[Christof]

I found a used Rega P3 at my local audio shop which could replace my junker table.  It is in good condition with a cover.  The platform is White and it has the std. platter.  It would be added into a system based on Odyssey Tempest Pre containing MM/MC stage.  My question is what are these generally selling for w/o cart or more over what are people usually offering for these units and how much should I expect to spend on a mid grade cart for it.  I'm assuming the cart is trashed and will need to be replaced.  Vinyl will constitute about 10% of my listening and I'm a woodworker on a tight budget.  The guy is asking $500 and says the cart is good.

Thanks for any tips
Christof

[Rocket]

hi,

The rega 3 is a decent turntable.  What is the recommended retail price in the states?  How old is the table?

In oz the rrp is $1000au and unless it was very new i would pay about $500au second hand for the unit.  I like the rega tables and until recently had a rega 2 with the rb300 turntable and it is an excellent turntable for the price.

I bought a brand new bluenote piccolo turntable for $800us with an entry level mm cartridge which i thought was considerably better.  I hope this helps you.

Regards

Rod

[doug s.]

p3 retails for ~$700, so i'd say that price is a bit high.  unless the cartridge is something exceptional - not likely on a typical rega p3, tho... but, i would also expect a bit higher price from a dealer, so it's likely not out of line, when that is taken into account.

personally, i'd look for something better in a used deck at that price.  keep yer eyes peeled on agon & ebay, and ya will find things like cj walker, linn, well tempered, oracle, empire, systemdek, etc...

doug s.

[mcrespo71]

p3 retails for ~$700, so i'd say that price is a bit high.  unless the cartridge is something exceptional - not likely on a typical rega p3, tho... but, i would also expect a bit higher price from a dealer, so it's likely not out of line, when that is taken into account.

personally, i'd look for something better in a used deck at that price.  keep yer eyes peeled on agon & ebay, and ya will find things like cj walker, linn, well tempered, oracle, empire, systemdek, etc...

doug s.

$500 with cartridge is going to get you a linn, well tempered, or oracle?  That seems pretty unlikely.

What's the cartride and is it a P3 2000 or an older P3?

Michael

[duff138]

they are $650 new.  You need to find out how old that player is.  new ones have a better motor.

[doug s.]

$500 with cartridge is going to get you a linn, well tempered, or oracle?  That seems pretty unlikely.

What's the cartride and is it a P3 2000 or an older P3?

Michael

these aren't delphi's, but they went for <$600. w/cartridge.  
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=5730993349&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=5730255752&rd=1

and, i have seen even delphi's sell for <$600, as well as lp12's & early well-tempered's...  of course if you have to have it *NOW*, you will pay a bit more.

here's a cool systemdek that will likely go for ~$500 (auction ends in 3 hours).  standard systemdek ll's usually sell for <$300.  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5731155802

and there's an excellent cj walker cj61 (i owned the lesser cj55, & it's really nice), that will likely close on agon tonite for <$500.

an excellent micro seiki that sold for <$500:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=5732029836&rd=1

here's a *fantastic set-up, at $650, admittedly a bit more than $500:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64626&item=5729908434&rd=1

killer vintage empire, $400:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=48649&item=5731996414&rd=1

for $250, somebody *stole* this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=64626&item=3759736788&rd=1
i was gonna bid on it, but i recently got a vintage deck of my own     (the "bent stylus", btw, straightened out no problem - it's actually in really nice shape, & works fine):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5726066765

someone else got a great deal here:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1105805495

a good deal, still f/s (good deal, assuming the cartridge is in good shape):
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1105142009

another sleeper, only $350:
http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?anlgtabl&1104773748

these were found in <5 minutes.  w/careful searching & patience, ya can do quite a bit better than any p3 for $500...

doug s.

[mcrespo71]

these aren't delphi's, but they went for <$600. w/cartridge.  
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=5730993349&rd=1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=5730255752&rd=1

and, i have seen even delphi's sell for <$600, as well as lp12's & early well-tempered's...  of course if you have to have it *NOW*, you will pay a bit more.

here's a cool systemdek that will likely go for ~$500 (auction ends in 3 hours).  stand ...

It depends on your musical preferences whether all those tables are better than a Rega IMO.  My Dad has a Micro Seiki RX 1500 with vacum and while it is better on classical than the Rega, I'd take the Rega any day on rock.  I'd take an Oracle delph, Well Tempered,i or a Linn 1P 12 over the Rega at that price, but I think the Rega is far underrated because it's of the light/rigid camp and looks cheap.  Of course, my old rega lasted 15 years before I replaced it and I only had to change the belt, but people overlook reliability I guess and instead try to get massive looking tables.  I'm a big fan of the P3 at that price, if the cartridge is good and you listen to rock.  If you listen to other stuff (i.e., classical/chamber/vocal), it's still good, but I'd say it can be beat by other tables at audio criteria like soundstaging if that's a priority for you.

Michael

[doug s.]

doug s. wrote:
these aren't delphi's, but they went for <$600. w/cartridge.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=573 ...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3283&item=573 ...

and, i have seen even delphi's sell for <$600, as well as lp12's & early well-tempered's... of course if you have to have it *NOW*, you will pay a bit more.

here's a cool systemdek that will likely go for ~$500 (auction ends in 3 hours). stand ...


It depends on your musical preferences whether all those tables are better than a Rega IMO. My Dad has a Micro Seiki RX 1500 with vacum and while it is better on classical than the Rega, I'd take the Rega any day on rock. I'd take an Oracle delph, Well Tempered,i or a Linn 1P 12 over the Rega at that price, but I think the Rega is far underrated because it's of the light/rigid camp and looks cheap. Of course, my old rega lasted 15 years before I replaced it and I only had to change the belt, but people overlook reliability I guess and instead try to get massive looking tables. I'm a big fan of the P3 at that price, if the cartridge is good and you listen to rock. If you listen to other stuff (i.e., classical/chamber/vocal), it's still good, but I'd say it can be beat by other tables at audio criteria like soundstaging if that's a priority for you.

Michael

don't get me wrong - i also like the rega.  but, i still think all my above recommendations are better.  also, re: yer dad's micro-seiki 1500 not being as good on rock, well, i have never had the pleasure, but i highly suspect the cartridge being at play here.  that deck is universally recognized as being one of the all time greats...  no reason why it shouldn't rock, if set up for that.  for rock, btw, i'd take a technics sl1200 over a rega p3 as well...

ymmv,

doug s.

[mcrespo71]

Before this thread gets too off topic in splitting hairs over tables, one thing to consider is support if anything goes wrong.  I'm not sure where you are located, but before you buy anything too esoteric, make sure you can, if possible, get the turntable serviced in your town.  Shipping TT's is not fun at all and given the hell my father has had trying to get replacement parts for his Micro Seiki in Japan, I'd suggest looking at tables that are still being made or whose manufacturers/distributers can support them.  I'm not sure what decks your retailer carries, but if you aren't close to a big city, I'd consider this as a factor.  The Technics will obviously be supported for many years, as it is a DJ favorite.  Rega or Linn will obviously be around.

Michael

[doug s.]

Before this thread gets too off topic in splitting hairs over tables, one thing to consider is support if anything goes wrong.  I'm not sure where you are located, but before you buy anything too esoteric, make sure you can, if possible, get the turntable serviced in your town.  Shipping TT's is not fun at all and given the hell my father has had trying to get replacement parts for his Micro Seiki in Japan, I'd suggest looking at tables that are still being made or whose manufacturers/distributers can suppo ...

i agree w/this 100%.  and that's why i also said the initial p3 under consideration may not in fact be too over-priced, as it *is* from a dealer.

doug s.

[Christof]

Thanks guys, I think I'll let this P3 pass on by, there are plenty of tables on the market.  It seems like a fair asking price but not a bargain by any means.

Christof

[Rocket]

Hi Christof,

I think you did the right thing and not purchase the p3.  Rega's are good tables but i think the price was a bit too high and i think with a little searching you can purchase a better table.

regards

Rod

[audiochef]

If you take into consideration the upgradeability of the p3 ,it really can become a hell of a spinner .

For a few hundred dollars, vta adjust, counterweight, acrylic platter, mat ,Mobil 1, solid footers and bullet plugs.

My P3 amazes me every time I hear it.