• Please note that Audiokarma will be offline briefly for updates early on Monday morning, September 28th.

So why not an SL1200 instead of a Rega P3

Status
Not open for further replies.
luvvinvinyl said:
Ok, fellas. Is this going to be another topic like 'cables'?

I haven't had either make in my system, so I don't have a dog in this fight, but it seems to me that, if the 300K+ quantity is correct, then a lot of people like Rega tables. Maybe the reason the posted opinions favour Technics is that the Rega people are tired of being spoken to in the manner demonstrated by some of the Technics proponents in this thread.

So, in that vein, please keep your arguments civil, and your differing opinions focused on the gear, and not the posters.
Click to expand...
Good idea. It seems to me that there's a whole lot of room for proponents of both varieties to have their point. I too have never owner either table, but I own both DD and belt drive tables and while they both spin records they don't have the same sound generally. As I've said it seems to me that ultimately one should shop with your eyes rather than your eyes and go with what pleases you most within the budget you have for the job.
 
Puma Cat said:
The reason so many people recommend Regas are because Rega P3s sound better than a Tecnics SL-1200. The real weakness in the SL-1200 is the tonearm.
Click to expand...

That is the biggest load of crap. I wish I could meet the guy who started that ridiculous idea. A dark alley would be nice.
 
If this thread was on Audiogon, or the asylum there would most likely be a different slant on things.
 
Stanton681EEES said:
That is the biggest load of crap. I wish I could meet the guy who started that ridiculous idea. A dark alley would be nice.
Click to expand...

Really, are you serious? From what I have seen Technics lovers must have their gut full by now on this forum.

Every thread is a fight over this table. Really guys don't you see that yet????

It's like if you have an interest in something else the non-stop Technics diahrea starts.

Its really all there is to read about and for that matter not much new either.
 
Old_Tech said:
Really, are you serious? From what I have seen Technics lovers must have their gut full by now on this forum.

Every thread is a fight over this table. Really guys don't you see that yet????

It's like if you have an interest in something else the non-stop Technics diahrea starts.

Its really all there is to read about and for that matter not much new either.
Click to expand...

Yes Ron I'm very serious. I'm not defending the 1200 tables as i don't own one but i do have a 1800MKII a 1700MKII and a 1600MKII same arm.
So i speak from ownership of a suspended table and that arm shines on those table with the rite cartridge and preamp.
 
Mark Walters said:
If this thread was on Audiogon, or the asylum there would most likely be a different slant on things.
Click to expand...

That's true. The Rega apologists would be coming out in droves to say that the P3 doesn't run that far off speed, or its flutter isn't as high as its critics claim it is, or it's worth the trouble of building a wall-mounted shelf for it to get around its marginal isolation, or ... :D
 
avole said:
Budget is 700€ music taste is broad but contains a fair swag of classical, German rock and fado.

I'll go with the Technics, but does the Denon DL_160 sound like it would be an OK choice?
Click to expand...

the DL-160 will be a great choice.

Your budget translates to almost $1000 USD. That's a nice budget.

I would use itcro modify the SL-1200, addressing the issues most easily identified.

While the Technics torque, speed and rumble are unbeatable by any other new tables at it's price (and higher), the design remains 31+ years old.

Here is the biggest area to focus on-

The Technics stock tone arm has superior bearing specs and is smooth and of quality. But, the internal wire is nothing special, and the tone arm tube is susceptible to resonance within a certain frequency window.


To elevate the performance of this table, address the tone arm wire, dampen the tube, and also upgrade the RCA cables.


Another option is to run an alternative arm. An Origin Live modified Rega RB-250/300 is a possible choice (Origin Live addresses the uneven casting issues claimed by some of Rega arm owners, as well as replaces the plastic end stub with a metal one, and improves rear weight).

Or try a Jelco- the 250 arm and the fluid damped 750 arm are highly regarded and an easy swap (though the 750with mounting plate will be aporox. $100-$200 over your budget).

Some nifty vintage arms are a good option to consider too.


The tested resonance issues of the stock arm tube seem to be the Achilles heel - if Technics offered a Titanium nitrided or carbon fibre arm tube with dampening agent, and the M5G tone arm wire and RCAs, it'd be worth the premium.
 
cactuscowboy said:
"So many people"..... really?! :no:

In this thread alone there's far more recommendations for the Technics than the Rega. :yes: And I'll add my voice to the chorus. Technics vs. Rega? No contest. The Technics is far superior. Why don't we start by comparing specs? OOPS!... no published specs on a Rega. :scratch2: If you're tempted, please spare me the argument that specs don't matter. With years of experience in product design & manufacturing, I know better.

As for your assertion that "Rega P3s sound better than a Tecnics SL-1200", you may be correct. We all have our preferences. Some guys actually prefer turntables with audible rumble, wow & flutter, and speed stability problems. Whatever makes you happy. :music:
Click to expand...


Regarding your comments about the no. of people responding here, there is insuffcient data, the sample size is too small to be valid statistically. You have to a valid 2-proportion test with the appropriate N at a given power to make any conclusion.

And BTW, Regas P3s do sound better. You don't see a Technics SL-1200 on the recommendations by editors from Stereophile and TAS.
 
Avole, my apologies for the confusing smiley. I knew this would turn into a debate but I was hoping it would remain about the merits of each. Regrettably it did not. I have owned an SL1200, Mk2 for precisely 5 days and the more I play it the more I truly like it. It is massively heavy and stable. I'm not sure what the criticism of the tonearm is all about. It's as fine a tonearm as I've come across as a stock item.

I wish you well and for what it's worth with no Rega experience the Technics is nice table.
 
beej said:
Avole, my apologies for the confusing smiley. I knew this would turn into a debate but I was hoping it would remain about the merits of each. Regrettably it did not. I have owned an SL1200, Mk2 for precisely 5 days and the more I play it the more I truly like it. It is massively heavy and stable. I'm not sure what the criticism of the tonearm is all about. It's as fine a tonearm as I've come across as a stock item.

I wish you well and for what it's worth with no Rega experience the Technics is nice table.
Click to expand...

The criticism of the arm is well-justified and the part of the table that is really the weak point. It's dark and muddy sounding. Put an SME arm on your table to find out what the table is really capable of.
 
The coolest thing about this decision is that it's a no brainer for me. The Rega is a lovely table if you want to stick with one cartridge all the time. Never happen in this house. None of my tables except for the MCS in the shop have fixed cartridge/arm scenarios.

The lovely thing about the 1200 is that you can have audiophile sound and headshell swaps. You can get by with as few as three cartridges, but more is better. Even in the big leagues, there are noticeable differences between say a ZXY, a Clear Audio and Sumiko. If you are not in that league, that's OK - there are lots of reasons to have every day cartridges mounted and ready to go. I like running an inexpensive cart like an M97Xe or Grado Black as my used vinyl preview set-up. If I'm taping or ripping to digital - I want to match the cartridge to the LP at hand to get the best signal I can (way easier than compensation after the fact). So I keep at least a 1/2 dozen carts set-up for each table. Try that with a Rega :(
 
What's lost in discussions like this is both tables are good tables and both have lots of potential.

Neither is perfect, but both are pretty damn good. Both have their strengths. Both have their weaknesses. And these weaknesses can be addressed and strengthened on both tables.



I would not be embarrassed to own either.


And although I chose a Technics for myself, I respect those who chose the Rega as that fits their needs.

There is room on this planet for both tables and both are good choices.

Just like there is room for Music Halls and Pro-Jects and vintage Japanese direct drive and European belt drive tables- all of which have great potential.
 
BrocLuno said:
The coolest thing about this decision is that it's a no brainer for me. The Rega is a lovely table if you want to stick with one cartridge all the time. Never happen in this house. None of my tables except for the MCS in the shop have fixed cartridge/arm scenarios.

The lovely thing about the 1200 is that you can have audiophile sound and headshell swaps. You can get by with as few as three cartridges, but more is better. Even in the big leagues, there are noticeable differences between say a ZXY, a Clear Audio and Sumiko. If you are not in that league, that's OK - there are lots of reasons to have every day cartridges mounted and ready to go. I like running an inexpensive cart like an M97Xe or Grado Black as my used vinyl preview set-up. If I'm taping or ripping to digital - I want to match the cartridge to the LP at hand to get the best signal I can (way easier than compensation after the fact). So I keep at least a 1/2 dozen carts set-up for each table. Try that with a Rega :(
Click to expand...

One of the many reasons why next arm on my TD-125 will be a Jelco SA-750D or something similar. Having the Denon DP-1200 arrive in the house last year and being able to change carts any time I like has been like tasting forbidden fruit. I too use a Grado Black for previewing charity shop vinyl. It may not have quite the resolution I'd prefer, but tonally it's a champ. The idea of using different carts for ripping is an excellent one. It's amazing how an LP can just sound "right" with one cart and artificial with another. Having that as an option any time I want has become something akin to a necessity. With the Linn arm currently on the 125 I can't do that and that's gonna change, really soon.

As to doing that with a Rega, maybe change out the arm?:D
 
Dr Tinear said:
That's true. The Rega apologists would be coming out in droves to say that the P3 doesn't run that far off speed, or its flutter isn't as high as its critics claim it is, or it's worth the trouble of building a wall-mounted shelf for it to get around its marginal isolation, or ... :D
Click to expand...

What I meant was is that there is an "air of audiophile superiority" on those forums, at least way more than I have ever detected here on AK.

Puma Cat said:
Regarding your comments about the no. of people responding here, there is insuffcient data, the sample size is too small to be valid statistically. You have to a valid 2-proportion test with the appropriate N at a given power to make any conclusion.

And BTW, Regas P3s do sound better. You don't see a Technics SL-1200 on the recommendations by editors from Stereophile and TAS.
Click to expand...

Takes me back to my research statistics class from college!! I can't say one TT is better than the other, but one looks like a pickup truck and the other looks like a corvette.
 
Dr Tinear said:
That's true. The Rega apologists would be coming out in droves to say that the P3 doesn't run that far off speed, or its flutter isn't as high as its critics claim it is, or it's worth the trouble of building a wall-mounted shelf for it to get around its marginal isolation, or ... :D
Click to expand...


toilet.jpg
 
Jeesh cmb3366 couldn't you just use a :thumbsdn:??

Avole, Go wrong? Depends on what your needs are, for pure convenience get the Technics but for sound buy the Rega. I own and have listened to a SL1210Mk2 and Rega P2 (little brother to the P3-24) for more than two years and to my ears the Rega is the better sounding of the two. I've not heard the P3-24 but would expect it to better the SL1200 by an even wider margin.

On the subject of the Technics arm I have to say I also have an SL1700Mk2 which shares essentially the same arm design as the SL1200Mk2 but sounds more musical maybe because of its suspended design. In fact in my listening room the SL1700Mk2 gets almost as much listening time as the P2.
 
We had this exact same discussion with the exact same points about a week ago. Nothing has changed in the 7-10 days that have elapsed.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom