Rega Planar 2 inbound

[brubacca]

I am expecting delivery of a Rega Planar 2 today. For those that might remember my previous posts on vinyl and cartridges I had a VPI Traveler, which was both more table than I ever needed and something I never loved the sound of. I attribute that to my cartridge.

I developed an issue with my Traveler last March and between my knee surgery and other issues I didn't even begin trying to get it fixed until about Aug/Sept timeframe. Very long story made just medium length, I am walking away from that table and starting new.

I decided on the Planar 2 (and resisted the urge to go Planar 3) because I have a very modest vinyl collection. It just doesn't justify the outlaw for the P3 or P6. Also with new albums costing $25 I just don't see going crazy on vinyl. Lastly with having a rebranded AT cartridge I figured to have a little more flexibility in going with other brand cartridges although the arm has some limitations there. Lastly, if vinyl really grabs me in a way that I don't anticpate I can raise thd level of the table with a couple Groovetracer upgrades. Really I just didn't want to spend $1,145 on a table right now.

I'll update with my impressions possibly tomorrow.

[mshump]

Nice turntable. I also have a small vinyl collection and agree not spending a ton of money. With proper set-up and a good cartridge you should have great sound quality.


Mark

[brubacca]

First reaction- I have made a huge mistake. Should I send it back and spend for the Planar 3, maybe just add the Exact 2 and be done. Maybe I can change the stylus to something else.

Yeah, not great although that was literally album sides 1 & 2. I have run 4 full albums today (8 sides) and the Rega flow and toe tap is coming into stride.

[novisnick]

Rega makes a wonderfully easy TT to set up and listen to but you should always purchase the next level up on aTT that you think you can reasonably spend. That would be the Table and the cartridge together. Years ago I was looking at a purchase of the RP 3 but my dealer pressed me to spend the extra money on the RP 6 and Exact 2, I’m so glad I listened to his advice! Couldn’t be happier!
I was impressed from the first side I spun. If your not happy now I don’t think you will be later. Have the cartridge factory installed, the 8 or 10 has been on sale as of late and I’ve considered a trade in but have decided that I am very happy with my rig as is.
Good luck with your decision.

[brubacca]

I am happy after running some more vinyl today. Its is getting into that rega/british PRAT thing. I have come to realize over the last couple of years that its not all about detail and precision.

The P2 is more than I wanted to spend. I can very close to getting a U-Turn Audio Orbit or one of the new Audio Technica tables at about $300. I decided to spend extra on the P2. I have less than 30 albums and after the failed VPI expendature I wanted to spend as little as possible. Vinyl us just a minor component of my limited time to listen to music..

Its easy to convince yourself to the P3 then the P6. I'm sure they are "better" and I hear the P6 is sublime. I just don't think I need the level better that they are.

Time will tell and I may regret these words, but for now it has opened up enough to be enjoyable, just what I wanted..

Btw.. no good deed goes unpunished. My washing machine broke last night and I was out buying another one today.

[dsonyay]

Maybe later try a different cartridge. Many years ago it made a big difference in the sound on an old TT I owned.

[geeqner]

Jan 27, 2019 17:18:20 GMT -5 dsonyay said:

Maybe later try a different cartridge. Many years ago it made a big difference in the sound on an old TT I owned.

Yup - THIS

Check on some of the forums for the RP and arm that you have and follow Rega's guidelines regarding recommended mass for the Cartridge.

I originally had a B&O MMC-3 Cartridge on my AR "The Turntable".
It tracked really well and had what I thought at the time were excellent channel-separation and overall sq
Had to add a small, stick-on weight to the headshell to allow the Tonearm to handle the little bugger and the socketed adapter that came with it.

Fast-forward to about 15 years ago - 
I stumbled onto the opportunity to pick-up a Shure V15-VMR Cartridge (without stylus) for a rock-bottom price.
I got a new Shure Factory-matched Stylus for it

Spent some time setting it up and was pleasantly surprised at the difference:
-Heard stuff that I had not been hearing before (and the B&O MMC series was no slouch in its day either...)
-Tracked as good / better at Significantly Less tracking force
-Audibly better performance (better to pick-out individual instruments in Classical arrangements etc)

I feel that the difference has to do BOTH with a BETTER Cart AND the fact that the tonearm used was designed to be used with a cartridge more along the size / mass of the V15-VMR
As they are no longer available (Shure out of the phono cartridge biz) if / when mine dies - I'm probably leaning to one of the mid-grade Sumiko (Blue-Point Special series) or Grado units
Plus maybe have the tonearm re-leaded with Silver cables and a set of jacks on the plinth (presently a set of cords hanging-out of the plinth somehow "factory-ganked" onto the Tonearm leads

If I really want to "Get Crazy" - I have a booklet with the Merrill (George Merrill) Mods that used to be done to older AR XA and XB units, which even today can perform SURPRISINGLY well for as often as the urge to spin some vinyl strikes me.

ALSO - AN INEXPENSIVE IDEA TO TRY:
IIRC - the Rega Planars do not have / have much of a "suspension" for the platter / tonearm.
Placing the entire TT ON TOP of something with A LOT of mass (like 50 pounds or more) and low resonance (get some stone / marble tiles and put some felt / rubber mat between some layers) can help to isolate it from vibrations (acoustical feedback):
Low-Frequency Speakers-->Room / Audio Rack-->Turntable Movement-->Cartridge Movement-->Stylus (relative) movement -->(back to speakers)
Low-Frequency Speakers-->Room / Audio Rack-->||[Mass / Resonance Damper]||-->(LESS) Turntable Movement-->Cartridge Movement-->Stylus (relative) movement -->(back to speakers)

If an attempt like this works, and if your Audio Rack / Stand can support the extra weight - you could check with a local stone / granite counter-top dealer, and have them shape a small piece from some scraps to give you something that will look nicer / complement your setup.

[simpleman68]

Jan 27, 2019 17:18:20 GMT -5 dsonyay said:

Maybe later try a different cartridge. Many years ago it made a big difference in the sound on an old TT I owned.

Agreed, and proper setup is incredibly important to good sound.
Amazing just a slight change of tracking or pressure can destroy sonics.
Scott