Rega Rp1 vs Rp3?

JigaWatt

JigaWatt

Member
I'm going to be able to get a turntable soon. I have been looking at the Rp3 with the ortofon blue cartridge. I would get the Rp1 but I keep hearing mixed reviews about it unlike the Rp3. Is there any other reputable table for these price ranges, up to $1000.
 
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Good started 'tables. The nice thing is that there are a number of upgrades you can do for them, if that's interesting for you.

If you're up for it, there quite a few great older turntables below your budget. You can't go wrong with a Technics SL-1200, for instance. Just avoid the ones that have been DJ'd to death.

Cheers,

David
 
I was originally looking at the technics. The only reason I'm on the edge about it is, I have klipsch speakers and the technics is a bit brighter right? Due to the direct crystal drive?
 
If you have the money i would go for the RP3 over the RP1. With an RP1 you're going to want to upgrade a lot sooner and end up spending more money that you would have otherwise. I have an RP3 and i like mine a lot. And as mentioned earlier there's plenty of small upgrades you can make to ensure that you have a better turntable every year, without having to go out and buy a whole new one.

The used market it a whole different game. I don't have any experience with Technics but many on AK love the SL-1200, so if you're comfortable with that route you can definitely save some money.
 
Check my signature:
A Denon DL-301II

I love it, however i'd be hard pressed to advise using one with a RP3 because to get the cart to fit and be properly aligned i needed spacers to raise the tonearm. And then, with the tonearm raised, the counterweight was too large which meant the dustcover wouldn't close so i had to upgrade to the smaller (more dense) rega counterweight. All of this added a good bit of cost to what could have been a simple cartridge upgrade...

Luckily, i bought my RP3 lightly used (maybe 4 months old) off a guy on AK, so i didn't have to go through all that headache...because he had already done it for me! Ha. I hope that doesn't scare you away from a Rega, just be advised that not all carts will fit nicely, so plan accordingly...

Also, i see you have a 2270 and Klipsch, perhaps a Thorens table on the used market would be good for you (and well within your budget) i run a Thorens in my second system.
 
JigaWatt said:
I was originally looking at the technics. The only reason I'm on the edge about it is, I have klipsch speakers and the technics is a bit brighter right? Due to the direct crystal drive?
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I would definitely choose the RP3 over the RP1, and would throw the Music Hall MMF-5.1 in the mix in the price range. I would also add that I don't believe the Technics will sound brighter. That particular characteristic will be more dependent on the cartridge.
 
JigaWatt said:
I was originally looking at the technics. The only reason I'm on the edge about it is, I have klipsch speakers and the technics is a bit brighter right? Due to the direct crystal drive?
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The Technics would not be brighter due to the drive system, but its sound is not as revealing or interesting as the Rega's. Comparative reviews are hard to come by, but Sound and Vision compared the SL1200 to the RP1's predecessor, the P1, and wrote, "After switching over to the Rega, it soon became clear just what the Technics was missing. The P1’s sound was snappier and tighter, with a significantly better sense of clarity and focus. Layers in the mix were easier to unravel, while high-frequency sounds like cymbal crashes came across more like the real thing." Both turntables were fitted with Ortofon OM5E cartridges.

There are always better turntables to buy. Yes the RP3 is better than the RP1, but that doesn't mean you might not be perfectly happy with the RP1's performance. A friend of mine has been very satisfied with his P1 for about five years now and considers it to be all the turntable a person ever needs. Is there a dealer nearby where you can audition them?

As to other options, someone already mentioned the Music Halls. Pro-Ject also has models in that price range, and SOTA has the Moonbeam that comes in under $1000. My preference would be to buy locally, if at all possible, so you can hear what you're getting before laying your money down and have the benefit of dealer support for any questions or problems relating to setup and service.
 
I wish I could buy locally. I would at least have to travel a good 4 hours to find a place. I'm in Mississippi. Haha
 
Where in Mississippi? I am in New Orleans and am going to be selling my RP3/TTPSU and can pair it with a 2M Blue as I have one I don't use. I was going to be listing it next week in BT as I just bought a Scout from another AKer.
 
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If you like the Rega RP3 go for it. I do not own one, but got to use one for about 3 hours while auditioning speakers at a store. It was equipped with the Elys cartridge. The soundstage was good, speed steady and accurate, and the cueing worked great, no drift and very easy to hit the blank spaces between songs. I was very impressed, and would definitely consider one if I was looking, Maybe BayouTiger's used unit would be a great deal.
 
The RP3 is definitely worth the extra $550 over the RP1 IMO.

However, the true sweet spot in the Rega line is the RP6 which includes the TT-PSU (a $400 value) which is an option on the RP3. If you add the TT-PSU to the RP3, the price then becomes $1300 vs $1500 for the RP6. With the difference then becoming only $200, it would be a no brainer at least to me, to go with the RP6.

But then again, once you get to the $1500 price point, there are more options available like the VPI Traveller, Clearaudio Concept and the Marantz TT-15 just to name a few.
 
I agree that the RP6 is the sweet spot for Rega, but I went with the RP3 at the time because at the <1000 point the RP3 offered a great deal and still can be tweaked easily with TTPSU, belt, subplatter, feet, and I am sure other stuff. Kinda like getting the worst house on the best block. The RP3 gets you the good arm attached to parts that are good enough, but easily pushed up a notch.
 
jrtrent said:
The Technics would not be brighter due to the drive system, but its sound is not as revealing or interesting as the Rega's. Comparative reviews are hard to come by, but Sound and Vision compared the SL1200 to the RP1's predecessor, the P1, and wrote, "After switching over to the Rega, it soon became clear just what the Technics was missing. The P1’s sound was snappier and tighter, with a significantly better sense of clarity and focus. Layers in the mix were easier to unravel, while high-frequency sounds like cymbal crashes came across more like the real thing." Both turntables were fitted with Ortofon OM5E cartridges. ...
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The cartridge choice could have been part of the problem. I suspect that the OM5E's compliance was on the high side for the effective mass of the SL-1200's arm. The Rega arm was probably a better match for the OM5E.
 
I have both and I Like the Rega better, though sometimes I miss the torque of the DD. Sound wise my Rega is better, but that likely has a lot to do with the 2M Black vs the Blue on the 1200.
 
I have both: a 1200mkII which is stock with a Denon DL110 and a Rega p1 which is hot rodded with a metal subplatter, glass platter, ceramic bearing, a white belt, and a Nagaoka MP110 cart. I very much enjoy the sound and the musicality from the Rega over the Technics. Much more lifelike.
 
Nice. I plan on getting an MP500 at some point. Rumor is that it is a bit more forgiving than the Black on my 40 year old vinyl. The Black sounds phenomenal but it puts absolutely everything out there!
 
JigaWatt said:
I have klipsch speakers and the technics is a bit brighter right? Due to the direct crystal drive?
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Not necessarily. Any "brightness" will mainly be attributed to the cartridge. You also have speakers with a bit more "presence" in the mid to high frequencies, which will also contribute to a brighter sound.
 
I would choose the RP3 over the RP1 - that is a no brainer - I'd even push for an RP6 if you can.

As far as the sl1200 and Klipsch go - match made in heaven when done correctly. Of course the sl1200 needs to be in tip top shape - which isn't overly difficult - fresh bearing (OEM would be fine), tonearm re-wire with high quality wire, good isolation and a high quality cart (fluid damping is nice as well - which I'd recommend.) I can hit crazy volume levels and the sound is spot on - amazing bass and soundstage - hits you in the chest.

It depends on which direction you want to go - with the sl1200 you can create an amazing table - mine I bought new - the m5g model - with various mods and an extremely high quality bearing - it is a tough table to beat.

My new table is a VPI Classic - both of my tables side by side are simply stellar - but I do have a lot of $$ into the Technics - it hasn't let me down.

Good luck with your choice. You can see both tables in the URL below along with my Klipsch.

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?22832-Chris-system-in-Prescott-Arizona

Thanks,

Chris
 
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