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I want to move from Rega Planar 6 help me to pick a new turntable

Hi Folks,

About couple of years ago I got Rega Planar 6. Now since I got more experience with turntables and know what I want from it I am looking for a new one. 

There is nothing wrong with Rega Planar 6. In fact I enjoy it and if asked I would recommend it to other people. As long as they don't care about VTA and Azimuth. And this is the main reason I want a different table. I somewhat agree that VTA is not a huge deal and on Rega you can get a spacers, not too convenient, but not too bad either. But Azimuth for me is crucial. My experience with lots of different cartridges - most of them don't have stylus perfectly perpendicular to the surface.

I don't necessarily looking to upgrade to something much better. I want a turntable that has adjustable Azimuth. I may consider an upgrade but want to stay below 3k.

Also I don't want anything with suspension, my floors are too resonant and believe me my kids could jump upstairs so hard I sometimes have recessed ceiling lights falling off :) And for some reason I don't care about ProJect.

There is also a limiting factor of availability. Because of COVID production stopped and wait times are months in some cases.

So far I have identified the following options (based on my preferences and availability).

Technics SL-1200GR - $1.7k
VPI Prime Scout - $1.9k
EAT B-Sharp - $2k
VPI - Scout 21  - $2.8k
Music Hall - MMF-9.3 Turntable - $2.7k
EAT C-Major - $3k 

The only table outside of my price range that I might consider is Technics SL-1200G for which I've heard extremely good reviews.

The rest of the system
Cartridge - temporarily DL-103. (before I had Ortofon Quintet Black S and Audio-Technica ART9XA)
Phono stage - Parasound zphono xrm
Amp - PrimaLuna ProLogue Premium
Speakers - Martin Logan Motion 60XTi 


Thanks,
Alex 

adrobitko
sandthemall
544 posts
 

On VTA adjustment. This is a bigger deal than some might think. Especially with the better MC cartridges. While using the AT33ptgII, I was a little underwhelmed with its performance. I finally took the time to measure VTA and discovered the tonearm was ever so slightly 'tail-up'. Luckily the Technics VTA adjustment goes quite a bit beyond the zero mark. I was able to get it level and it was an entirely different cartridge.

Also the gimbal bearings on Technics G/GR turntables are ridiculously smooth. This is not talked about enough. 

I do believe a better phono stage is also important. I really like my Hagerman Trumpet MC. But I would agree that you want to be able to deal with all cartridge/tonearm setup parameters first and that requires a turntable that makes this a simple, precise and repeatable process.

 

 

 

ullogu1
36 posts
 

Thumbs up for the Audiomods arm. Can adjust azimuth as well as VTA. Sounds awesome as well.

pkatsuleas
249 posts
 

I have the P6 with Exact cart so very interested to see where this thread goes!  I have no plans to upgrade the table but possibly the cart and definitely the pre.  I am currently enjoying the very inexpensive Graham Slee SE 2.  Sounds good, but I know I can do much better.

Great info!

adrobitko OP
23 posts
 

@clearthinker agree. Carts that have azimuth off should not pass the quality control. But in reality I have seen it on a carts going up to $2k. Have not checked more expensive carts. unfortunately internet started to kill local retailers and COVID  finished  them off. There are almost no stores around me that sell anything more expensive than at-vm95e :) one retailer declined to let me check the cart before I buy it. Because they will have to open the box and then it is not a new cart anymore. If I decide to buy I can return it but they will take 15% restocking fee. Unless something wrong with it. But azimuth they don’t consider as something wrong, because i should be able to adjust it on the turntable. :)

adrobitko OP
23 posts
 

@mgolpoor the only Rega cart that I’d consider buying is Alpheta 3.  But it is out of my price range at the moment. I prefer shibata, micro line profiles. Don’t care about elliptical. So I’d have to settle for something I don’t like from Rega carts just because I can’t adjust azimuth. 

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