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Rega Planar 3 upgrades

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple of quick turntable related questions for the community.

A little background.  I currently have two turntable setups.  One is a Clearaudio Concept with a Dynavector 10x5 cartridge.  The other is Rega Planar 3 (2016 version) with an Ortofon 2M Bronze.

I've been thinking of upgrades for the Planar 3 and took the plunge on a new Neo TTPSU.  Any thoughts on a Groovetracer sub platter?  How close would I be to a Planar 6 at that point?

The Clearaudio MM cartridge that came with the Concept table was barely used when I upgraded the cartridge to the 10x5.  I still have it laying around.  Can anyone recommend to me a good relatively cheap (under $400) turntable that would be a good fit for this cartridge?  I believe it weights 8 grams and has a tracking force of 1.9 to 2.5g.

One final question.  Can anyone recommend a decently easy to use cartridge protractor?  I need to learn to do my own setups.

Thank you

mustangjeff
tooblue
1,927 posts
 

The Vinyl Source custom arc protractor is as good as any and that includes the Mint Best protractors and can be had for $32.00 delivered, do your self a favor and check them out. You will also need a good set of shims to level the VTA for different carts and I would recommend the split spacers that you can loosen the arm and slip the two halves in from the side. I purchased a RP3 used and approached upgrades starting with the cheapest first, changed out the bearing to a ceramic one made washers for the feet to level the table and removed the felt slip mat and replaced it with an Audioquest sorbathane record mat that I had used on my AR EB101 20 years ago (3.2mm thick) these things got me where I needed to be with this table and I really enjoy this table in my headphone setup. I run a Grace F9R with the Soundsmith OCL stylus assembly. WTS, I would not put anymore $ into that table, I would just sell it and move up the chain to a better table. Enjoy the music

tooblue
1,927 posts
 

Please don't discount @lewm suggestion of the Feickert protractor, although expensive you will never have to buy another one if you change arms/tables in the future. Enjoy the music

hilroy48
162 posts
 

I bought a Michael Lim aluminum sub platter and his Acrylic main platter. Also bought the white belt upgrade. I am running a Goldring Eroica XL MC Cart. Very happy with it. The P3 is in the basement on my second system. Paired with a Charisma Audio Musiko phono stage, awesome pairing.

mustangjeff OP
30 posts
 

This is probably a dumb question.  I see some cheaper versions of the Feickert protractor on ebay for around $100.  Would those be OK or do I need to spend $300 for the real deal?

tablejockey
3,904 posts
 

You can always count on Ebay to find a MIC knockoff.

You'll gets what you pay for-could be an exact knockoff or...not so much.

From pics it looks just like my REAL jig.

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