help Needed: New Planar 2 Noisy Motors

[banerjba]

After many years of not having a Rega, I decided to add one back into the fleet of tables I own.

My listening room is a tiny main floor bedroom, so I chose a red Planar 2 whose soundstage is tight but small (compared to the P5 TTPSU I owned nearly a decade ago).

This table sounds phenomenal. It is sitting on a light, low welded steel rack.

The first Planar 2 I got yesterday was dead quiet out of the box but after about 3 LPs, it started making an odd chuffing sound. Did not affect playback but a new table should not sound like this. I have a brand new Elipson turntable on the same system and it is dead quiet. I also own Pro-ject tables that are dead quiet (on different systems).

I returned the red Planar 2 to my dealer and exchanged it for a new white one since there were no red ones left. This one is not quiet out of the box. The motor spinning is audible but more of a swishing sound. Again not loud, cannot be heard from the listening chair about 4 feet away but annoying. No impact to sound through the speakers.

So for owners of new series Planar, 1, 2, and 3, how quiet are your tables?

[Trio KD1033]

There have been a few reports of noisy new Planar motors. Most have been cured by running them over night, or by using them normally for a while. Worth a go.

Good luck!

Andy

[banerjba]

Thanks Andy. I am absolutely loving the sound go this table and hopefully the motor settles in - no impact on sound quality fortunately.

[dl_hoffman]

I’ve had my Planar 2 for well over a year and it’s very quiet. I’m sure you’ll get things sorted out.

[banerjba]

Thanks - it seems to be settling down. Was dead quiet today.

[dl_hoffman]

Good to hear. Terrific table for the money. Looks great too. Enjoy it.

[elreza]

Had the same problem with a new P1 bought online , fine initially then after playing a couple of lps repetitive motor swishing noise, it never disappeared even after weeks of play, even without a belt on the motor still made the noise, thought these new 24v motors were meant to be better, got rid of it in the end, awful

[dl_hoffman]

elreza, did you get a replacement, or just give up on the Rega because of one bad motor?

[elreza]

elreza, did you get a replacement, or just give up on the Rega because of one bad motor?

no, bought online and not from a registered dealer so no option of a replacement motor , and no, not given up on Rega's have had loads of them over the years and still have an old P3/2000 which is totally quiet and still running perfectly, saying that I'll never buy another P1 and probably not a new P2 or P3 either as they all have this same motor

[banerjba]

So mine started making noise again. The motor is moving so that is the issue. This second one is going back to the dealer and I am upgrading to a 3 with Elyse. I don't like the Elyse but really like the sound of my Rega table so I am sure the higher model will be even better than this one.

[elreza]

third time lucky , my fingers are crossed for you

[banerjba]

Thanks elreza. Decided just to return it for now as I really don't love the Elyse and the 3 came with it. My dealer, Bay Bloor Radio was awesome about it - been shopping there for 30 years and never returned anything. All three of my systems were built with products I bought from there. But just could not get a good Planar 2 out of the box and this table will be used a lot (but 3-5 hours of playing a day).

I am a huge fan of Rega products and have owned many. Very disappointed the mighty P2 did not work out. Best turntable sonically under $1K. I will own a Rega table again but not right away sadly.