P3-24 - Should You Go All Rega?

[VinylLional]

Hello

First post. Basically I was trying to buy a turntable off ebay but have given up. So, stuff it, I am going to demo a P3-24 on Saturday. My budget is limited, so for now I plan to run it through a Rega Fono phono amp into my existing little Onkyo 315DAB all-in-one thing, out to Tannoy Mercury F1 custom speakers.

I know that the t/t will massively out perform this kit (I HOPE), but in terms of future changes : does anyone prefer to go all rega ie Brio/RS1; or do people prefer mixing other manufacturers? I had heard that Rega kit has a synergy to it though.

Cheers
Neil

[Jorlsafar]

Hi!

I run my technics T12 through a fono MM, and have also run two planar (2&3)
decks through it. It has a more "generous" sound than the phono board in my
Rotel premap. It is more a question of matching the cart with the preamp.

That said I really like the rega fono and I dont think you could go very wrong.
The P3 -24 will not be let down by the fono. And I think (not sure), that the
phono board in the brio is the same as the fono. A brio will not be
an upgrade from the fono (if I am correct).

[ChrisMM]

The Rega Fono's good, but I guess the OP was referring to the Onkyo unit and questioning if this should be replaced by Rega gear.

I have a P3-24 going into a Rotel amp (RA02) and it sounds superb, just using the inbuilt phono stage of the Rotel, so you could investigate one of these amps (the later RA05 or 05SE). Tannoys are OK but other speakers might be better.

[banerjba]

I use a lot of Rega in my system. I like their stuff. I have a P5 table, run my Technics 1200 through a Fono on the same system and use a Rega Radio tuner. The Rega integrated was on my short list but was a bit under powered for my B&Ws. Still, I will likely get a Mira for my second system. Got a Rega P1 for my son's set up too.

[VinylLional]

Thanks

I found a Planar 2 (glass platter etc) from a dealer - 200 mile round trip, but he gave it a 10 year service, and a new Bias2 cart. I ended up with a Brio3 too, and 2 7m runs of second hand cable talk concert 2. So I am chuffed.

I have been listening to the system for a week now, and find that the jazz/soul stuff is good, but the likes of AC/DC and Guns & Roses seem restrained. Vocals take a back foot, and there is not much attack so rock sounds too laid back at the moment.

I realise this is probably due to my speakers (Tannoy Mercury F1 Custom) and the cart. I think the Planar/Brio combo would normally give more lively performance - correct?

I was thinking of getting some second hand RS3s and changing the cart - but unsure of what cartridges rit the RB250.

[banerjba]

IME, the Rega carts sound dull and uninvolving. My Elyse2 at $300 is the worst cartridge I have ever owned. My $69 Nagaoka MP11 wipes the floor with it. I bought a Rega P5/TT PSU with the Elyse2 and for 2 years I put up with dull sound. Fortunately I have a second table on that system and have rotated various models that I own, all of which were better sounding.

I recently broke down and bought VTA shims for the RB700 arm and am cycling through my collection of cartridges. I have used Shure M97xE (still dull but flatter than the Elyse), Grado (absolutely incredible detail but audible hum at high volumes), Sumiko Pearl (great big dynamic sound on the cheap) and the super budget killer is the $100 Ortofon 2M Red. Strongly recommended.

Other good choices are the HOMCs from Denon, Sumiko and Benz Micro.

[Willem1671]

Most dull sounding cartridges aren't! It's just they don't stand out in any way. But that doesn't mean these carts are bad. A good tone control might help out here. In fact, dull means often: fit for hours and hours of listening pleasure without fatigue. As for the REGA carts though, go for the most expensive ones. Don't buy the cheaper ones, you WILL buy the more expensive ones in the future as you probably keep wanting to know how the expensive ones sound in your set up. Endless tweaking, often a waste of money. Do it right first time. But.........for the price of the cheapest REGA's, one can find far better ones for less money. (Goldring, Ortofon, Audio Technica, Pickering/Stanton). Take your time choosing one or more, the best way of spending your free time.