Question on the P7

[GR350]

What's the general consensus on the P7? Is it really a giant leap over say a modified RP3? I have a chance to pick up a used one but it is still quite a bit more money than I was planning to spend.

[c-wilson]

A huge leap, one is a modded P3, the other was designed as a whole from the ground up. The 7 has the mods everyone does to the 3 built in, plus it has the ceramic platter. I have heard only one deck that I prefer to the 7, and thats a 9.

[RoDa]

I have only heard the P7, never the P9, and only at a Hi-Fi show.
It blew me away back then, amazing!

I believe the P1-5 and the RP7 and RP6 are more or less based on the same design, but the P7 and P9 is a better construction from the start.

The only thing that bothers me with the P7 is the hypnotizing effect of the platter spinning, don't think I could stand to look at it...

REGArds
Rolf

[RoDa]

I believe the P1-5 and the RP7 and RP6 are more or less based on the same design, but the P7 and P9 is a better construction from the start.

Sorry, RP3 and RP6 of course.

[bacobits]

I have thought about this before and this is my way of looking at it.
I have never heard a P7, but if I could get one at a good price I would go for it and not upgrade it at all for the most part. Maybe Counterweight? A good price is close to a P5 (used).
Otherwise a P5 is the sweet spot and adding the all GT upgrades is still cheaper than the P7. This is all depending on weather you purchase new or used. Most likely used and with the TTPS. You do not see too many used P7's.

But that is me and I don't often purchase new. I don't have to most of the time.
My whole system is mint condition used, except for the cartridges and wires.

[watercourse]

I think c-wilson is in rare company, in that he has had both a P7 and P9, as well as the lower model Regas.
I'd therefore very much consider his input. I think Hernani is another (HBA) that has had both tables. Maybe he will chime in.
Or perhaps he is too busy listening to the P9!

[GR350]

I had a P7 hooked up to my system for a short time. Yes, it's quite a piece of equipment. I guess what I'm looking for is how close to a P7 can you get by modifying a RP3. Say with a GT spindle, a TTPSU and possibly a delrin platter.
I can probably get the P7 for just about the same cost but of course I have to spend it all at once.

[watercourse]

I'd like to know the same thing. My guess is that the ceramic platter would dictate a lot of the difference in sound between a P7 and a P5. Never having heard a P7, it's difficult to know. However, two trusted Rega dealers I've talked to said the P7 was an improvement, but not a large enough one to justify the price difference from a P5.
I know that the Delrin has a much more neutral signature than the glass platter. Do you recall what the biggest differences were between the P7 and the Rega you owned?

[bacobits]

Just how much difference does that ceramic platter make compared to the Delrin?
I would say minimal and just different sounding. Better, relates to personal taste.
This also goes for "different" tables too.
I have no Rega dealers local to check it out.

[nabil]

The P7 is a fine machine-to me it makes no sense to upgrade from a P3-P25-P5 etc. to the level of a P7 because when your done you still have said machine. Pick up a nice used P7 sell your current Rega, and enjoy. I bought a nice used P7 and haven't looked back.

[bacobits]

Very seldom see a used one (Audiogon) and they are close to retail so the price has not been right.
Of course if I see one I might jump.

[jrobby]

You are right bacobits. You hardly ever see a P7 for sale.Ironically I have seen
more P9's up for sale. I was checking out a P9 on Ebay a couple of weeks ago
and could not believe the final price. $1985.00. I could not believe it. You would think it would sell in the $2200 to $2500 range. I belive that was the first time I
ever saw one on ebay.

[c-wilson]

The 7 is a upgrade over the 5, and in my opinion a big one. I can not compare the delrin platter to the ceramic, as I have not heard the delrin.
The ceramic is certainly part of the sound of the 7, and I think more so on the 9.The 7's platter was after all a way to offer some of the 9's sound at a lower entry point. I have had my 9 for some 2 years now, and have no interest in changing decks. The one thing that is obvious is that it lets whatever cartridge you mount on it sing as it should. That has applied from the dl110, through Dynavector (20x and 17D3, Benz Glider,and the apheta.

At one time I had a P25, with offboard PSU, groove tracer sub platter, acrylic platter, and a rewired RB600, not a cheap route to a good deck, the P7 is just so much better its hard to describe, and the 9 is better then the 7, by how much, I dont know, I would say the 7 gives 85 to 90% of the 9.

I think the reason you see more 9's for sale is the simple reason that they sold more in the first place.

[denti alligator]

So i'm assuming there's little room for upgrade with the 7 or 9. Is the wiring even better than the 5 and lower?