New Rega Planer 8 (P8) Turntable - Apheta 2 Cartridge Combo - Thoughts

I've been following this thread with interest because I never got that vinyl rush either.  I started with a VPI as well.  September I upgraded to a Rega RP-10 with Apheta 2.  It was a solid performer, interesting but lackluster.  At 120 plays things changed rapidly.  Now at 266 plays it's a real contender.  But to back up a bit, two weeks ago I received the Herron phono stage.  It's a perfect fit with the Rega combo.  After years of jumping through hoops, this is finally the vinyl magic we crave.  It works with the good, the bad and the ugly.  
Certainly the Rega is as close to plug and play as it gets.  It did take me 8 tries to align the Apheta 2.  It had to be *just so* or the presentation was boring, boring, boring with fits of sibilance or high amplitude breakup.  It was a big help not worrying about azimuth and VTA during that ordeal and well worth the time.  Having said that, a digital system that checked all the boxes and drew me into the music for more than 20 minutes might kill the ongoing commitment that analog absolutely requires.  Analog is as much a hobby as it is a means to an end.  May you find your motivation. 
  

The Technics 1200G is a heck of a table.  I can say after owning almost a year, it just keeps getting better and switching cartridges is easy.  It a well thought out design and I have no desire to upgrade anymore.

Cartridge break-in is very real, but real-er for some brands & models than others. Ortofon Cadenza Bronze is an example that sounds great out of the box, right from hour #1 (and pairs great with the hybrid JFET/tube stages). Whereas Koetsu stones can take some mileage to get where they’re going (and tends to want an MC Step-Up Transformer to shine). You need at least 24 - 40 hours of playtime to see what’s up. Then there’s the issue of running in the phono stage itself. Ugh I hate components with long run-in times. I'm so impatient there, and what with the added difficulty of sending a reverse-RIAA signal via DAC/CD to the phono...

Definitely agree with the discussion on flooring and isolation. If I didn’t have a great rack and somewhat rigid flooring, my main table would be a SOTA (or SME, etc) for its built-in suspension system. I had a Clearaudio Innovation that struggled on an inadequate (not even that cheap) rack - the Rega would be just as bad if not worse in that context.

Great info... maybe I gave up too early. I don’t doubt that. As far as my room 1/2 room is over garage and other half over my basement. Yes maybe that contributed.

i had it on a Solid Tech Hybrid Rack with Silent Running Audio OHIO Class Isolation platform but still maybe these is somthing to my floors or something? I’ve never had a problem with anything before but who knows? My house was made in 88/89 so not too old or anything like that? Seems pretty sturdy but not sure. I had the cart mounted by OEM and didn’t mess with it with fear of messing it up? 

They say Rega is great - that you set the tracking downforce and put in your rack and rock it but not sure but obviously something was wrong? I mean I’m a pretty smart person and I’m a long time Audiophile so if I can’t do it how come so many other have? 

Who knows?? 

more clues

fsmithjack
I had the cart mounted by OEM and didn’t mess with it with fear of messing it up?

wlutke
It did take me 8 tries to align the Apheta 2.

8^0


IMO- its unfortunate you got rid of the gear so quick. You could have opened your phono stage and put the plug in for 47K. Run the cart full out no load.  

more clues

As far as my room 1/2 room is over garage and other half over my basement.

so which half was the TT on ?