What phone stage for Rega P5

[Mike_Schmidt]

All I have now is a Rega Phono Mini but would like to upgrade and was thinking Pro-ject SE with tubes. Any ideas...and its with the Exact cart

 

[Anonymous]

Dynavector P-75 or a Sonneteer Sedly, then dump the Exact, it's rough.

 

[chebby]

Sorry to suggest the obvious but...

Rega Fono MM ? (the bigger, better version of your Fono-Mini)
Same size and shape as the Rega TT-PSU which is an essential upgrade to the P3-24 and P5 (if you dont already have one.)

 

[the record spot]

Get a good one for the P5 - step up a rung or two on the ladder. Graham Slee, Icon Audio, Whest Audio all ahve good options. Depends on your budget, if it's tight, go for the entry level Graham Slee or the next one up. If you've some room to breathe with the wallet then you could get a very nice bit of kit and moreso used stages as the cash goes further.

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

What about the cart, the exact is behind and was supposed to be here but shipment isnt expected into Canada until the end of March...is that the cartridge to go with that P5 since they have been leading me on for over a month which now turns into two. I was thinking the Rega phono to stay in that line but always open to idea's

 

[the record spot]

Plenty of options, but depends again on the budget. Dynavector 10x5 comes highly recommended by a lot of guys I know in the States, AT MC carts likewise. You need a phono stage that'll give you MM and MC too - sorry to preach to the converted!

Goldring 2M Bronze, Ortofor 2500...a stack of 'em out there. Depends on your budget and the sound you like to hear.

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

do you think the Project tube box will have enough get up and go even with the dynacector with my Cyrus PreXvs and two smartpowers or would I need more power my speakers dont take anything to run (proac d 28) and is the Graham Slee worth twice the price? And do think maybe the rega fono would cut it also

 

[the record spot]

Forgot the Rega Fono come to think of it - not heard any of them (my amp has a good onboard phono stage and the t/t is out of action just now in any case) but I think were it my deck, I'd be looking at that kind of level - circa £200 - to get a higher notch performance. Chebby and others might have a view on the sonic benefits of the various stages.

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

thanks for the insight

 

[the record spot]

No probs - nice deck by the way!

 

[Anonymous]

This tt deserves a better phono stage and cartridge, especially with the cyrus amplification.

Check the Lehmann phono amps and also check the option of a better cartridge = Goldring MM or Benz MC. These won't be so cheap but it makes really sense.

I have a Rega P3/Heed Orbit 1, Lehmann BlackCube SE, Benz ACE L, Cyrus 8VS/PSX and this set up is very nice. Project is not a very good idea. Try to check a Lehmann phono satge. Any of them is very good and you won't find a better one for the money.

Regards

Edgar

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

This has been the general feeling that even Rega's Exact which is there higher end can be outdone and with the phono stage the feelings have all been the same. I will continue to look and really appreciate all the feed back to help with the best bang for the buck, thanks

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mike,

the point is that your P5 has a very,very good arm. No project arm can even be near to this arm.

A TTPSU will give your more bass.

The effect of having a good phono stage and a good cartridge will be that this combination will outperform your cd player by far. You will be shocked what is possible and to repeat whifi general saying is that a similar priced turntable to a Cd player will will wipe the floor with it. It is correct unless you go for their reference CD Player Naim CDS3.

You should have a look at Lehmann audio.de for the phono stage. Their cheapest version "statement" is appr. 300,00 Euro but it is already very good and so flexible that you can go for any cartridge. Please also look into the amplification of this phonostage which will be more than 60db !! for MC systems.

If you add a Benz ACE L cartridge like i did the combination is fantastic.

My dealer who is a Linn LP 12 fan was recommending this cartridge and he was right. The complete change will not be so cheap however your complete set up will change dramatically. The side effect is that you have to spend a lot of money for additional tt records but I'am sure you will love it.

Regards

Edgar

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

Do you find even after a cleaning with the nitty gritty that some discs still crackle and pop or am I not cleaning mine deep enough but that is still after a zap with the gun and a sweep with the audioquest brush.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mike.

I don't have any thoughts on phono stages as I use the one built into my amp.

In terms of cartridges for the P5, I chose the Ortofon Rondo Red over the Rega Exact. Its a personal choice, but one I am very happy with.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Mike,

I think that the crackings are not just dust. It sounds for me like static load problems. The worst thing is using a brush . Your cartridge needle is generally good enough to take all dust out and do you find dust at the needle ? from time to time which would proof what I'am thinking.

I have a lot of new records and some have problems and that is because of the bad pressing.

 

[Mike_Schmidt]

I use the audioquest anit static brush and the zero stat gun and still get crackles and pop but I think your right on the pressings especially with the newer stuff. I have found that the simply vinyl pressings have been generally good but still get alot of noise but that might be down to the needle Iam using now and a noisy sound floor