What brand did you leave Rega for?

I upgraded to a used VPI TNT from Rega 3. The sound reproduction was dramatically more accurate. Though, I now have a vintage DD Luxman PD121 with a replacement mat (TTweights), and a maple arm board. The vintage DDs are very precise when it comes to pitch/speed control.

I wish I had know about the vintage DDs (Denon, JVC, Luxman, Sony, Pioneer, Technics, etc) from the start. I would have saved a great deal of money and time.

I started with a Planar 3 and Linn K9 cartridge, then I bought an Exact cartridge (which was purchased in a shop in London for 1/2 the US price) to a Linn LP12. But the LP 12 went through upgrades too. My LP 12 originally had an RB300 arm, stil with the Exact. Then I got an RB600 arm- still with the exact. Then I found a second hand Ekos II arm. At that time I also went from the Basik power supply to a Lingo. The cartridge was still the Exact, but shortly after that I found a Troika. Kept the Troika a while then found an Arkiv B cartridge. Remarkably I sold the Exact for more than I paid and I sold the Troika for what I paid. My LP12/Ekos II/Arkiv B/Lingo has remained stable for about 10 or 11 years now.

Way back in the day I sold my Rega Cherry P-9, some other gear and funded a SOTA TT with Vacum Platter and seismic platform suspension along with the best arm I could muster. A top notch front end was a priority. The difference was amazing! That was 20+ years ago and I have been happy ever since. In that timespan my table had a workout, has been sent back for rebuild, and sent back to be upgraded. The upgrade path SOTA provides to move up the line in TT models is something few manufacturers offer in this day and age. SOTA is still in business, many are not. Customer Service is great and it's made right here in the USA! If your final destination/desire is a Sota Cosmos sometime in this lifetime you will not be sorry.

Fisher-Price would be an upgrade from Rega.

I started with Basis and have upgraded in the line - I did start with a rega 300 tonearm and hated it, extremely overrated IMO. I started having problems and moved to a hadcock for not too much more money and the sound and tracking ability is no comparison to the rega.