Question Rega Fono MM Mk3 VS Moon 110LP v2

[montanasan]

Hi there,

Rega Fono MM Mk3 VS Moon 110LP v2

Has anyone had the luxury of being able to compare these two preamps side by side? Would love to hear your thoughts.
In theory, as it's the same company, would the Rega be a better fit with my P1?
(FYI - my amp is Cambridge Audio CXA-81).
Thanks in advance, Joe.

 

[Al ears]

A bit like chalk and cheese I would guess as the Rega is half the price of the Moon and is moving magnet cartridge compatible only.
I would guess the only reason to get the Moon is whether or not you are ever likely to employ moving coil cartridges, no point in paying for this facility if you are not.
P.S., I haven't heard the Moon as they can be hard to find in the UK
If you are sticking with moving magnet then the Rega should fit into your system just fine
If you do need the moving coil facility then I suggest you also look at the MOFI Studiophono preamp

 

[montanasan]

A bit like chalk and cheese I would guess as the Rega is half the price of the Moon and is moving magnet cartridge compatible only.
I would guess the only reason to get the Moon is whether or not you are ever likely to employ moving coil cartridges.
P.S., I haven't heard the Moon as they can be hard to find in the UK
If you are sticking with moving magnet then the Rega should fit into your system just fine

I have them both at the moment. Spent the last week or so with the Moon and I've just switched to Rega Fono today. Early days obvs but the Rega has certainly excited my ears so far. Moon sounds excellent possibly a little reserved compared to what I'm listening to today.
(listening to The Blue Nile 'Hats' as I type)

 

[Al ears]

I have them both at the moment. Spent the last week or so with the Moon and I've just switched to Rega Fono today. Early days obvs but the Rega has certainly excited my ears so far. Moon sounds excellent possibly a little reserved compared to what I'm listening to today.
(listening to The Blue Nile 'Hats' as I type)

are you auditioning them or have you bought them?
if you have them why are you asking if anyone else has compared them? That's irrelevant surely?

 

[Al ears]

I have them both at the moment. Spent the last week or so with the Moon and I've just switched to Rega Fono today. Early days obvs but the Rega has certainly excited my ears so far. Moon sounds excellent possibly a little reserved compared to what I'm listening to today.
(listening to The Blue Nile 'Hats' as I type)

Presumably you have the standard cartridge on that P1?

 

[Al ears]

If that's a yes I would keep the Rega fono and spend the difference in price between that and the Moon on a cartridge upgrade....

 

[montanasan]

are you auditioning them or have you bought them?
if you have them why are you asking if anyone else has compared them? That's irrelevant surely?

I'm auditioning and will make my own mind on which I prefer.
Interested to hear other folks experiences is why I asked the question. Nothing irrelevant about my curiosity.

 

[Al ears]

I'm auditioning and will make my own mind on which I prefer.
Interested to hear other folks experiences is why I asked the question. Nothing irrelevant about my curiosity.

What they hear is not what you might hear I mean

 

[montanasan]

If that's a yes I would keep the Rega fono and spend the difference in price between that and the Moon on a cartridge upgrade....

Any recommendations?

 

[montanasan]

What they hear is not what you might hear I mean

Exactly... I trust my own ears.

 

[Al ears]

I have a few depending on your top budget

 

[montanasan]

I have a few depending on your top budget

How much you reckon I'd need to spend to hear a worthwhile improvement?(subjective of course but keen to hear thoughts).

£200-£300ish

 

[Al ears]

How much you reckon I'd need to spend to hear a worthwhile improvement?(subjective of course but keen to hear thoughts).

£200-£300ish

Can you adjust the tonearm height yourself if need be? As most cartridges I might suggest may need an adjustment in VTA.
Something like the Audio Technica VM95ML should give you a noticeable difference.

 

[camcroft]

+1 Audio Technica VM95ML and with my CXA 60 I use the iFi Zen Phono its a brilliant little phono amp.

 

[montanasan]

Can you adjust the tonearm height yourself if need be? As most cartridges I might suggest may need an adjustment in VTA.
Something like the Audio Technica VM95ML should give you a noticeable difference.

So there would need to be a height adjustment with the Audio Technica VM95ML?

 

[plastic penguin]

So there would need to be a height adjustment with the Audio Technica VM95ML?

You could just take your table into a dealers. If you purchase a cartridge sure they'll be happy to fit it for you.

 

[nopiano]

If you’ve a Rega P1 I’d spend my money on a Planar 2 or 3, or Project EVO before spending time listening to phono stages. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear, and good a budget deck as the P1 is, it’s really non-adjustable by design and best sold as is, with the money going towards a better turntable.

 

[Al ears]

If you’ve a Rega P1 I’d spend my money on a Planar 2 or 3, or Project EVO before spending time listening to phono stages. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear, and good a budget deck as the P1 is, it’s really non-adjustable by design and best sold as is, with the money going towards a better turntable.

However, with his amplifier, he needs a phono preamp.

 

[nopiano]

However, with his amplifier, he needs a phono preamp.

Yes indeed, I didn’t mean to imply you don’t need one at all, but not one that costs as much as the turntable. A used Fono mini for £50 will do fine.

 

[plastic penguin]

If you’ve a Rega P1 I’d spend my money on a Planar 2 or 3, or Project EVO before spending time listening to phono stages. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear, and good a budget deck as the P1 is, it’s really non-adjustable by design and best sold as is, with the money going towards a better turntable.

It seems the OP is struggling to tell the difference between the two stages, therefore, the prudent choice would be to stick with the Fono or, maybe, look at improving other components

 

[montanasan]

It seems the OP is struggling to tell the difference between the two stages, therefore, the prudent choice would be to stick with the Fono or, maybe, look at improving other components

I'm not struggling at all. Each has their own merits. All I have to do is decide which I prefer.

 

[montanasan]

Yes indeed, I didn’t mean to imply you don’t need one at all, but not one that costs as much as the turntable. A used Fono mini for £50 will do fine.

I'd rather have better than 'fine'... that's why I'm discussing the other 2 thanks.

 

[montanasan]

If you’ve a Rega P1 I’d spend my money on a Planar 2 or 3, or Project EVO before spending time listening to phono stages. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear, and good a budget deck as the P1 is, it’s really non-adjustable by design and best sold as is, with the money going towards a better turntable.

Please can we just stick to my original question? Thanks.

 

[Al ears]

Agree, it is getting a little off track.....

 

[camcroft]

I'd rather have better than 'fine'... that's why I'm discussing the other 2 thanks.

At the end of the day you are the one who will be reaping the benefits of what you buy. It's not a perfect world I have bought things and realised afterwards it was not a good choice.
Money is made round to go round. Good luck with whatever you chose.