AudioCircle
Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Critic's Circle (Equipment Reviews) => Source Component Reviews => Topic started by: Guy 13 on 19 Jul 2014, 02:37 pm
-
Please feel free to move my thread to the appropriate topic.
Thanks.
Hi all.
First, I must make it very clear that this post/thread is not to tarnish the reputation of Rega products
and to do some dirty laundry on Audio Circle.
It’s not because little me Guy 13 from planet Vietnam,
find the Rega products not a good value for me,
that it means that it’s not a good value for other AC members.
That’s being said and hopefully out of the way and crystal clear let me share with you what I think about “MY“ Rega products.
Rega Turntable Model P3 -220V.
I find the construction to be (Very) cheap or would it better to say: Light construction.
Which makes this turntable overpriced, for me.
The motor is attached to the chassis via two sided stick tape, very simple, minimalist way of doing something, of course what to expect for an 895 USD turntable.
Rega RB301 Tone arm.
This arm as a serious grounding problem, there was no grounding wire and as per my search on the Internet, I am not the only one with that problem.
(I fixed the problem by adding an external ground wire, I did it, not Rega.)
The VTA adjustment for ticker cartridge is done via a cheap plastic spacer sold at the overpriced of 25 USD. (I am sure it cost them to make (Even in the UK), less than 1 USD/each.
In addition, the design could be improved, if you see one and/or try one, you will understand what I mean.
The tracking adjustment is (Again) cheap plastic with a bizarre adjustment scale and the adjustment is done by sliding a knob in a tube and it can come out of the tube if you pull too much on it.
Rega Exact mm cartridge.
Nothing much to say about the plastic cartridge at 595 USD other than 595 USD for a plastic cartridge.
Rega Apollo CD player.
(Converted from 220V to 120V. by simply switching inside wires.)
It’s very slow to start, it scan the CD (Initializing) to optimize the play. Many other CD players don’t do that and play as good.
With the Rega remote, many times (Even with new batteries) it does weird things, like: Go Fast Forward when you push the play key or hesitate to play a good CD, some times the CD keep spinning, even when the door is open. No big things, but many little annoying things.
Also, the construction is light, very light for an 895USD unit.
To me, the Rega P3 turntable and the Rega Apollo CD players are overpriced for what you pay and get, it’s like the Bose products.
Now, the good things, yes, did you think for one minute that I would only complain (Which I did not).
I got a glass platter, versus some MDF or Acrylic platter on some other brand.
The cartridge 3 bolts mounting system is a very good idea, it eliminate the annoying and time consuming adjustment of the azimuth.
I wish all the turntable/cartridge manufacturers would adopt that standard system.
The Rega Apollo CD player as a Coaxial and Optical outputs, even if I don’t use any of the two, it’s a good idea.
Soon, with the help of a Vietnamese friend, I will compare the sound quality of the Rega built in DAC with an outboard DAC.
Those are my thoughts as a Rega owner.
Please comment, especially if you have exactly the same model of products or experience, but please, do it in a way that’s not making me feel like a complete ignorant or even idiot.
It did happen to me in the past her at AC.
Be nice guys please.
Therefore, for me, it’s the first and last time I am buying Rega products.
I am very disappointed on many points.
I am not saying don’t buy Rega products, but I will say:
Have a look at their competition.
Guy 13
-
Hello Guy13. Personally, I rather appreciate this type of personal feedback on gear. A small piece of the data (research) puzzle most of us put together before parting with our dinero. And yes, results vary from user to user. Not all expensive audio gear is the best, and not all inexpensive gear is the worst. Loudspeakers is the best example of that.
-
Hello Guy13. Personally, I rather appreciate this type of personal feedback on gear. A small piece of the data (research) puzzle most of us put together before parting with our dinero. And yes, results vary from user to user. Not all expensive audio gear is the best, and not all inexpensive gear is the worst. Loudspeakers is the best example of that.
Hi FireGuy.
Thanks for the comments.
I forgot to mentioned or may I add the following?
Via the Rega authorized dealer in Hong Kong I could get the e-mail address of someone at Rega UK
to ask a question about the tracking adjustment.
The turntable had no instruction manual.
Well the response from the Rega UK guy was what I call: Short and sweet.
No great support there.
The local Rega authorized/official dealer/importer where I bought my Rega turntable
was completely useless and I knew more than him about the Rega turntable.
The Rega authorized importer/dealer for Hong Kong (AM promotions) Eric Lo was more knowledgeable and friendly than the guy here on planet Vietnam, that's why I bought my Rega Apollo from him.
Unfortunately, he lost the Rega line, but I kept in contact with him and we met a few times
on my regular trips to Hong Kong.
I've been told by the Rega importer in Hong Kong, that Rega UK don't want all the Rega owner to contact them, they say we should deal with the Rega dealer/store where we bought the Rega products, but the Rega dealer in Vietnam, is not knowledgeable, what should be do???
Guy 13
-
I believe, like AR turntables, the ground wire is internally connected to the left RCA plug's outer shield, so the extra ground wire does nothing, except invite a ground loop.
Yes, there is no VTA setting, but the arm is made with Rega's cartridges in mind. Using the 3 hole mounting method should align the cartridge and when playing records of the average thickness, should be the correct VTA, no adjustment necessary.
As far as the motor attachment method, please don't fly any Airbus airplanes, as they are assembled the same way.
-
Thanks Guy for your sincere report, it will help anyone that read it.
-
This is commentary on equipment, hardly the reason the Personal Touch circle was established. The only thing personal about it is that it's a personal opinion. :nono:
-
I believe, like AR turntables, the ground wire is internally connected to the left RCA plug's outer shield, so the extra ground wire does nothing, except invite a ground loop.
Yes, there is no VTA setting, but the arm is made with Rega's cartridges in mind. Using the 3 hole mounting method should align the cartridge and when playing records of the average thickness, should be the correct VTA, no adjustment necessary.
As far as the motor attachment method, please don't fly any Airbus airplanes, as they are assembled the same way.
Hi Wayner.
Thanks for your comments, as usual very much appreciated.
I've checked with my meter to see if the shield wire of both RCA
was connected to the inside of the arm, but it was not,
that's why I had to add a separate ground wire.
As for the VTA and 3 holes they are intended for use of their cartridges.
I try not to fly with Airbus products, I am an old fashion guy and I prefer and by far, the good old 747 Jumbo jet., two aisles and plenty of toilets...
Guy 13
-
Thanks Guy for your sincere report, it will help anyone that read it.
Hi FULLRANGEMAN.
My pleasure, if it can help someone.
Guy 13
-
This is commentary on equipment, hardly the reason the Personal Touch circle was established. The only thing personal about it is that it's a personal opinion. :nono:
Hi thunderbrick.
That's the reason of my note at the beginning of my thread.
There are three different parts/subjects to my thread.
Vinyl/analog + Discless + personal opinion.
Thanks for moving my thread where it belongs
with you U-Haul digital moving keyboard.
Thanks.
Guy 13
-
I have only owned the Rega Apollo. Even with the slow startup I still really like this CD player. It reads the disc and stores the info into a buffer, this aids the player in error correction. I also like the 3 ball chuck system for the CD, and the unique way the player opens. A mechanical lid, that will not fail, rather than a electronic drawer system. Keep in mind, this player, this design is very old now. In it's day I think the Apollo was great. I use mine as a transport now, and run it into a Schiit Audio Bifrost Uber DAC. To me, it does sound great for digital playback.
-
I have only owned the Rega Apollo. Even with the slow startup I still really like this CD player. It reads the disc and stores the info into a buffer, this aids the player in error correction. I also like the 3 ball chuck system for the CD, and the unique way the player opens. A mechanical lid, that will not fail, rather than a electronic drawer system. Keep in mind, this player, this design is very old now. In it's day I think the Apollo was great. I use mine as a transport now, and run it into a Schiit Audio Bifrost Uber DAC. To me, it does sound great for digital playback.
Hi geowak.
Thanks for your comments.
It's always interesting to hear the opinion/experience from someone
that has the same type of equipment.
I am waiting for a Vietnamese audio friend to bring over his DAC (Sonic BG brand) to my place for a listen.
I should find out is the Rega Apollo built in DAC is inferior,
as good or even superior to his (Made in China 1,000 USD+) DAC.
At one time I was considering (Buying) the Schiit Bifrost
(Mainly based on it's reputation, reviews and Made in USA)
but I will see/hear first if my audio friend's
unit can improve the sound quality.
Of course the manual access door is better than a motorized sliding tray, however, I never heard about defective sliding tray, but more components, means more chances to fail.
If one day my Rega Apollo fails (And it will fail one day, that's for sure)
and is too expensive to repair, I might consider something like the OPPO that according to many audiophiles is very good at playing audio CDs and I need in a near future a DVD/BR players anyway.
I also still have a mini system Sony receiver, but the CDs are loaded via a top vertical slot and that scratch (A little) the CDs and it does not sound as good (-15%) as my Apollo. I did a side by side test with two identical CDs.
By the way, is the UBER option really worth the extra 100 USD?
Will I hear a difference, a difference of lets say +20% ?
Guy 13
-
Guy13
Keep in mind, once again, the Rega DAC will most likely not sound as good as a $1000 DAC. The entire player was not priced at $1000, years ago. The Schiit Bifrost is a great DAC on it's own, but the upgrade to the Uber makes it twice better. IMHO. It get many things right and allows instruments to have the natural tone
-
Guy13
Keep in mind, once again, the Rega DAC will most likely not sound as good as a $1000 DAC. The entire player was not priced at $1000, years ago. The Schiit Bifrost is a great DAC on it's own, but the upgrade to the Uber makes it twice better. IMHO. It get many things right and allows instruments to have the natural tone
Hi geowak.
Yes, of course, a 1,000 USD DAC is more than a 895 USD Rega Apollo,
therefore sound quality should be improved,
but improved by how much, that's the question.
The purchase of a Schiit Bifrost is only possible if my wife wins the lottery jack pot.
The UBER up grade makes the Bifrost TWICE better for only 100 USD more.
Humm mmm... Interesting.
Guy 13
-
I've also felt that rega TT seems flimsy - but they are designed light and simple intentionally. The light rigid construction is supposed to make them sound fast and dynamic. Rega does seem to hope / expect you to use their products together vs straying outside Rega land. Rega land can be a nice place to be, but sometimes you want to stray.
I owned both the Rega planet and Apollo CD players. They were both great units for their time, but eventually by 2010 or so they were being outclassed by the competition even in their price category, which was why I moved on. The Apollo does read the table of contents and also has a 20MB buffer, which is why play back isnt immeadiate. The wait is well worth it in terms of setting the EQ for each cd and reducing read errors and the over all quality of playback. The Apollo would play damn near anything - even really beat up CDs. This is something that many if not most CD players still don't have, the top of the line parasound CD player being a notable exception. Guy - be happy for the minor inconvenience of the wait!
I always found the Rega CD players to have excellent rhythm with their wolfson DACs and overall smooth and somewhat warmer sound - and in the case of the planet, even euphonic. They and the Rega DAC are not transparency and resolution champs, but always still very listenable. Sins of omission mainly.
Guy - I'd hang on to at least to the Apollo as it makes a great cd transport. In the budget category the schitt Bifrost, parasound zdac (now only $300), musical fidelity v9 (only $300!), and entry level Hegel DACs will all run circles around the DAC in the Apollo and even the Rega DAC. If you can get a chance to hear any of these, I'd recommend it.
The P3 - well, if always been more of the mass loaded school, so any VPI that's in your budget......
-
All TTs I have owned was entry level and all crap, for this I moved to CDP, for the same price I get rid of the onipresent his noise and wear.
-
I've also felt that rega TT seems flimsy - but they are designed light and simple intentionally. The light rigid construction is supposed to make them sound fast and dynamic. Rega does seem to hope / expect you to use their products together vs straying outside Rega land. Rega land can be a nice place to be, but sometimes you want to stray.
I owned both the Rega planet and Apollo CD players. They were both great units for their time, but eventually by 2010 or so they were being outclassed by the competition even in their price category, which was why I moved on. The Apollo does read the table of contents and also has a 20MB buffer, which is why play back isnt immeadiate. The wait is well worth it in terms of setting the EQ for each cd and reducing read errors and the over all quality of playback. The Apollo would play damn near anything - even really beat up CDs. This is something that many if not most CD players still don't have, the top of the line parasound CD player being a notable exception. Guy - be happy for the minor inconvenience of the wait!
I always found the Rega CD players to have excellent rhythm with their wolfson DACs and overall smooth and somewhat warmer sound - and in the case of the planet, even euphonic. They and the Rega DAC are not transparency and resolution champs, but always still very listenable. Sins of omission mainly.
Guy - I'd hang on to at least to the Apollo as it makes a great cd transport. In the budget category the schitt Bifrost, parasound zdac (now only $300), musical fidelity v9 (only $300!), and entry level Hegel DACs will all run circles around the DAC in the Apollo and even the Rega DAC. If you can get a chance to hear any of these, I'd recommend it.
The P3 - well, if always been more of the mass loaded school, so any VPI that's in your budget......
I am pretty much in agreement here, as far as the Rega CD players are concerned. Keep in mind, when talking about Schiit Audio, that two smart guys are the head engineers/design team at Schiit Audio. Mike Moffat of Theta and Jason Stoddard of Sumo. These two have been working on digital for a long time. I think the design choices they have made, and the reasoning behind those choices, say alot about why the products they make sound good for the money. The Bifrost is the most analog sounding piece of digital gear I have. I have heard some better gear, but it was three times higher in price. Another thing that Schiit offers, that no other company is pushing, is upgrade ability. I don't want to spend big money on a DAC every 5 years. With the Bifrost, I upgraded an analog card and installed it myself for $100!
-
I've also felt that rega TT seems flimsy - but they are designed light and simple intentionally. The light rigid construction is supposed to make them sound fast and dynamic. Rega does seem to hope / expect you to use their products together vs straying outside Rega land. Rega land can be a nice place to be, but sometimes you want to stray.
I owned both the Rega planet and Apollo CD players. They were both great units for their time, but eventually by 2010 or so they were being outclassed by the competition even in their price category, which was why I moved on. The Apollo does read the table of contents and also has a 20MB buffer, which is why play back isnt immeadiate. The wait is well worth it in terms of setting the EQ for each cd and reducing read errors and the over all quality of playback. The Apollo would play damn near anything - even really beat up CDs. This is something that many if not most CD players still don't have, the top of the line parasound CD player being a notable exception. Guy - be happy for the minor inconvenience of the wait!
I always found the Rega CD players to have excellent rhythm with their wolfson DACs and overall smooth and somewhat warmer sound - and in the case of the planet, even euphonic. They and the Rega DAC are not transparency and resolution champs, but always still very listenable. Sins of omission mainly.
Guy - I'd hang on to at least to the Apollo as it makes a great cd transport. In the budget category the schitt Bifrost, parasound zdac (now only $300), musical fidelity v9 (only $300!), and entry level Hegel DACs will all run circles around the DAC in the Apollo and even the Rega DAC. If you can get a chance to hear any of these, I'd recommend it.
The P3 - well, if always been more of the mass loaded school, so any VPI that's in your budget......
Hi jarcher.
Thanks for sharing with me and others your experience,
highly appreciated.
For the Rega Apollo, it's paid for (895 USD),
has a fairly good sound,
I don't have the $$$ to buy something else/better.
So, I will keep it.
Now for the DAC, nothing will happen soon,
but I am open to listen to any separate DAC
and use the Apollo as a transport only unit.
A good quality Optical and/or the Coaxial wire
is quite expensive as per my Internet research.
Too bad I'm stuck on planet Vietnam,
otherwise I would take advantage of Schiit trial period.
For the Rega P3 turntable, again, it's paid for
(695 USD + Exact mm cartridge 495 USD)
it's works and soon I will be getting (Free of charge)
a linear tone arm upgrade (PDR Brand - Made in Canada)
and if my Bellari VP129 is humming and behaving as a FM tuner as before,
I will have to spend some $$$ to upgrade-it to something else.
For a long time, I've been looking at the VPI Scout because look very well made and for me Made in USA is important.
But, I only want to keep my turntable because of all the vintage vinyls
I have and that are close to my hart.
(Beatles, James Last, Kitaro, JM Jarre and the same.)
Eventually, I will get my Nakamichi BX100 repaired by NAK Doc in USA and transfer my vinyls to the cassette, I know, the sound won't be the same, but the cassettes (C90) will wear out, not the vinyls and it will be easier to play them.
Thanks again, time and available $$$ will tell which direction I will take.
Guy 13
By the way, I don't play vinyls because they sound better,
but because they are not available on CDs.
-
All TTs I have owned was entry level and all crap, for this I moved to CDP, for the same price I get rid of the onipresent his noise and wear.
Hi FULLRANGEMAN.
Yes, that's correct, unless your vinyls are brand new, they might have some surface noise and need more care than CDs.
Since I was raised with vinyls, it's maybe more a nostalgic thing
than better sound, not that the sound is bad.
Minds you, many recordings from the 70-80 suffer from not too good sound.
Thanks.
Guy 13
-
I am pretty much in agreement here, as far as the Rega CD players are concerned. Keep in mind, when talking about Schiit Audio, that two smart guys are the head engineers/design team at Schiit Audio. Mike Moffat of Theta and Jason Stoddard of Sumo. These two have been working on digital for a long time. I think the design choices they have made, and the reasoning behind those choices, say a lot about why the products they make sound good for the money. The Bifrost is the most analog sounding piece of digital gear I have. I have heard some better gear, but it was three times higher in price. Another thing that Schiit offers, that no other company is pushing, is upgrade ability. I don't want to spend big money on a DAC every 5 years. With the Bifrost, I upgraded an analog card and installed it myself for $100!
Hi geowak.
Some time ago, I did lots of surfing/search on the Internet for a good headphone amplifier for my Sennheiser HD650 and I push aside the Schiit Valhalla mainly because if it's PCB construction and many owner claim it runned hot, very hot and heat is the major killer of electronics.
But the price was good, it was made in USA, it was small and the sound was good, however, many claimed that the sound was a little cold.
So I bought a Bottlehead Crack.
It's bigger, it's more expensive considering the cost of putting it together by someone else, it also generate heat, but it's point to point wiring, made in USA and tube, I love glowing tube and according to me, the Crack might be easier to repair.
Sorry to have drift from the main topic.
I read lots on the two Schiit owner and I agree 100% they are knowledgeable guys
and have a good sense of humor with their approach with marketing and customers.
I like the design and price of their Bifrost and if I ever decide to go that way, I might seriously consider that Made in USA brand.
However, I have to do some more research and see if my microscopic budget can spare some extra $$$ that were not supposed to be spent on something like that.
Ho, the upgrading stuff.
I call that a disease.
Why they always need to up-grade? To improve, to make better, to make smaller, more performing, more complicated???
Does that mean they original design was that bad if they have to keep up-grading them?
Yes, you have to keep up with customer demand for better and better, but I am happy with what I have. Yes, I want to improve, but not all the time or every 5 years...
Guy 13
-
Haven't found a huge sound quality difference with optical cables - and had one of the very best (wireworld nova), so don't suggest you spend much there. Probably better to get a decent entry level RCA digital cable anyway.
For the TT hum / fm tuning issue would suggest a shorter (1m) well shielded interconnect between TT and bellari and to have someone check the internal connections to the rca's particularly on the Rega TT. I had the fm tuning issue until I went for 2M to 1M interconnects. Also had a nasty hum and turns out the RCA connector on the TT was loose. Rega doesn't believe in spending a lot on the RCA connectors. This was the only thing I ever had fail on my Rega CD players.
I've been demoing at home the VPI scout 1.1 and it's very good - the kind of table you could be happy with for the rest of your life.
-
Haven't found a huge sound quality difference with optical cables - and had one of the very best (wireworld nova), so don't suggest you spend much there. Probably better to get a decent entry level RCA digital cable anyway.
For the TT hum / fm tuning issue would suggest a shorter (1m) well shielded interconnect between TT and bellari and to have someone check the internal connections to the rca's particularly on the Rega TT. I had the fm tuning issue until I went for 2M to 1M interconnects. Also had a nasty hum and turns out the RCA connector on the TT was loose. Rega doesn't believe in spending a lot on the RCA connectors. This was the only thing I ever had fail on my Rega CD players.
I've been demoing at home the VPI scout 1.1 and it's very good - the kind of table you could be happy with for the rest of your life.
Hi jarcher.
Thanks for the advice on the optical cable.
My audio Vietnamese friend that bought the 1,000 USD DAC,
said he paid 100 USD for his Optical cable.
I don't know if I could get decent sound quality
with a 25 USD Optical cable.
Now for my Bellari hum/tuner problem,
I guess you did not follow my thread about all my
experimenting to solve that pesky problem.
I've tried my Signal Cable 50cm shielded OFC and Silver cable
without any improvement.
The the interconnect from the Rega tt are built in, not interchangeable.
They are shielded and only 50cm long.
If my wife ever win at the lottery and she's got great chance with the amount she spend every day buying several dozens of tickets, I will buy for sure a VPI TT.
As for being happy for the rest of my life, that must happen quick, because I don't have much time left with 66 years on my life meter.
Well, maybe less than 30 more years, knock-off 5 to 10 years, because I will probably be half deaf and blind.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Guy 13
-
Hi Guy 13, I have a VPI Scout that I’ve been using for a few years now and really like it, not to mention it’s built like a tank.
While I’ve have no formal experience with Rega turntables, I would see them in audio salons years ago and think, this seems like a cheaply made turntable, for that reason along I never thought about buying one.
-
Hi Guy 13, I have a VPI Scout that I’ve been using for a few years now and really like it, not to mention it’s built like a tank.
While I’ve have no formal experience with Rega turntables, I would see them in audio salons years ago and think, this seems like a cheaply made turntable, for that reason along I never thought about buying one.
Hi brooklyn.
I'm glad to read a testimony (Not sure if that's the right word)
of an actual owner of a product I want or dream of,
even if I will never be able to afford it.
Yes, the Rega (P3) look light, sure don't look like it's built like a thank,
if it is, it's a GI Joe tank. :lol:
I bought my Rega P3 from the local (Vietnam) authorized dealer
and he did not have it in stock, it had to be ordered,
therefore, I never actually seen it, touch it, tried it, that's bad.
Of course one thing that does not help,
it's because my previous turntable was a Linn LP12
pretty robust turntable, maybe not as heavy duty as the VPI Scout,
but still pretty rugged.
Anyway, I will live with what I have
and since vinyl listening is not my main source
or my priority, I will suffer in silence. :lol:
Thanks for your comments, they are encouraging
(It confirm that VPI Scout is a good turntable)
and discouraging
(Because I might never be able to own my dream turntable.)
Well, that's life.
In life you cannot always own everything you dream of.
Plus, I know lots of people that own a lot less than me,
therefore, I am not as bad lucky as my name implies.
Guy 13
13 like in Friday 13...
-
Guy, I have to agree with you.
I have had 3 Rega Tables. Two P3's and the last was a P5 totally blown out with $1k in upgrades purchased over 2 years.
That being all the Groovtracer stuff, both platters Acrylic and Delrin. Double pulley, double White Belts, upgraded feet you can level and other things. With Power Supply and all this the table still ran fast.
If you buy Rega you are buying into Gandy's philosophy. They do sound pretty good out of box.
The new tables have had numerous QC issues mainly wobbly platters that Rega says are "reasonable". Read the Vinyl Engine Rega board. I know someone who has gone through 3 new P3's with platter problems and they finally gave him a P6 for a free upgrade. There have been problems with the P6 too.
At any cost a platter should not wobble, PERIOD! The Tonearm wiring is still junk too. I re-wired all the tonearms with Incognito.
My opinion these new tables are getting way overpriced for what they are.
Buy used but check it out well or with the understanding you would be able to return it.
I will not buy Rega again even a used one.
My simple table I'm using now addresses every single issue in build the Rega has.
The disclaimer, my opinion only and not to offend anyone.
-
My simple table I'm using now addresses every single issue in build the Rega has.
What simple table might that be? :scratch:
-
Silly, it's in my "systems" listing. :eyebrows:
-
Guy, I have to agree with you.
I have had 3 Rega Tables. Two P3's and the last was a P5 totally blown out with $1k in upgrades purchased over 2 years.
That being all the Groovtracer stuff, both platters Acrylic and Delrin. Double pulley, double White Belts, upgraded feet you can level and other things. With Power Supply and all this the table still ran fast.
If you buy Rega you are buying into Gandy's philosophy. They do sound pretty good out of box.
The new tables have had numerous QC issues mainly wobbly platters that Rega says are "reasonable". Read the Vinyl Engine Rega board. I know someone who has gone through 3 new P3's with platter problems and they finally gave him a P6 for a free upgrade. There have been problems with the P6 too.
At any cost a platter should not wobble, PERIOD! The Tonearm wiring is still junk too. I re-wired all the tonearms with Incognito.
My opinion these new tables are getting way overpriced for what they are.
Buy used but check it out well or with the understanding you would be able to return it.
I will not buy Rega again even a used one.
My simple table I'm using now addresses every single issue in build the Rega has.
The disclaimer, my opinion only and not to offend anyone.
Hi bacobits1.
They say if you are satisfied with your first purchase brand,
there are great chances that you will stay with that brand for your next purchases.
Well, I am not satisfied with my first Rega purchases. (P3 and Apollo)
therefore I will not stay loyal to the Rega brand.
As a matter of fact: Rega is now on my black list.
You don't have to agree with me or even consider my opinion as a reference.
That's just me and taste and opinion varies from one to the other.
Guy 13
-
Yes, and I'm on the hunt always for a good deal that is why I have had 3 Rega's and lots of other tables too.
Some folks raving about the RP6 on the Asylum board. :o
-
Guy13,
It is a shame that you are having such problems with the Rega TT. It reminds me of a brand that I use to own and bought three different products from. I had problems with ALL THREE. I will not mention the name. The owner was always too busy to address my problems and always downplayed my concerns, trying to assign it to noisy AC! After many, many months I sold the gear back to him at a fraction of the cost. Even though he has a good following, I think his stuff his junk and would never buy his stuff again.
So I guess I feel your pain. One can never buy into the hype of a product and I think a product should be tried for a long while to see if it indeed is a good audio piece, and most importantly how does the company treat you if the audio has problems. Many audio companies just want to make the bigger sales, they do not want to fix a piece of junk they made/designed.
I think AC should be a place where one can RAVE about a brand ABC, or they can honestly assess a lack of quality or follow up from a brand as well. Even if that brand has sponsorship or presence on AC. This is a forum to share info HONESTLY.
-
Guy13,
It is a shame that you are having such problems with the Rega TT. It reminds me of a brand that I use to own and bought three different products from. I had problems with ALL THREE. I will not mention the name. The owner was always too busy to address my problems and always downplayed my concerns, trying to assign it to noisy AC! After many, many months I sold the gear back to him at a fraction of the cost. Even though he has a good following, I think his stuff his junk and would never buy his stuff again.
So I guess I feel your pain. One can never buy into the hype of a product and I think a product should be tried for a long while to see if it indeed is a good audio piece, and most importantly how does the company treat you if the audio has problems. Many audio companies just want to make the bigger sales, they do not want to fix a piece of junk they made/designed.
I think AC should be a place where one can RAVE about a brand ABC, or they can honestly assess a lack of quality or follow up from a brand as well. Even if that brand has sponsorship or presence on AC. This is a forum to share info HONESTLY.
Hi geowak.
Thanks for your comments.
I agree with you 200%.
Guy 13
-
Yeah I think we are in sync here. Good luck with the TT. Or just do some solid research and get a good TT. Many great used ones out there.
BTW
hype 1 |hīp| informal
noun
extravagant or intensive publicity or promotion : she relied on hype and headlines to stoke up interest in her music.
• a deception carried out for the sake of publicity.
verb [ trans. ]
promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits : an industry quick to hype its products.
ORIGIN 1920s (originally in the sense [shortchange, cheat,] or [person who cheats, etc.] ): of unknown origin.
-
Hi Guy 13,
I have never owned any Rega products so I have nothing to say or know about it. But I just thought you might be interested in this:
http://www.temaadaudio.net/turntables.html
-
Hi Guy 13,
I have never owned any Rega products so I have nothing to say or know about it. But I just thought you might be interested in this:
http://www.temaadaudio.net/turntables.html
Hi PRELUDE.
Thanks for the link.
May I say that I am not looking for up-grades.
Other than the hum and interference with my Rega RB301 tone arm
and the fact that my Rega P3 is flimsy and overpriced, it's still a keeper,
because, it's paid for and it does the job (Spinning vinyl)
or it will do the job better,
when I will have installed my PDR linear arm with the proper phono amplifier.
The PDR arm I got free and the phono stage will be less than 150 USD.
Thanks anyway for the link.
Guy 13
-
I can never understand the upgrade path on any piece of audio equipment.
Example: If I want to spend 1K on a turntable and then add say, $600 worth of upgrades, even over time, why not just spend the $1600 and get a better table to begin with?
Also: how long has Rega been making turntables, a wobble in the platter should be nonexistent.. If that happened to me with any company that specializes in
a turntable in this case, I would be screaming from the rooftops.
-
I can never understand the upgrade path on any piece of audio equipment.
Example: If I want to spend 1K on a turntable and then add say, $600 worth of upgrades, even over time, why not just spend the $1600 and get a better table to begin with?
Also: how long has Rega been making turntables, a wobble in the platter should be nonexistent.. If that happened to me with any company that specializes in
a turntable in this case, I would be screaming from the rooftops.
Hi brooklyn.
I agree 100% with your comments.
To me, if a product is upgradable, it means that it's inferior or
not ready to be marketed,
since you can make it better with upgrade kits.
Kits supplied by independent companies or worst,
supplied by the manufacturer himself.
I am not talking about kits, like speaker kit where you can upgrade
the crossover with better capacitor
and/or much more expensive capacitors to improve the sound,
that's different.
I understand that there are many, many up-grades available and if,
let say, the turntable would have one model for each upgrade,
the list of models would have to be written/listed on a roll of toilet paper...
:lol:
By now Rega the turntable manufacturer, after so many years of designing
and manufacturing turntables, should not have any issues with their products.
One other thing, if manufacturers would slowdown in their better, improved, marketing tricks, they would not have to redesigned their products all the time.
Maybe they could have a model that is bug free.
But today, it's the customer that fall into the marketing of
NEW, BETTER, IMPROVED, etc...
It's like car manufacturers, why is there so many recalls,
because they keep changing (Improving) their products,
but they do it so often, that they don't have time to test
and see if their products new design is reliable.
Make a good design when you introduce a product
and you won't have to improve it many time after.
The manufacturers wants to launch a products as soon as possible
to get return on their investment and research cost,
but the products full of bugs are on the back on the consumer
that have to pay for the manufacturers too quick to get money for their investment.
I represent here in Vietnam two manufacturers (Manfrotto - Italy and Bowens International - UK) and they keep changing (Improving) their products, result, they don't have enough time to check the reliability of their products and many times they make it more complicated (To repair) and we cannot keep up with all the changes. What was wrong with their previous models? Yes, I know, customer push them to always have a novelty a new model a more fashionable model, bla, bla, bla...
It's like they say, never buy a new car model when it come out for the first time and it's been completely revamped or redesigned.
It's full of bugs.
Don't say a products is no good, say what's wrong with it
and say it loud, so the manufacturer will do something quick about it.
WOW ! That's my opinion.
Guy 13