- May 30, 2015
- 644
- 517
- 19,770
Project, Rega, Technics. Who on earth would go up against those three, or so was a comment on an earlier thread.
My gut feel? In today's world?
Thorens, Hanpin (yep...!), Argon, Audio Technica, Edwards Audio / Talk Electronics, Cambridge, Clearaudio, Denon, VPI...the list goes on.
If you're looking for a new deck, what are you looking at?
For me, my current and previous turntables have included:-
Now - Cambridge Audio Alva ST - rather better than the 3 stars that the WHF review gave it IMO. Build quality up there with the Technics SL1500C / 100C - comes with Bluetooth and pnboard phono stage but both can be defeated. Somebody called it a lifestyle turntable recently, which I'm not quite sure what that means, but with a new cork mat, a Musical Fidelity X-LP phono stage (the tubular one from the mid-90s) and an Audio Technica VM-540ML, it's a pretty solid combination.
Previous:
1. Thorens TD-160 in modded plinth - great deck, but skips like a winner the minute you walk across the floor. Slight wiring issue with the tonearm causing dropouts so the plan is to have it rewired and thereafter sold on. With a stable base, the sound quality is excellent, but otherwise, a nightmare.
2. AT-1240 clone - can't quite recall the brand offhand, but I picked it up from Ebay for £250. The build was incredible, a Technics clone and with all the bells and whistles. Major benefit was VTA. Rega owners spit your dummies now! I partnered it with an AT-VM95C which was a good pairing. The performance per pound was outrageous and the build put MDF wannabees Rega and Project to shame.
3. Rega P3 - Going back a while now (2000), but the 2000 P3 was a decent performer. RB-300 arm and the supplied Elys cartridge. Shipped that out and added an AT-440MLa cartridge and yes, you can use non-Rega cartridges with Rega decks. A £1 shim to raise the tonearm VTA will do you fine. Okay, maybe today it's £5 or something, but if you can't be bothered with that, get an AT-1240 clone.
So, to respond to that "anybody going up against Project, Rega, etc....", then I think they could probably do quite well. And if you don't believe me, a trip to the Talk Electonics and Edwards Audio room at Cranage last year would've put your mind at rest.
Much as with all audio these days, there's more than one way to skin three cats.
And if you're shopping around, there's more to turntables than MDF.
My gut feel? In today's world?
Thorens, Hanpin (yep...!), Argon, Audio Technica, Edwards Audio / Talk Electronics, Cambridge, Clearaudio, Denon, VPI...the list goes on.
If you're looking for a new deck, what are you looking at?
For me, my current and previous turntables have included:-
Now - Cambridge Audio Alva ST - rather better than the 3 stars that the WHF review gave it IMO. Build quality up there with the Technics SL1500C / 100C - comes with Bluetooth and pnboard phono stage but both can be defeated. Somebody called it a lifestyle turntable recently, which I'm not quite sure what that means, but with a new cork mat, a Musical Fidelity X-LP phono stage (the tubular one from the mid-90s) and an Audio Technica VM-540ML, it's a pretty solid combination.
Previous:
1. Thorens TD-160 in modded plinth - great deck, but skips like a winner the minute you walk across the floor. Slight wiring issue with the tonearm causing dropouts so the plan is to have it rewired and thereafter sold on. With a stable base, the sound quality is excellent, but otherwise, a nightmare.
2. AT-1240 clone - can't quite recall the brand offhand, but I picked it up from Ebay for £250. The build was incredible, a Technics clone and with all the bells and whistles. Major benefit was VTA. Rega owners spit your dummies now! I partnered it with an AT-VM95C which was a good pairing. The performance per pound was outrageous and the build put MDF wannabees Rega and Project to shame.
3. Rega P3 - Going back a while now (2000), but the 2000 P3 was a decent performer. RB-300 arm and the supplied Elys cartridge. Shipped that out and added an AT-440MLa cartridge and yes, you can use non-Rega cartridges with Rega decks. A £1 shim to raise the tonearm VTA will do you fine. Okay, maybe today it's £5 or something, but if you can't be bothered with that, get an AT-1240 clone.
So, to respond to that "anybody going up against Project, Rega, etc....", then I think they could probably do quite well. And if you don't believe me, a trip to the Talk Electonics and Edwards Audio room at Cranage last year would've put your mind at rest.
Much as with all audio these days, there's more than one way to skin three cats.
And if you're shopping around, there's more to turntables than MDF.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram