Rega RP3 v RP6

[radiance]

Since Rega has a new supplier for their TT plinths, Kelvin, being a kitchen manufacturer from Scotland, I´m pretty sure there are some manufacturing costs saved...

See here:






Regards

Rad

[radiance]

Here´s a movie from Kelvin KBB:

http://www.kelvinkbb.com/company-movie.html

Sophisticated turntable engineering at its best...

Rad

[troutbum]

Wow, Rega seems to get a real beating in this thread.
And I appreciate it coming from Rega fans, then it's not just flaming.

Do you guys think they have started an decline, or has this always been the case?
Maybe they have always exaggerated the designs in order to make a few extra bucks (or simply to be able to cover expenses?).
I am sure all companies to this, the important thing is that is holds up to the claim.

And they do sound good, don't they?

[RoDa]

BTW, this is the "...complex CNC machined skeletal low mass micro-fibre plinth" from the P5, P7 and P9"

Seems like some rocket science being involved, eh?

Regards

Rad

A picture of the Planar 9 to laugh at Rega's statement about the P5, P7 and P9?

Didn't think it was rocket science, but for shure more expensive than the P3 plinth to manufacture.

Regards

[RoDa]

Hmm, putting a metal hat on the standard sub-platter really looks like a halfway house measure to me. One step forward to put the fancy platter on, followed by two steps back with a badly designed sub to make it fit. Is this platter really that much better than the one it replaces?

Still, another product for GT- tall subplatters!

Groovetracer subplatter'n'platter will still fit.
You'll only need a taller subplatter if you want to keep the RP6 glass platter.

[RoDa]

Wow, Rega seems to get a real beating in this thread.
And I appreciate it coming from Rega fans, then it's not just flaming.

Do you guys think they have started an decline, or has this always been the case?
Maybe they have always exaggerated the designs in order to make a few extra bucks (or simply to be able to cover expenses?).
I am sure all companies to this, the important thing is that is holds up to the claim.

And they do sound good, don't they?

The Regas have earlier been the good arms with the cardboard plints, too poor data to be listed (wow'n'flutter) and the turntables for low budget systems.

The new models seem to be stretching the simplistic approach too far?
Most obvious on the RP6 replacing the P5.
The P5 had the RB700, same as the P7 and a different plinth than the P3.
The RP6 has the RB303, same as the RP3 and the plinth from the P3-24.

Dealers refusing to demo the RP3 vs RP6 with a TT-PSU on the RP3....
On the other hand, if the RP3 is as good as it seems, I know where I would go:
- Groovetracer system (subplatter, delrin platter and counterweight)
- TT-PSU

REGArds
Rolf

[troutbum]

Dealers refusing to demo the RP3 vs RP6 with a TT-PSU on the RP3....
On the other hand, if the RP3 is as good as it seems, I know where I would go:
- Groovetracer system (subplatter, delrin platter and counterweight)
- TT-PSU

REGArds
Rolf

I read about that and really hope this is not something that is referred from Rega, this might be the dealers own ideas.

[watercourse]

All in all, if it actually sounds better than previous incarnations of the Planar series, then I'll defer to Rega to do what needs to be done.

However, manufacturing efficiencies should benefit the consumer in terms of final price, or with higher quality components for the same original manufacturing costs. Rega do seem to be passing along the benefits of lower final cost if indeed the RP6 competes with the P5.

I think what some of the previous posters are concerned about is the appearance that Rega's line is "cheapening" over time, that instead of increasing the quality of components over time for instance, they are instead looking at a price point to drive quality levels. I'm not sure what to think yet, as I have neither heard nor seen these tables in person.

If we can look to American auto manufacturers as an imperfect analogy, the now-classic, substantially-made, labor-intensive muscle cars of the 60s and 70s have given way to lighter, less expensive to manufacture versions of the same models that may not have a concomitant increase in performance, or that may not "feel" the same in use or appearance - maybe never again able to attain that "classic" status. People want their cake and eat it too, given that technology supposedly always improves and costs less over time.

There is an expectation that to one degree or another, everyone should benefit from progress, whether we are talking performance of a car or a table, and we are disappointed when new designs don't meet with our expectations, whether we are talking about performance or appearance.

This analogy is of course imperfect because Regas have always been designed with the "light and rigid is better" philosophy, so we should actually expect their designs to become more minimalist over time if we buy into their approach. However, even my summary of their philosophy is imperfect because the P9 is certainly more substantial than any of their other tables, even including real wood (gasp!).

So if I can paraphrase others' thoughts, why aren't the tables appearing more high-tech than their predecessors? Or conversely, why aren't the new tables looking more and more like the P5 through P9 tables, rather than looking more and more like a P3-24?

Maybe the disappointment is a reflection of the cognitive dissonance of the Rega philosophy rather than the actual performance of their products, i.e. maybe it's still hard for some of us to buy into the light and rigid philosophy, when the resulting product doesn't appear to add up to the sum of the cost of the parts? And if so, is this a problem with Rega, or our perceptions and expectations?

[radiance]

Watercourse, great comment! Love your elaborated style and train of thought...

Best regards


Rad

[wobbleu]

@Radiance
Have you got any more photos of the P9 'undressed' I'm intriqued now how it all fit's together - never did get chance to see one in the flesh.

Is there another piece of board with the wooden frame around the circumferemce - or is it just a frame and the bolts/metal bars pass through the frame into the inner plinth.
How do the feet fit?
Is the P7/P5 the same kind of build?

I've been toying with the idea of making a plinth for some weeks now, my dream of ending the year as the owner of a brand new P7 have been dashed - and having now seen that picture my idea seems kinda sophisticated - which is somewhat alarming.

The glossy P3 24 plinth seems to be much better engineered - although the finish is a bit too brittle for my liking.

I've just bought an Edwards Sub-platter for my second deck and it's very well put together - and for the price I reckon is possibly a good alternative for P3 RP3 owners. I've got it running in at the moment but I tried it briefly when I first fitted it and was impressed.

[radiance]

@wobbleu: The wooden frame sits fastened by the bolts around the circumference, that´s right. The feet are attached by the wood screws into the plinth and yes, the P7 plinth is/was made the same way...P5 probably similar, never got to see one in the flesh though...

Regards

Rad

[RoDa]

@wobbleu: The wooden frame sits fastened by the bolts around the circumference, that´s right. The feet are attached by the wood screws into the plinth and yes, the P7 plinth is/was made the same way...P5 probably similar, never got to see one in the flesh though...

Regards

Rad

Did you see a P9 and a P7 in the flesh? Naked, without their laminated top n bottom.
Since your picture was of a Planar 9, wasn't it?

I have been googling like a madman, but haven't found any pics yet.
Maybe since folks don't strip their tables?

Regards

[watercourse]

There is a P9 owner that took off the wooden frame - I'll try to find the site and post.

Unless radiance finds it first!

[RoDa]

Cool!

Looks like the P9 also has the motor mounted like the planar 9 on the picture?



The subplatter and bearing assembly on both P7 and P9 are totally different from the P5, so maybe the plinth also is very different?
Watercourse, why don't you perform surgery on your P5....? LOL

Regards