Rega RP1 + Exact

[andreelis]

I am about to buy a turntable which is going to be Rega RP1, because the budget is thight at the moment.

However i want get more than just basics so i think to buy the best affordable cartridge like Rega Exact.

is this a good idea or it does not make sense? Thank you!

 

[Anonymous]

For the money you will pay for an exact get the rp3

£255 for exact plus guessing £229 for RP1

RP3 £350 to £450

Or get a good second hand TT

 

[stevebrock]

No!

This is a bad idea - Altough the Exact is a good cartridge it will be a total mismatch!

Better to just go straight for an RP3 with Elys for £549 - This is a great turntable with a lot of upgrade potential ie TT PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc

One thing to bear in mind that on the RP3 you have a very good arm (RB303).

BTW have a look on eBay - Lintone Audio are seeling RP3s for £349 without a cart - just minor imperfections to the plinth

 

[drummerman]

Better to just go straight for an RP3 with Elys for £549 - This is a great turntable with a lot of upgrade potential ie TT PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc

Or you could just get a turntable that works well as sold, with a good PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc. (and plint, nearly forgot). 😉

regards

 

[stevebrock]

Better to just go straight for an RP3 with Elys for £549 - This is a great turntable with a lot of upgrade potential ie TT PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc

Or you could just get a turntable that works well as sold, with a good PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc. (and plint, nearly forgot). 😉

regards

Forgot to say the RP3 will work very well straight out of the box!

 

[drummerman]

Better to just go straight for an RP3 with Elys for £549 - This is a great turntable with a lot of upgrade potential ie TT PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc

Or you could just get a turntable that works well as sold, with a good PSU, platter, subplatter, belt etc. (and plint, nearly forgot). 😉

regards

Forgot to say the RP3 will work very well straight out of the box!

Ah, alrighty then.

Just listening to Cannonball Adderley & Co on Somethin'else (Blue note CD) and Mingus's Changes two (Atlantic Jazz - CD).

I dont usually use a lot of power but as all my neighbours are out, I turn it a little bit further up.

For this I used my freshly modded MS10iPearls rather than the Ushers and have to say I was astonished. Being careful not to overdrive them, they have a small 95mm cone) they nevertheless managed to make the band appear to be almost live in front of me. I didnt use my meter to measure volts but I'd say I perhaps used 25 to 30 watts or thereabouts, nowhere near of what is available.

No overhang, bass tight and drums rock hard yet a warmth to it with none of the annoying mid/high forwardness many of todays small speakers exhibit when driven hard (including to some extend my Ushers unfortunately though they are still less severe than others I've heard). Most surprising are the dynamics. Loud to quiet and loud again in an instant with only the slightest compression on full on signal and all with a solidity that only comes with power. None of my Denon amplifiers can do it, not even the 1510AE. All this with the ports part blocked, as I usually use them.

Perhaps its not good to blow my own trumpet but I can not wait to see what my MS20i Pearls can do when finished.

I do want to get both albums on vinyl.

regards

 

[stevebrock]

I had some ms10i pearls,thought they sounded great along with some Celestion DL4s - wonder how they would sound now 20 years later!

 

[drummerman]

In what part of the country do you live Steve?

regards

 

[stevebrock]

Lincoln fella!

 

[drummerman]

A bit far out then.

As they come, they (10's) are engaging, rythmic with a lovely tweeter that never grindes but is still clear and revealing. - There is some mid-bass excess, mostly due to the port, some time-smear (I am very sensitive to that), most likely because of radiation back out through the cone and the port as well as some minor cabinet/baffle resonance but even so bass is very good for such a small speaker. Power handling is very good as is for all of the series. - The 20 Pearls are similar but more of it. They sound a smidgen more hifi, perhaps a tiny bit less instantly engaging but are more extended at both extremes as well as slightly clearer through the mids. Not necesseraly better, just slightly different. - All have tight but extended bass compared to many other speakers I have heard. All use an inverted roll surround and very good anodized tweeters with protective, magnetic mesh. -

They need solid, filled stands and I use damped, stainless steel weights on top. It looks nicer than it sounds.

The 10 is a true 8ohm speaker (bass and treble) whereas the 20 uses a 4ohm bass unit and 8ohm tweeter.

Re-wired, damped, braced (and ports part blocked which lowers port frequency and works better in my room) it is another story. Lovely. - 20s next.

Back to RP1, apologies.

regards