do you think there would be much difference in performance / sound for the extra money?

 

[Al ears]

Thanks, the Rega is approx £100 more than the Project, do you think there would be much difference in performance / sound for the extra money?

Not really. Much will depend upon the quality of the cartridge fitted

 

[daytona600]

Rega needs a future cartridge upgrade , but choices are very limited due to fixed Bias , Fixed Azimuth , Fixed VTF
Rega has a manual speed change for 33/45 & better sound you need a £260 external motor PSU

 

[Al ears]

Rega needs a future cartridge upgrade , but choices are very limited due to fixed Bias , Fixed Azimuth , Fixed VTF
Rega has a manual speed change for 33/45 & better sound you need a £260 external motor PSU

That said if you are happy to stick with Rega cartridges it's not a bad buy as a start -up turntable

 

[nads]

I would go Project.

 

[MCE]

That said if you are happy to stick with Rega cartridges it's not a bad buy as a start -up turntable

Would it make sense to go for the Project but spend the price difference between that and the Rega on upgrading the Project's factory fitted Ortofon for a higher spec Ortofon? (If that makes sense)

 

[nads]

Would it make sense to go for the Project but spend the price difference between that and the Rega on upgrading the Project's factory fitted Ortofon for a higher spec Ortofon? (If that makes sense)

I would buy it as is. Use the difference to either buy new music or buy a record cleaning bit of kit that will allow you to get the best (or better) from your existing records.

Then if and when you do change anything you have something to compare it to.

 

[MCE]

I would buy it as is. Use the difference to either buy new music or buy a record cleaning bit of kit that will allow you to get the best (or better) from your existing records.

Then if and when you do change anything you have something to compare it to.

 

[MCE]

OK, the deck I'm currently using is a BSR Quanta 500 fitted with an Ortofon Super OM 5E cartridge. I know that BSR decks are much maligned / derided but it's one I acquired from someone that used to work there when I bought the amp & speakers and I never got round to upgrading it (apart from the cartridge obviously). I've always thought that this set up sounded pretty good, do you think I'll notice a significant difference with the Project with the factory fitted cartridge?

 

[Al ears]

OK, the deck I'm currently using is a BSR Quanta 500 fitted with an Ortofon Super OM 5E cartridge. I know that BSR decks are much maligned / derided but it's one I acquired from someone that used to work there when I bought the amp & speakers and I never got round to upgrading it (apart from the cartridge obviously). I've always thought that this set up sounded pretty good, do you think I'll notice a significant difference with the Project with the factory fitted cartridge?

Yes. Probably....

 

[Al ears]

Would it make sense to go for the Project but spend the price difference between that and the Rega on upgrading the Project's factory fitted Ortofon for a higher spec Ortofon? (If that makes sense)

Yes, in theory, but I would just stick to Ortofon.

 

[MCE]

Yes. Probably....

BSR really THAT bad ?

 

[Al ears]

BSR really THAT bad ?

Not if it's still working and working for you. But yes they weren't the best decks around in those days.

 

[MCE]

Thank you all for your replies, one last question, I thinks it's unlikely that I'll be changing the amp or speakers any time soon so would any of you think it's worth me spending any more than the budget I'm working with?

 

[daytona600]

Vinyl - allocate most of your budget ( 50% ) on the source & handy if you can upgrade in the future with factory parts

 

[BigH]

Thank you all for your replies, one last question, I thinks it's unlikely that I'll be changing the amp or speakers any time soon so would any of you think it's worth me spending any more than the budget I'm working with?

Yes l would spend more, it will likely to be cheaper, in the long run. I would avoid the budget TTs, better to buy a better quality used TT and get a decent cartridge.
If you buy the Rega then budget for a better cartridge.

 

[MCE]

Yes l would spend more, it will likely to be cheaper, in the long run. I would avoid the budget TTs, better to buy a better quality used TT and get a decent cartridge.
If you buy the Rega then budget for a better cartridge.

I had thought about buying a used one but I would worry about it being from a reputable seller.

 

[Al ears]

I had thought about buying a used one but I would worry about it being from a reputable seller.

ex display or ex demo from a reputable dealer might be a way to go.

 

[MCE]

ex display or ex demo from a reputable dealer might be a way to go.

Yeah, you can register an interest in ex demo stuff from places like Richer Sounds and they contact you when something comes available, this could well be worth looking at

 

[Fandango Andy]

Hi all,
I've just brought my NAD 3020B amp and B&W DM110 speakers out of retirement and I'm looking for a turntable to run with them. My budget is limited so I'm thinking either the Rega Planar P1 or Project Primary E will be my best option.
Any thoughts and / or recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks.

I would go Pro-Ject. The Rega is 50% more, it you are going to spend that you are going to have to start considering Pro-Ject's at that price. I have been using a Debut 2 for nearly 15 years and am extremely happy with it.

 

[MCE]

Having considered the advice I've decided that it makes sense to spend more than originally budgeted. I managed to find a supplier that still had the Project Debut Carbon Evo in stock (a TT that I had considered prevously) and ordered one. I've since spoken to the supplier who has confirmed that they had mistakenly advertised that they had it in stock and have upgraded the order to the Evo 2 at no extra cost which I should be getting early next week. I know that the Rega P2 is regarded as being a marginally better sounding deck, however, the features on the Evo such as the electronic speed control and the satin black finish (I'm not a fan of gloss) swung it for me. Anyway, can't wait to get it up and running and thanks again for all of your advice.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Having considered the advice I've decided that it makes sense to spend more than originally budgeted. I managed to find a supplier that still had the Project Debut Carbon Evo in stock (a TT that I had considered prevously) and ordered one. I've since spoken to the supplier who has confirmed that they had mistakenly advertised that they had it in stock and have upgraded the order to the Evo 2 at no extra cost which I should be getting early next week. I know that the Rega P2 is regarded as being a marginally better sounding deck, however, the features on the Evo such as the electronic speed control and the satin black finish (I'm not a fan of gloss) swung it for me. Anyway, can't wait to get it up and running and thanks again for all of your advice.

I haven't heard that exact player, but it reviewed well, and the Debut Carbon was great. Sounds like you have done well. Good luck with it.

 

[daytona600]

RP2 Both are excellent decks. EVO2 Project has lots of future upgrades to rival a RP3 & RP6

Platter Upgrade : Acryl
Sub Platter Upgrade : Aluminium
Cartridge: Pick it PRO Balanced
Record Puck E
Record Broom: Sweep it S2
Phono Cable: E RCA / mini XLR Balanced
PSU Power Supply: Power Box S3 Phono
Isolation Base: Ground it E