Buying a new TT today

@aj523   May I add some information for you.  The surface that you place the Planar 10 on will have a substantial influence on the sonic performance.  If you read the review by Michael Fremer you should note that he stated something very similar.  I can tell you from my experience the following.  I first had the TT on a solid wood surface, fairly thick and relatively dead.  Certainly a respectable platform surface.  Thinking this through, and doing some research, I concluded with two options.  Option #1 was to simply replace the santoprene rubber feet with the Rega optional solid aluminum feet (cone shaped).  They are only $80 retail so that's a very simple and low cost upgrade.  Option #2, and the one that I  chose, was to buy an entirely new platform and vibration control system.  I opted for the Symposium Acoustics, model Segue ISO.  That brand makes fabulous platforms and system racks and this particular model was developed with turntables in mind.  I also added the Symposium Acoustics Rollerblock Jr + isolation and vibration control devices (the + denotes the upgraded tungsten carbide balls).  That brand (I believe) invented the rollerblock category and offers an assortment of devices.  The santoprene feet on the TT can easily be removed via a screwdriver directly through the bottom of the feet.  This leaves a solid metal ring mounted firmly to the bottom of the plinth that, coincidentally, is nearly identical in diameter to the Rollerblock Jr devices.  The Rollerblock Jr and the Segue ISO work perfectly together to isolate and mechanically drain all micro-vibration from the turntable.  I believed there would be a difference, but I had no idea just how profound it actually was.  Soundstage became wider and deeper, midrange became slightly more neutral and definitely more airy, and most impressively was the impact and definition in the bass region.  Repetitive kick drums, for example, were more individual and precise than I had ever heard on my system.  I suggest that you live with your new joy for some time and get a good feel for it.  When ready, step up to the Symposium system and you will be greatly rewarded.  Considering the price of your new TT and cartridge, and probably your system, it's a modest financial investment into superior sound quality.  Full retail on the two models is between $550 and $650, depending on which size platform you choose.  Note: I chose the 19" X 18" so the package retail price was $650, but I did secure a 15% discount.  I can't say enough about how good the sonic improvement is and am now in the process of adding more isolation and vibration drainage control for every component in my system.  Enjoy the music.  Sorry if this was a bit long🎶

TT is on a flat stone slab.  Perfectly level with meter.

Thanks for the tips and I will certainly look into it. I was trying not to do all these audiophile type improvements like cables. Are you using the stock cable for the power supply?  I always get upgraditis on that. 

I  started looking at after market mats and so confusing,  I called Rega UK this morning and the tech guy told me under no circumstances should I swap out the mat that's made specifically for the P10's ceramic platter. So glad i did that.  Maybe I'll ask Rega tomorrow about replacing the stock cord. 

Congrats AJ and Mammoth Guy for joining the Rega club! I would love to try the RB3000 but it isn't being sold separately at the moment and the Rega dealer who let me buy the RB880 separately before it was available as a stand alone purchase, hasn't even received a P10 yet, so you beat him to the punch. Now you have no where to go if you want to upgrade your table in the future you're at the pinnacle....maybe cartridge or phono stage?

AJ - I've never been a real tweaker and don't get sucked in by big expensive cable upgrades and other nonsense. Rega designs their tables not to be tinkered with. I guess if you have isolation problems, you should try to remediate them, but the rubber feet were put on the table for a reason. On the P8, you can't replace the power cord from the PSU to the TT as it is hard wired into the table. Same for the tt interconnecting cables. You'd have to completely rewire the whole arm (which Rega just redesigned, so I'd leave it alone). Mats are very important, and Rega put a lot of thought into it - so trust them. I don't know who you are talking to at Rega, but the sales guys at the US distributor don't know much. If you talk to their tech guys who fix them (can't see that happening except for abuse), they will give you the real deal about what you can do to improve the sound (and what won't). They are very nice, and not super serious. They know where Rega cuts corners and aren't hesitant to relay that information. The point of this pursuit is to enjoy the music. 

I know sometimes that is tough as we all get obsessed by it at times, but if you read Van den hul's FAQ on their website, it talks about a lot of these things and has plenty of humorous insertions to keep you alert if you choose to read it. They are about the most serious engineers out there and they don't want anyone to lose sleep over an enjoyable avocation. Here is the link: https://www.vandenhul.com/faq-cables-and-phono/. Happy reading - the hifi tips white paper is interesting, the others can get a bit technical, but still worthwhile. After reading it, you'll never move a cable again.

@264win

Please post up the rest of your system so I can tell you how you have made bad choices! And I will!!!I will be the first on this thread to tell you that as I have said before you are telling half truths, so you know what the other half is right? And please make sure that you post up right here on this thread the rest of your system! I’m waiting!

Yeah, tell me where i’m wrong and why anyone need a Belt-Drive turntable like Rega / Pro-Ject and all that ... if DD are cheaper and better? My argument is logical (price/performance and usability), what is yours ? I prefer vintage top of the line DD turntables to new Technics, but i do not recommend what i use to people just because i use it, so new Technics is always better than Rega and Pro Jects turntables (in my opinion). Now you tell me ...


This what i have if you wish to see it like that:

*Turntables: Luxman PD-444, Denon DP80, Victor TT-101 ...

*Tonearms: Reed 3p "12 Cocobolo, Fidelity Research FR-64fx with n60, Fidelity-Research FR-64s with b60, Lustre GST-801, Technics EPA-100 mkII, Denon DA-401, IKEDA IT-345

*Mats: Micro Seiki CU-180, SAEC SS-300, The Mat (Sakura systems).
Clamps and record weight: Micro Seiki ST-20, Noritake.

*Cartridges LOMC: FR-7fz, IKEDA9c III, Miyabi Standard, Victor MC-L10, Argent MC100, Grace Asakura ONE, Dynavector KARAT 17d2 mkII, Ortofon MC2000... and many more.

*Cartridges MM/MI: AT-ML180 OCC, AT-ML170, Grace F14 and Grace LEVEL II (all models), Stanton CS100 WOS, Pickering (all top models), Pioneer PC-1000 mkII, Grado XTZ, Technics p100 c mk4 ... and many more.

*Phono stages: Gold Note PH-10 with PSU-10, WLM Phonata Reference, JLTi ...

*SUTs and Headamps: ZYX CPP-1, Luxman 8020, 8025, 8030 (toroidal silver suts) ...

*Preamp: Pass Labs Aleph L (passive/active model), First Watt B1 (passive).

*Power Amps: Fisrst Watt F2J (current source amp for full range speakers), Yamamoto A-08s with NOS 45 tubes.

Speakers: Zu Audio DRUID (upgraded to mk5) with full range drivers (101db).

*Cables: Stereovox Colibri, Stereolab Matser Reference, Stereovox Firebird, Signal Cable Silver Resolution, Zu Audio Mission mk3 ...

*Connectors: WBT Nextgen, Xhadow RCA, KLE ...

aj523,

"...I was trying not to do all these audiophile type improvements like cables. Are you using the stock cable for the power supply? I always get upgraditis on that.

I started looking at after market mats and so confusing, I called Rega UK this morning and the tech guy told me under no circumstances should I swap out the mat that’s made specifically for the P10’s ceramic platter. So glad i did that. Maybe I’ll ask Rega tomorrow about replacing the stock cord."


I’m sorry but reading that made me feel a little sad. Please tell us you’re joking.

Or else I’m puzzled why you feel that you can get a better result than Rega themselves can after over 40 years of R&D.

The P10 is currently the end result of all of that research and work.

You seem to be highlighting many of the pitfalls that I myself encountered in my audiophile journey.

If you enjoy this sort of thing, fair enough, but I would rather just enjoy the music and leave the R&D to those far better qualified and with far more advanced resources than I could ever have.

Nowadays if I wanted a record player I would look no further than the already technically excellent Technics SL12GR for exactly those reasons.

I’m guessing that the OP too decided to cut this Gordian knot when he made his decision to buy the Marantz TT-15S1.