New Rega RP8 turntable unveiled !

Uptown Audio · « **on:** 23 Oct 2012, 01:16 pm »

Rega launches new RP8 turntable !

Sleek, Black, Modular, - beautiful.

Details on the Rega site: http://www.rega.co.uk/

$2995 US turntable only

or $3995 US for table with Apheta cartridge mounted

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 05:22 pm »

Very nice!

Just wish Rega would see the virtues of 10"+ arms and then it would be spectacular

poseidonsvoice · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 06:57 pm »

Ooooh. Wonder how it would compare with a VPI Classic 1. Very cool looking.

Anand.

jtwrace · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 06:59 pm »

Quote from: poseidonsvoice on 23 Oct 2012, 06:57 pm

Ooooh. Wonder how it would compare with a VPI Classic 1. Very cool looking.

Anand.

Buy both and you can find out.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 07:16 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 23 Oct 2012, 05:22 pm

Very nice!

Just wish Rega would see the virtues of 10"+ arms and then it would be spectacular

That's an argument that has never really been resolved. The guys that make longer arms, claim superiority and
vice versa. I've heard both implemented well and poorly. A longer arm doesn't always guarantee better performance
and particularly with a record that hasn't been centered just right.

And then, there are the straight trackers!

Let the arguments continue...

TONEPUB · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 07:18 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 23 Oct 2012, 06:59 pm

Buy both and you can find out.

We'll be doing that comparison very soon...

My RP8 is on the way, and we've got a Classic 1 here.
Should be interesting.

TheChairGuy · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 07:31 pm »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 23 Oct 2012, 07:16 pm

That's an argument that has never really been resolved. The guys that make longer arms, claim superiority and
vice versa. I've heard both implemented well and poorly. A longer arm doesn't always guarantee better performance
and particularly with a record that hasn't been centered just right.

And then, there are the straight trackers!

Let the arguments continue...

Jeff:

No argument...it's actually pretty simple on physics alone on a 12" disc. The longer the arm, up to a theoretical maximum of 12" long, the better the tracking....all other things being equal....and with the wealth of materials available today its not hard to keep the 'all else' fairly equal between various arm lengths.

Because of longer arms, you are less dependent on arm set-up/overhangs (to a point on the current Well-tempered tables, where there is no overhang adjustment on their 10.5" arms).

Rega will wake up to the fact of higher fidelity I think....Mr. Gandy is a bit of an iconoclast - from the same guy that advises no benefits from cleaning your vinyl

Look forward to your review, tho!

Cheers, John

Wasatch · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 09:19 pm »

I like it.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 09:40 pm »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 23 Oct 2012, 07:31 pm

Jeff:

No argument...it's actually pretty simple on physics alone on a 12" disc. The longer the arm, up to a theoretical maximum of 12" long, the better the tracking....all other things being equal....and with the wealth of materials available today its not hard to keep the 'all else' fairly equal between various arm lengths.

Because of longer arms, you are less dependent on arm set-up/overhangs (to a point on the current Well-tempered tables, where there is no overhang adjustment on their 10.5" arms).

Rega will wake up to the fact of higher fidelity I think....Mr. Gandy is a bit of an iconoclast - from the same guy that advises no benefits from cleaning your vinyl

Look forward to your review, tho!

Cheers, John

I tease Roy mercilessly about the record cleaning thing....

He's not budging on it though!

poseidonsvoice · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Oct 2012, 10:38 pm »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 23 Oct 2012, 07:18 pm

We'll be doing that comparison very soon...

My RP8 is on the way, and we've got a Classic 1 here.
Should be interesting.

Can't wait!

Best,

Anand.

SET Man · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 12:27 am »

Hey!

I never expect to see a Rega like that. The inner skeleton plinth is pretty cool.

So, what's the deal with the outer plinth? For dust cover? I'll tempted to diss the outer plinth and leave just the cool inner.

BTW... this will be even cooler with white ceramic plinth like one on the P7... love the look of that plinth.

Yup, lots of competition... UK made RP8 vs. US made VIP Classic 1 would be interesting, low mass vs. high mass table.

Take care,
Buddy

neobop · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 02:39 am »

Quote from: TheChairGuy on 23 Oct 2012, 07:31 pm

Rega will wake up to the fact of higher fidelity I think....Mr. Gandy is a bit of an iconoclast - from the same guy that advises no benefits from cleaning your vinyl

What makes you think that? "I tease Roy mercilessly about the record cleaning thing.... He's not budging on it though!"

$3K for a glass platter and no VTA/SRA ? LOL, glass platters are things you upgrade and you still need an aftermarket height adjuster? Harry sure gives you a lot for your dollar. Poor Gandy must be deaf. Maybe I should say rich Gandy must be deaf. He can't hear SRA...Wait a sec, could dirty records be the reason he can't hear? But he must have heard a clean record at some point. Guess he is deaf.

Good thing he has reviewer friends.
neo

TONEPUB · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 05:46 am »

Quote from: neobop on 24 Oct 2012, 02:39 am

What makes you think that? "I tease Roy mercilessly about the record cleaning thing.... He's not budging on it though!"

$3K for a glass platter and no VTA/SRA ? LOL, glass platters are things you upgrade and you still need an aftermarket height adjuster? Harry sure gives you a lot for your dollar. Poor Gandy must be deaf. Maybe I should say rich Gandy must be deaf. He can't hear SRA...Wait a sec, could dirty records be the reason he can't hear? But he must have heard a clean record at some point. Guess he is deaf.
Good thing he has reviewer friends.
neo

Pretty funny. You couldn't be more wrong. And you certainly don't know Roy Gandy. Rega has never paid for a dime of advertising anywhere (though local distributors do, independent of Rega) and the UK factory rarely if ever sends product out for review. Gandy doesn't think reviews do anything to help or hinder what they make. You may or may not agree with his approach but he does his thing his way. Always has.

And for what it's worth, VPI doesn't think anti skate makes a diff.

Every turntable manufacturer I've ever met is convinced that their approach is best.

I own both Rega and VPI tables. Like em both, both sound different.

Wayner · « **Reply #13 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 11:48 am »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 24 Oct 2012, 05:46 am

And for what it's worth, VPI doesn't think anti skate makes a diff.

In my studio, with my Anti-Skating Calibration Disc, I can certainly prove this statement wrong. Perhaps with huge clunky arms, the effect may not be as noticeable, however, record wear on the inner groove is certainly going to happen, because the horizontal thrust of the stylus (and improper tracking) will cause stylus chatter and the consequential wear.

VPI has made this statement (IMHO) because they can't figure out how to apply correct anti-skating to a uni-pivot tonearm.

Also, Mr. Gandy claims that record cleaning does nothing to promote record health, because (IMHO), his table's motors are so weak, they can't withstand even the slightest downward pressure of a cleaning pad, while in rotation.

Wayner

Ericus Rex · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 12:10 pm »

It looks nice but it looks WAY overpriced. Is the $3k price with arm? I would hope so. I wonder if comparing the RP8 to the VPI Traveller would be a better match in terms of performance.

Devil Doc · « **Reply #15 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 12:26 pm »

Rega doesn't co-op ads? Really?

Doc

dB Cooper · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 01:02 pm »

Quote from: Wayner on 24 Oct 2012, 11:48 am

In my studio, with my Anti-Skating Calibration Disc, I can certainly prove this statement wrong. Perhaps with huge clunky arms, the effect may not be as noticeable, however, record wear on the inner groove is certainly going to happen, because the horizontal thrust of the stylus (and improper tracking) will cause stylus chatter and the consequential wear.

Wayner

Wayner, with your AR TT, do you hear artifacts you attribute to skating? Had a friend years ago who had one but my "ears" weren't as experienced then.

neobop · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 01:12 pm »

Quote from: TONEPUB on 24 Oct 2012, 05:46 am

Pretty funny. You couldn't be more wrong. And you certainly don't know Roy Gandy. Rega has never paid for a dime of advertising anywhere (though local distributors do, independent of Rega) and the UK factory rarely if ever sends product out for review. Gandy doesn't think reviews do anything to help or hinder what they make. You may or may not agree with his approach but he does his thing his way. Always has.

And for what it's worth, VPI doesn't think anti skate makes a diff.

Every turntable manufacturer I've ever met is convinced that their approach is best.

I own both Rega and VPI tables. Like em both, both sound different.

I couldn't be more wrong? Gandy now cleans records and supplies height adjustment?

Relax, the only part that was a joke was the reviewer friends quip, and that was kidding on the square. As a reviewer you see the schmooze side of the industry. Your defending Gandy, is proof that subjective reviewing can't be objective, especially when you have friends in the mfg biz and you're reviewing their products. Are you personally friends with Harry or any other table mfg? I know, we've been through this before and you can dance around the subject all you want, but it doesn't change the psychological reality of subjective reviewing. It's not always about advertising dollars or pounds, as the case may be, Rega is big enough that they'll get the reviews and promotion anyway. When he first started he offered relatively high performance products for budget money. What's not to like? High end pretensions are something else.

Rega's approach or design philosophy isn't even his. Nothing new here - the low mass approach was championed by B&O, a long time ago. Ever read their white paper? It's much more interesting than the table design philosophy on the Rega site. Never the less, it didn't succeed - not because it's so bad, because when guys want to upgrade, they see it's not a viable option at the top. It's no coincidence that all of the state of the art tables for over thirty yrs, are high mass. It's not about good and bad, it's about good and better. Ever play with a Goldmand or Thorens Reference or other state of the art contender? A high mass plinth absorbs vibrations and converts them to heat, it resists acoustic feedback. If sound pressure waves can knock down the walls of Jericho, what about symphonies at realistic levels in your listening room? I know you're aware about benefits of heavy platters. Light platters sometimes have superior PRAT only because of drive system limitations.

The first VPI arms used wire tension to apply anti-skate. They now come with adjusters.

Of course every mfg thinks their approach is best, except for compromises - usually due to budget considerations and price points.

I own neither Rega or VPI tables. I usually prefer DD/rim drive.

Peace,
neo

Uptown Audio · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 01:41 pm »

Quote from: neobop on 24 Oct 2012, 01:12 pm

...A high mass plinth absorbs vibrations and converts them to heat...

That is incorrect. Higher mass materials transmit energy more efficiently. The bit about resisting acoustic feedback is also false as far as a universal statement. High mass deigns can be designed to reduce feedback but being high in mass does not guarantee that. It does guarantee high material costs.
-Bill

tomytoons · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Oct 2012, 02:30 pm »

I'm a Rega owner of a blown out P5, a fair amount of $$ invested, there are no more upgrades. It does sound great.
With that said, I agree about the overpricing on that table for what it is.
It should be made out of a Carbon Fiber honeycomb for that price.
Wait for a used one if you must have.
Around $3k I start looking at something else and I would never spend that on a Rega.

Oh, and I have no problem cleaning records with a Disk Washer brush on it because of the motor slowing down with my dual belt pulley or not.

Wait! I have to go check my money tree in the back.