Buying a new TT today

@cd318 and the @chakster
Sorry no idea what you are talking about. Because I asked about upgrading a stock cable that means I’m trying to change everything on this incredible machine?

Guess what? You can’t tweak the hell out of a Rega and that’s what makes it so special unlike other DD and other designs. Its not meant to be upgraded so not sure what threads you are talking about where people are trying to upgrade everything. 

Rega isn’t going to put a $300 power cord on their table, they use a basic power cable that they didn’t design and its the law of diminishing returns....but that doesn’t mean its necessarily a complete waste. I was just asking anyway. Jesus.  So glad i didn't go with a Technic or other DD design. They are ugly too.

@chakster Haven't I read you post about upgrading feet on the Technics turntables? 

It's one of the things I've done to my SL 1200 MK2.  It came with the KAB RCA plate when I bought it.  I've added a Funk Achromat and the fluid damper and will be putting some Fo.Q tape on the tonearm.  All relatively inexpensive upgrades that have brought it up to a nice level.  It is fun to make those little tweaks and see how it changes the sound (or not) and doesn't have to cost a lot.

Mike Lavigne is right the Rega pro package is a good choice if you have the budget.I fell in love with vynil, my beloved music hall tt 5 series is acting up its 20 yrs old, I retired it...                           I notice the SME products are state of the art , I called acoustic sounds , spoke to NAte , He installed the ML Hana...for me..it’s not cheap , but you will have a tt of your dream if you are not Mike L...Iam extremely happy.   

Only problem if you buy expensive tt, you will need a very good phono pre, sometimes.I paired this SME to Icon ps3 phono pre...

I think the upgrade game is more something Linn does. Their upgrades are numerous to the point that the guy who sold me my Rega told me a guy spent $25K on an LP12.

Question for Chakster (Mike Lavigne - feel free to chime in although you seem to be focused on the highest end options, or any other cartridge experts):  I've heard of a couple of the brands you mentioned above in your vast cartridge inventory, and seem to be a cartridge analyst for Absolute Sound, but I was wondering, of the cartridges currently commercially available and in production, what cartridge would you recommend for a Rega P8 (other than Rega's 2 MC's) from a value standpoint? I like a detailed sound that is transparent and tight without anything being added, which gets all that is on the record to come out. Not bassy or shrill or tinny sounding, just natural. I currently have a Van den hul One Special with probably 2250-2500 hours on it that I am pleased with (it's rated 25-3500) more lately with the virus, and in a year or less, I will either service it at the factory in Sweden (and limp along for a month or so while it being brought to new specs) for around $5-$600 or look for a replacement. I've heard good things about Hana, and of course there are the usual suspects of Koetsu, Lyra, Clear Audio, Ortofon, Dynavector, etc. I have a Sutherland Insight phono stage with the Linear Power Supply that has 4-5 adjustable load settings from 100 to 47K ohms.Thanks for your advice.