Does a turntable make a DRAMATIC difference?


I purchased some analog gear in the hopes of making my analog side (a Sutherland 20 20 phono preamplifier and a Hana ML cartridge) at least the equal of my digital side. Although it has markedly improved the sound of my records it has not equaled the SQ of my digital sources. I know my turntable ( a heavily modified Rega RP3 with two power supplies and many other internal tweaks) is the weakest link. My question is, will a new improved turntable make a MAJOR difference, or just incrementally improve the sound. Or do I have to spend major bucks to achieve what I want.

128x128rvpiano

I am a confessed analog snob.

Waited 50 years to build a destination TT, arm, cartridge and phono stage.

Built my current system around a beautiful Woodsong Garrard 301.

Changed everything!

I have always loved Rega. Enjoyed my P1 that still gave me a big taste of great analog sound. Was very interested in the RP8/10. In fact, the RP8 will get you 90%+ of the 10. And either can be compared to tables costing much, much more.

The 6 is also good, but definitely worthwhile to go for the 8.

Your 20/20 ps and Hana cartridge are a very good match for a RP8.

 

@rvpiano The one limitation with Rega table/arm is fixed VTA.. When I replaced a worn out shelter 501 with Ortofon Quintet black on my RP6 I was very disappointed with the sound and was not hearing anything that glowing reviews said about quintet black. Ortofon being much taller than shelter was the problem. I had to raise the arm base by almost 5mm to get it sound better but still not the sound I was used to with Shelter. Once I replaced RB303 with Audiomods Series VI arm with micrometer, quintet came to life. It sounds excellent now. The only other mod done to the table was replacing stock subplatter with groovetracer.

 

As other have said, isolation/leveling is extremely critical. Regas don't like sitting on heavy  platforms. 

@mglik 

"In fact, the RP8 will get you 90%+ of the 10. And either can be compared to tables costing much, much more.

The 6 is also good, but definitely worthwhile to go for the 8."

 

Yes, the RP8 is an awesome deck.

Compared to any Rega 3 you will hear big improvements in image size (esp height) and depth plus bandwidth.

Of course the RP8 is not the only turntable that can do that...

 

Budget decks simply have to make serious compromises, all of them.

I think it's fair to say that most of these compromises seem to center around a lack of deep bass.

VTA, tracking force and alignment are everything!   I’m pretty sure this is why some people buy an album like a 180 gram or 200 gram and give totally different reviews on the sound quality of it.  One says it sounded very dull and lacked highs and dynamics.  Another loves it and has pretty much the same table and/or turntable.  Just depends on how it’s set up.  Learning to tweak the table takes a while but with a decent system you can hear all the little changes you make.  As someone else mentioned you have to learn to do it yourself to get the most from your table. 

i've not heard any other 'tables make as dramatic a difference as what i heard listening to the ELP.