Looking for upgrade advice

[jrtrent]

Definitely worth exploring. Thank you!

In one of his Rega reviews, Michael Fremer wrote, "Gandy told me that the TT PSU offers a 'small improvement' that can't be quantified. 'It's not enormous,' he admitted, adding that the better the incoming electricity, the less noticeable will be the sonic improvement." If a sonic improvement is what you're after, it might be well to see if an in-home demonstration can be arranged. In my home, I did not hear any benefit, so I used my RP3 without it; however, the power in my neighborhood had been updated by the utility company, and I had a dedicated circuit for the hifi. For some, though, the ease in changing from 33 1/3 to 45 rpm and the fine adjustment of speed make it worthwhile even if there is no noticeable improvement in sound quality.

 

[krautmaster]

Wouldn't the AT carts require arm shims?

While the current Rega Elys and Exact carts are only 14mm tall the RB300 series arms were designed using the 17mm tall Carbon cartridge (which is a rebranded AT 3600) so a shim is not necessary- the angle of the needle doesn't change enough to worry about. I do use a 2mm shim, but really could not tell any difference in the sound with or without it.
Here is a good article on which cartridges work well on a P3, just take what he says about the Rega Exact 2 with a huge dose of salt- I've had two of them and both were overpriced junk (they charge $675, when a $169 At-VM95ML sounds better).

12 Best Cartridges for Rega Planar 3 (RP3) | Vinyl Restart

I have finally decided to upgrade to a Rega Planar 3. The big question is what cartridge to put on it.

vinylrestart.com

 

[UncleAng]

just take what he says about the Rega Exact 2 with a huge dose of salt

Had a P3 Planar with an Ania MC cart for a month before I sold them. Current price for an Ania here in Canada is CDN $1,100.
As you may know it has an aluminum cantilever with a bonded elliptical stylus.... grossly overpriced.
When compared to my AT OC9ML ( beryllium cantilever and nude ML stylus) is wasn't a fair fight at all.
Even my AT 33PTG/II is currently priced around CDN $800 and it has a boron cantilever with nude ML stylus.
The Linn carts are the same BS as the Regas

 

[ernieb1536]

Whats the old saying? If you got the money, honey, I got the time. Well thats the way it is with any good hobby. Up to a point you reeive a lot of enjoyment for a modest sum of money, but if you really want to get serious about your hobby you have to have serious money. Boats and RV's for example.. They are true money pits. However, buying the right stereo equipment you can enjoy for years and the sell it a profit and upgrade. I do that all the time with my stereo electronics every 10 to 20 years or so. HT stuff is going to cost you. I will admit I can sell my 207 power amps for more today than when I bought them, but inflation or devaluation of the dollar means I will take a loss. I didn't buy my HT processor new, but even at the great savings I would loose about $500.00 if I sold it today. Having a 4 or 8 k processor is of no use to me as I don't have a 4k or 8K screen. So I will just keep it. Don't need a 4K player either. Will this Elite plasma ever die? Hope not.

Still rocking my 2007 Panasonic plasma !

 

[krautmaster]

Had a P3 Planar with an Ania MC cart for a month before I sold them. Current price for an Ania here in Canada is CDN $1,100.
As you may know it has an aluminum cantilever with a bonded elliptical stylus.... grossly overpriced.
When compared to my AT OC9ML ( beryllium cantilever and nude ML stylus) is wasn't a fair fight at all.
Even my AT 33PTG/II is currently priced around CDN $800 and it has a boron cantilever with nude ML stylus.
The Linn carts are the same BS as the Regas

I had an AT OC9XML for a short period- until I broke the boron cantilever off- it was so much better than a Rega Exact 2, and about $100 cheaper. I now use a VM740ML that has an affordable replaceable stylus- just in case I have another muscle spasm and break the cantilever again.