Rega R7 first impressions.

markc2

markc2

Super Member
Hi all,

I have finally got to hear a p5, p7 and p9.

The base response gets progressively better as you go up the scale. The p9 was playing Dusty Springfield, "Son of a Preacher Man", and I wasn't in the room listening. I closed my eye's and really really enjoyed. When I opened them I was back in the room. That also had some 2000.00 cartridge on it too, the price of teleportation.

The lower :saywhat:ones p5 and the p7 had so much of the room, musicians along with air around the instruments not to mention the instruments.:D Not used to highs quiet so high though. On the system I heard they were two to three steps away from almost being shrill, It was a Manley system for the p5 and p7.

I was curious as to how much of the p9's sound was the cartridge, playing thru a NAIM amp and pre amp. The p7 only:eek: had a 700.00 cartridge, playing thru a Manley Labs Shrimp I think.

My girlfriend loved the p7 spinning, she liked how it made it look "different" She didn't get into the sound until the p9 started playing.

I no zip :stupid:about Turntables, but I've been trying various CD/SACD players and trying to pick one of late has been driving me nuts.:screwy:

I must admit I always thought records popped and did things but these were used and I bought a new one just to listen, and they were REALLY quiet, I think I am beginning to understand why a lot of you love vinyl so much.:angel:
 
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One of the amazing things about vinyl is that even when you are at much lower price levels than a P9 (I listen primarily to a vintage iddler wheel Lenco L75 and a Rega P3) you can often achieve a system synergy with an amazing degree of "you are there" particularly when compared to CD players at a similar cost level.
 
A Pro-Ject Debut III with a SpeedBox, LP Gear AT95SA and decent Phono Stage will shame most CD players in side-by-side comparisons ussing similar gear. I was floored when I saw a demonstration at my audio dealer.
 
I have the Rega P5 with TT PSU and Exact cartridge. The was Stereophiles 2005 Analogue Product of the Year. The total outlay for this setup was under $2000. For what I could afford this was the best setup I heard and I listened to Thorens, Pro-Ject, Music Hall, and VPI - all under $2000 with cartridge. I am very happy and content - for now.
 
Manley is known to be a bit aggressive. I too have the P5/TT PSU combo with a Dynavector 10x5 and there ain't nuthin' bright about it. Just fabulous music. Long live vinyl!!! Now it's time to build a vintage home office system with a turntable.
 
I really enjoy my modest vintage office system - Dual 1019 w Shure M91, Marantz 27, Pioneer Rt 701. My speakers unfortunately are non vintage Paradigm Atoms - but they still sound great the warm Marantz sound really helps!
 
Interesting that you say that as I have a bead on a really cheap Marantz 2216 and some Paradigm Atom Monitors (the Marantz would not adequately drive the Atoms). I will probably be patient and get some efficient vintage speakers.
 
I'm not too sure the 2216 would not drive the Atoms to satisfactory levels. Vintage Marantz gear was way underrated in its published specs and was generally found to be far more powerful under test conditions. The Atom is fairly efficient at 89 db 1 m/1 w. The 16 w /channel of the 2216 might be mightier than it would seem at first blush - with 16 watts you'd get 101 db at 1 meter which is plenty loud if you have the speakers sitting on the desk about 4 ft apart as I do. The problem with efficient vintage speakers is that generally that meant horns and thus very large - kind of hard to fit into a small 10X10 office (that's what I got). Klipschorns on the desk? now that would be a system!
 
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