Question Vintage Rega Planner 3 Upgrade Path - recommendations / experiences ?

[Crams76]

I have a vintage late 1980's Rega Planner 3. All serviced and a new RP303 arm, 24 v power supply, upgraded belt and rewired arm. New AT 540ML cartridge.

I am very happy with it and now curious about upgrades. (Or in fact whether to stop where I am and enjoy it...)

I saw the Delrin aluminium sub platter for about £200, a dedicated phono stage Rega MM MK5 for £200, the Neo power supply for £260 and a very highly rated Collaro Record mat for £99 (not sure how that makes such a difference!).

I have a phono stage in my Arcam SA20 and a quite old Rotel RQ 970BX dedicated phono stage. Both sound the same to me so I put the Rotel on ebay, for £140 but is has not sold yet.

Based on your experiences what would you go for first / best bang for the buck?

By the way the TT with those upgrades cost me £300. Very pleased.

 

[andybebbs]

I have a P3 with Iceni audio sub and main platter and the little belter blue belt + neo power supply and im very happy with what i got and how they sound, Now do they sound better ? thats a matter of opinion and i think they do slightly but not night and day. I never noticed any difference with the neo power supply but i do like being able to swap speeds without taking the platter off.
I don`t use a mat i use silicon dots and they work very well.
Andy

 

[daytona600]

Start with a Better New TT like a P6

 

[Oxfordian]

I have a vintage late 1980's Rega Planner 3. All serviced and a new RP303 arm, 24 v power supply, upgraded belt and rewired arm. New AT 540ML cartridge.

I am very happy with it and now curious about upgrades. (Or in fact whether to stop where I am and enjoy it...)

I saw the Delrin aluminium sub platter for about £200, a dedicated phono stage Rega MM MK5 for £200, the Neo power supply for £260 and a very highly rated Collaro Record mat for £99 (not sure how that makes such a difference!).

I have a phono stage in my Arcam SA20 and a quite old Rotel RQ 970BX dedicated phono stage. Both sound the same to me so I put the Rotel on ebay, for £140 but is has not sold yet.

Based on your experiences what would you go for first / best bang for the buck?

By the way the TT with those upgrades cost me £300. Very pleased.

Have a look on the pre-loved market, Fono and Neo can be picked up for around £150-175 apiece. If memory serves the latest Fono is a case rehash the inners haven’t changed.

But if you are going to spend all that on upgrading your Planar 3 it may well be better to upgrade to a P6 (brand new at £1150 with Neo but no cart, yours would be just fine) this would be a step up on your 3 and a great base for listening today and upgrading tomorrow.

Alternatively, stick with what you have and buy loads of vinyl instead

Good luck.

 

[andybebbs]

I would definitely not be spending £99 on a matt the silicon dots i put on mine cost a couple of quid and i must say im very impressed.

 

[Revolutions]

Start with a Better New TT like a P6

Honestly, this is the best advice. You can pick up a 2nd hand P6 for less than the cost of your upgrades. A great cartridge is going to cost you c. £350, so about £1k total.

 

[andybebbs]

save yourself some money and get a iceni audio sub platter about £85 if you want to change the main platter he does a few different types about £115 and your p3 will sound great.

Iceni Audio | Turntables Designed & Built in the UK

iceniaudio.co.uk

I agree a p6 is nice but i don`t think its that much better than a upgraded p3 which if you add the above comes in a lot less than a p6(my opinion).

 

[andybebbs]

iceni audio sub platter.

 

[camcroft]

Crams76 to reception. Hello​

 

[andybebbs]

must be a wind up thread

 

[nopiano]

must be a wind up thread

It’s not *that’* vintage, surely?!

 

[daytona600]