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Kenwood KD 500 vs Rega Planar 3

KD-500 without a doubt, still have mine with a Grace 707 arm, classic then and still today if you know your tables/arms.
 
Brett a said:
But it really depends on what you want in a 'table. If you're going to sit in the dark in your sweet spot and get all tingly at the 3-dimentioal sound stage spread out large in front of you, then I'd go with the the Rega. OTOH, if you like the looks and pedigree of that particular vintage DD 'table, and you'd enjoy interacting with it (The Rega really is just an arm stuck on an MDF plank with not automation and no adjustment to think of) then go with the Kenwood.

What's the price difference between the two you're looking at? The Planar 3 is a $1,200 'table. Looks like there are KD-500s out there for around $400. If you can get a Planar 3 for $400, it makes it an easier choice.
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you mean, the Rega would produce better 3-D sound stage than the Kenwood?

the price difference between them is just around $100 (Kenny $400 vs $300), both used.
 
Montycat said:
He said old Planar 3 with RM300 (RB?) arm. That table came out in 1976 and the arm a few years later. That really was just an MDF plank with a slab of glass on it, and not IMO a $1200 table. :)
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yeah the arm is RB300, sorry for the typo. Your description seems to suggest that the Rega is not that well constructed?
 
mozcho said:
yeah the arm is RB300, sorry for the typo. Your description seems to suggest that the Rega is not that well constructed?
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No, not at all. It's just very simple, and there's nothing inherently wrong with that.

I got tired of speed inconsistency with my Planar 2. It was either spend a bunch on it to try to deal with that or sell it and I chose the latter. But it wasn't that bad and was the only turntable I owned for over 20 years. Since I sold it I've had literally dozens, maybe hundreds of different tables (the hobby grew into a part time business). Let's say I grew out of it and experimented with lots of designs.

Lately though I did find another old school 2 and have spent a pile of money on upgrades for it. I just haven't put it all together yet but plan to get started on that soon.

When I'm done I don't know if I will prefer it to my Kenwood, (or my AR, Sony, Denon, Dual, Thorens, B&O etc.) but I'm going to enjoy putting it together. I think it will work well and look great but the fact is that I love the classic Planar 2 look and always have.
 
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4 for the 500 is a no brainer. you can sell the arm for 3+ and the table for approaching 3 and then do that a few times and buy a really nice high buck table. Or just listen to the Kenwood. I would not want to own a table that was built with inaccurate speeds from the factory.
 
Kenwood. Rega RB250 or 300 are overrated IMO. I've tried and tried to see what fuss is about, but never found them enjoyable.
 
mozcho said:
you mean, the Rega would produce better 3-D sound stage than the Kenwood?

the price difference between them is just around $100 (Kenny $400 vs $300), both used.
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I can only share my own experiences with the 'tables I've had. And yes, all four of the vintage direct drive 'tables I've owned sounded less engaging; a bit like cardboard compared to newer, simpler belt drive 'tables like the Rega and the Well Tempered I have now. Of course, there are a lot of variables (arms, carts, phono stages, etc) and obviously there are people who have different opinions based on their own experiences etc, etc, etc.

You might consider buying the Rega anyway at that low price. Try it, then flip it for a profit if you don't like it.
 
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