Direct Drive

@sokogear And the tonearm is the best part of the Rega table? I’m not that well versed in Rega tables but that doesn’t seem too encouraging. People rave about Rega tables but I don’t hear praise about the Rega tonearm by itself so there is something that I’m not getting.

@sokogear 

By P9 I mean the old RP9/Rega 9 - I thought you would have known that.

The point was that the top Rega TT's have the power supply tuned/optimised to the actual motor used in that unit.

@goofyfoot 

@sokogear I can't understand why most Rega owners wouldn't opt for Origin Live tonearms. OL turned the Rega on its head and is considered a bargain.

I can, I have seen piles of OL tonearms at the Rega factory with stuffed bearings.

The venerable Rega RB300 and its successors are probably one the highest selling tonearms to the DIY community.

The top Rega arms are significantly better. The reason you don't see them separately much is that most Rega buyers mostly buy a complete package.

@dover So your saying that the Rega arms are built better than the OL arms. I've been told differently by a dealer of both brands but I wouldn't rule it out. I doubt either tonearms are built like an SME, Triplaner, and many others at that level.

I believe one of the things that should be recognized here is whether a vintage table would be preferable to a modern table. Micro-Seiki made some great DD tables but many believe the newer tables to be better. I'd say decide for yourself as either is just a preference.