Buying a new TT today

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.

I'm not certain why someone would conclude that I am "tweaking" my Rega Planar 10 by taking off the feet and using Rollerblock Jr + in their place.   Using Rollerblock Jr + (or some other brand isolation/vibration control device) is rather common in high-end systems.  I could easily have left the OEM santoprene feet in place and used the Rollerblock Jr + devices elsewhere under the plinth, achieving the same effect.  However, the Planar 10 has a very unique plinth and using the Rollerblock Jr + in place of the santoprene feet was a near perfect fit and also looked very nice.  As well, adding a Symposium, Segue ISO is another benefit for isolation and vibration control.  All hi-fi components, from source units to phono stage, to preamp, to power amp, and even with AC conditioners, will benefit by using such products to support them.  There is good reason those kind of products are on the market.  This is part of hi-fi.  I am not modifying my Rega at all.  

@aj523

To answer your question, no, I am not going to change the AC power cable from the PSU.  I have it connected to an Audioquest Niagara 1200 and, therefore, am delivering a nice clean AC current to the PSU.

In a few months from now I am getting a Symposium Acoustics Foundation Ultra rack.  Along with that I am upgrading to the new Niagara 3000 and all of my main components AC will connect to that, including the Rega.  I am maintaining my Niagara 1200 for AC connections just for the theater processor and multi-channel amp, in a separate cabinet.  I have a fairly serious main 2-channel audio system and for home theater I then simply switch on the processor and multi-channel amp.  My main preamp (BAT preamp and power amp) can receive the R/L signal from the processor and pass it through to the BAT amp.  Voila, I then have a home theater setup operating in full Dolby Atmos, 9.1.  It's really quite nice!

aj523,

"@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? "


Err... you also mentioned a replacement mat, did you not?


"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."


Before presuming, maybe it’s better if you can tell us what Rega have to say. That might be useful information for other owners of Rega decks.


"I was just asking anyway. Jesus. So glad i didn’t go with a Technic or other DD design. They are ugly too."


Thank you for your opinion.
Many may not agree.



big_greg,

The Funk Firm are also another interesting company that seems to fly under the radar nowadays, and why do we so rarely hear about Origin Live?

It wasn’t that long ago that their turntable arms were hailed as the very best in the business.

Could it all be simply be down to reviewers fashion and flavour of the month based upon advertising revenues?

@cd318
Seriously, c’mon dude....I'm just getting into TT’s and 2 channel stereo (yes, a newbie) and I make the mistake of reading all over the internet by so called experts (none of whom I suspect are engineers) about replacement mats and other tweaks using these crazy adjectives, it gets me thinking..... But I’m smart enough to call Rega after dropping $6k and they set me straight and told me it will actually degrade the sound.. Meanwhile all I hear about with other TTs like Technic (which they used to sell at Toys R Us when I was a kid) is how people tweak the hell out of them and I wonder if those tweaks really work then why doesnt the manufacturer build them in?

And yes absolutely I will call Rega about the power cord. I meant to do so today but I thought it was Saturday as I have off for the holiday. lol

Fun stuff. But why is everyone so preachy?