Rega P5 Upgrade:TTPSU,Platter Or Subplatter?

Thanks Eldon. Later when I go for the P7 and attempt to modify it someone will say go for the P9. It is unfortunate the P5 comes with the plastic subplatter which was a bit of a compromise compared to the P7 and P9. Most likely I'll just get the TT PSU and be done with it, since I currently have only less than 10 LP's in my collection.

Anyway, out of curiosity may I know what are the sonic differences between the upgraded P5 and the P7? From a technical perspective, the differences between the stock P5 and P7 are in the subplatter and platter in that the P7 uses a higher quality subplatter constructed to tighter tolerances and a ceramic platter. Other than these two aspects the P5 and P7 share the same plinth and RB700 arm. Hence my suspicion is the P5 will sound close to(if not better) than the P7 with the TT PSU, upgraded subplatter and arcylic/ceramic platter. Anyway all these upgrades will eventually bring the value of the P5 closer to the P7 so you may be right there in that one might be better off going for the P7 instead of spending $$$ on upgrading the P5.

Cheers.

Ryder: Don't under estimate the Ceramic Platters sound
improvement over the P-5's glass platter. The P-7 also
has a superb bearing housing and sub platter.

You can change the subplatter on the P-5, but not the
bearing housing. This is the part the sub platter fits
in to. The bearing housing on the P-5 is crap by
comparison to the bearing housing in the P-7 and P-9.

The P-7 and P-9 have the dual belt drive system. A big
improvement over the P-5 which can have speed problems
over time due to the single belt system it uses.

I had both my modified P-5 and a P-7 in my system at the
same time with the same cartridge and while the P-5
was very good, it was no match for the P-7.

I, too, owned a P5 prior to my P7 - not a subtle difference betweent he two. I was flabergasted by the difference and i thought the P5 was a superb table to begin with. By adding the above listed 'upgrades' you will be close to the cost of a P7. I traded my P5 back to my dealer for the same amount paid and handed him $650 cash to balance the deal.

Hey Ryder............I just noticed a small, yet incredibly important line in your post...."I currently have less than 10 LP's in my collection." My friend, my advice to you is simple. Spend some $$$ and buy more LP's. Right now, your "stock" P5 is a fantastic table. Leave it alone, and try to expand your record collection. Buying more music will be a much better investment than tweaking your table. There are about a zillion great LP's out there. Have fun, opening your ears and soul to the beauty of analog music. Buy the tunes now, and worry more about the equipment later on.

I have about 300 LP's, and I just upgraded my Rega P3-24 by adding the TT-PSU (more about this, folks, in a separate post.) My system sounds absolutely incredible, but it wouldn't be worth a dime if I didn't have the great collection of music to enjoy !!

Miner42 said, "I traded my P5 back to my dealer for the same amount paid and handed him $650 cash to balance the deal."

Your dealer took quite a hit if he gave you that deal. It's $2,695 for a P7 and a total of $1,795 for a P5 with the optional power supply so there is a $900 dollar difference which is significant. If you paid $650, your dealer cut the suggested retail price by a lot, and that's assuming you had already purchased the power supply for your P5 before you traded it in.