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Mod my Rega P5 OR...time to move on ??

I`ve been enjoying a nice Rega P5 with Groovetracer upgrades (minus platter) but am thinking about a change now. 
Question: Should I add additional upgrades to this table like a better arm and a better platter or would I be further ahead just getting a different table ? 
I`m pretty set on my phono stage (Herron VTPH-1MC) and cartridge (ZYX AIRY 3) the room has been treated and the table is on a Rega rack. 

Thanks
Steve

 
 
scm
scm OP
314 posts
 

UPDATE...I ended up buying a Rega P10 with the Apheta3

qbitstate's avatar
qbitstate
6 posts
 

I'm going down a similar path, have the Audiomods arm and groovetracer plus michael limm motor isolation. What is your verdict on the P10? should i make the jump?

dover
2,291 posts
 

@qbitstate 

What is your verdict on the P10? should i make the jump?

A friend of mine upgraded from Groovemastered P5 to P9 - big improvement. Then P9 to P10 - bigger improvement again.

Either latest P8 or P10 would be way better than a heavily modded P5. 

I would also bypass the RP series - the latest P8/P10 are really a significant step forward on the previous generations.

Same with the Rega cartridges - I would never have bought a Rega MC a few years ago, but the latest generation are very good.

scm OP
314 posts
 

When I first sat down to listen to my new P10 I had a big smile on my face from the moment the stylus touched down...not because the P10 sounded so good, but because my modded P5 actually sounded so good in comparison !

A very satisfying moment for me.

What`s nice about building up a Rega is that you can make changes one at a time and hear the improvements along the way. A lot of fun too !

Just keep all the original parts.

When I was done the only thing made by Rega on it was the cherry plinth and the NEO power supply, that`s it, even the spindle bearing was swapped out.

Btw..Rega  Alpheta 3 is pretty impressive and I feel it`s not getting the attention it deserves.

qbitstate's avatar
qbitstate
6 posts
 

Very interesting! ...  Would you say the P10 was subjectively better? 

I've just ordered a SRM silent base and i think that will uplift 

the SQ substantially from what i've read and yes its been quite a fun ride so far with the upgrades.

Things don't always work out though - recently i got the GT Delrin platter and i didn't like the sound. It seemed slow and ponderous compared to the glass/felt combo. It.didn't have the rega PRAT the transients seemed slower overall.

I also tried an origin live platter matt and again didn't like what i was hearing. High freq detail seemed smeared in comparison.

The GT Ref sub platter made a huge difference as did the Neo PSU with its speed control (with 24v motor). The Audiomods 6 ARM is a revalation as well.

I'll def check the Apheta 3. I'm currently running a Hana ML and its astonishingly good esp for the money. I highly recommend you try one, I've had Zyx, EMT etc and the Hana is the best i've heard in my system so far....

I do like the minimalist idea of plonking down a P10 with Apheta 3 and just being instantly at a level where anything else would be diminishing returns.....

 

 

 

 

 

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