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

Honestly I don't think its as much about the Rega as to do with my Digital. I wish I could have you hear my digital so I could get an honest, objective 3rd party opinion. My digital just vaporized the Rega. There was nothing even remotely close but I know there much be more to analogue then my tries at it. I have purposely chose gear that I knew if it didn't compete I could move and get my money back.

What about going the other way. I legit high end table, tube phonostage and good quality cart. What do you think about this combo?

I can get a great deal on it but if this one doesn't work I won't get my money back. I have been offered an incredible deal on this table.

LA PLATINE VERDIER Turntable - I will update the arm with it but its a good one.
  http://www.jcverdier.com/ADSL/platineV.html

This one has no arm but what is as an FYI 
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/turntables-la-platine-verdier-turntable-mint-with-extras-2013-02-1...

Hana MC Cart

This above combo will cost me about $3,500 more then my Rega combo. I would start with the Hana cart until I get save for a better one. He actually send me the Hana cart mounted for free to try and if I don't like I send it back and he will send me a better one and not charge for it but he thinks I will really like it. I sold my phonostage and IC's so will need to work that out. For phonostage I was thinking this one below.


Manley Chinook SE phonostage

My dealer told me, promised me if I don't love it I can send it back so I would need to also buy the Chinook and some IC;s but thinking about it.

What do you guys think?  

fsmithjack-

Your choice for another go around is a serious piece. Along with the Chinook, If it doesn't grab you, maybe your ears simply prefer  digital perfection?

If I were  getting a top notch table like that, I would up the cart budget if possible. Nice choices at the 1K price point.

'I wish I could have you hear my digital so I could get an honest, objective 3rd party opinion. My digital just vaporized the Rega."

All that matters is what you like. It's all subjective at this level. 

@fsmithjack 
Well your situation certainly is interesting. I'm surprised the Rega didn't do better; you must (as you say) have one hell of a digital rig! I'm on the very opposite side of the spectrum - HUGE investment in 2 turntable rig(s), with almost nothing by comparison into digital. The most I stretched there was a Schiit Yggdrasil DAC (2.3K), Audiophilleo 2 w/ PP USB converter ($1K), and decent Audioquest USB cable ($500), driven from various audiophile players (Amarra, Audirvana) on my iMac. Good quality FLAC files, some high-res. And I had a similar end result here, but flipped: vinyl sounds as if it's from another world than digital.

As for your new proposal, I think the move to a tube phono stage is a great idea. Note the Chinook is technically a hybrid (FET stage for MC), and may or may not be enough performance to satisfy your very, very high requirements. Also my experience with hybrid stages like that (gain around say 64dB) is that they do best with cartridges around 0.5mV or higher output, and not so much the super low output MCs less than 0.3mV. I have a Herron VTPH-2A (hybrid) and it is absolutely fantastic with both Ortofon Cadenza Bronze (0.45mV) and Shelter Accord (0.5mV). I'd recommend a look at that stage too; it's wonderful and might just make your cut.

I'm much more skeptical that the Hana, while well reviewed, would meet your high standards. The carts I've heard or owned between 1K and low-2Ks can be extremely nice listens, but all were quite notably flawed compared to the higher tier of carts. At your level, this will matter.

No ideas on the table, but that one looks nice!

@fsmithjack 
Frank, @mulveling makes many good points. I would agree that the Verdier is a solid table, the Herron would beat the Chinook and that the Hana might not be all that.
Somebody just listed a Sota Cosmos IV for $4k, that is a fine option. I would have it shipped straight to Sota for repair/upgrade eval for $100 and go from there. Plenty of tonearm options based on your preferences and budget. 
Cartridge / tonearm matching will be important to get correct resonance freq. I would rather see you get a Dynavector, Ortofon or Lyra to go with a table of the quality discussed. Cheers,
Spencer