[Hank]

Several months ago I purchased a Rega Planar 3 off eBay.  It has an RB300 arm and no cart.
Given that it seems to beg for tweaks, I'm seriously considering them.  The tweaks: metal subplatter, a good acrylic platter, new arm wiring and some other tweaks (there's a UK guy on eBay who sells several tweak items).  If I add the table's cost and the cost of what looks like effective tweaks, I'll have invested as much or more than the cost of the Bix+, which really intrigues me.  BTW, does anyone own one or know someone who does?  I'd appreciate info on its performance.

Okay, let the advice flow forth and thanks in advance for it.

[Hank]

Okay, what did I do wrong?  I'm not an expert poster, just a speaker builder.  I will hook up my eventual turntable to my HH Scott gear:  I have my LK-48B that I built as a kit when I was about 16.  I've bought a 222C and a 229 and a couple of Scott tuners off eBay - I have re-capped the eBay 222.
Anyway, I am just looking for advice:  do I spend another sack of money tweaking the Rega, or buy a contemprary table?

Again, thanks in advance to you guys with the knowledge. 

[Nels Ferre]

You didn't do anything wrong, it's just the weekend and many are doing weekend activities. I have a nasty cold, so I am taking meds and surfing the boards. Fortunately, the cold isn't bothering my ears so I can listen to tunes. I'd still rather be going somewhere on my motorcycle.  Oh well, maybe next weekend.

On to your question. Between the Rega and the Bix, I'd most likely keep the Rega and do upgrades/tweaks as the budget allows. 

Or (I'm ready for the flames) skip both of those and go for a Technics 1200 and tweak that. There's lots of info on the Techics here. Build quality is in a different galaxy, you get better and more accurate speed stability, better isolation, and adjustable VTA without shims or adapters.  A rot rodded Rega still won't get you to the level of a base 1200, in my opinion.

Edit-when I say better isolation, I really mean from airborne vibrations, footfalls, etc., in other words, a better plinth. The BIX and Rega both on the surface have better motor isolation than the 1200 because they are not direct drive. The BIX will be the technical winner here because of its outboard motor and string drive. That outboard motor is a pain in the ass though- if you move the motor slightly when turning the unit on or off, you have changed the speed of the platter.  In real world use, the Technics should be quieter all around due to superior engineering. No one in the "high end" has the capital to engineer anything that good overall today, certainly not for a table you can buy (in base form) for $399 delivered.

This comes from someone that once owned a Planar 2 (a couple of friends, also reviwewers, called it a tinker toy.) The best part of a Rega is the arm (which still needs mods to be at its best.) I still use that arm on another table today.

If I was starting from scratch (no pun intended) I'd go for a 1200 myself.

[lcrim]

There really isn't a good answer.  I am not a big fan of the Rega decks but as the Facilitator, I try not to allow that to color my judgement.  There are many guys here that like them and as a starting point, the amount of available upgrades and tweaks for these decks, as you pointed out, can be costly but ultimately you end up with a nice sounding player.  Would you be better off selling it and trying something else?  I  feel you must answer that yourself.  
I had an older P3 w/ an SME Series III arm for a while and it got me started but it was ultimately unsatisfying.  Maybe it was the arm, perhaps it was something else.  I do know that the Rega's are a popular starting point.  The arms work decently but do lack adjustment out of the box.  Perhaps someone else can chime in and refute my opinions.    
Good luck and check back in and let us know how it turned out.

[Wayner]

I bought my Rega because it's part of audio history. If you want a tinker toy, get an AR-XA. Yes, the Rega has some bad points about it. It certainly takes awhile to get up to speed for starters, and has few adjustments as others have chimed in on. But, with the right cartridge it certainly is listenable. No, it's certainly not my main table but I look at tables differently than others here at AC. I veiw them like guitars. They all sound different, too.

I have been thinking about some of the avalible teaks like the all metal subplatter. Is it really going to smooth the speed fluctuation out. I haven't really heard any bad fluctuation. The cartridge I put in all but solved the need to adjust VTA.

I don't have the answers, either. I'm just going to listen for awhile and see what happens.

W 

[Nels Ferre]

I bought my Rega because it's part of audio history. If you want a tinker toy, get an AR-XA. Yes, the Rega has some bad points about it. It certainly takes awhile to get up to speed for starters, and has few adjustments as others have chimed in on. But, with the right cartridge it certainly is listenable. No, it's certainly not my main table but I look at tables differently than others here at AC. I veiw them like guitars. They all sound different, too.



W 

Wayner,

I didn't mean the "tinker toy" remark as an insult. Please don't take it that way. You have to agree that other than the arm, there really isn't a whole lot to a Rega 2 or 3. 

Agreed on the AR XA, but tinker toy is being far to generous.   

[linkweewee]

I bought my Rega because it's part of audio history. If you want a tinker toy, get an AR-XA. Yes, the Rega has some bad points about it. It certainly takes awhile to get up to speed for starters, and has few adjustments as others have chimed in on. But, with the right cartridge it certainly is listenable. No, it's certainly not my main table but I look at tables differently than others here at AC. I veiw them like guitars. They all sound different, too.

I have been thinking about some of the avalible teaks like the all metal subplatter. Is it really going to smooth the speed fluctuation out. I haven't really heard any bad fluctuation. The cartridge I put in all but solved the need to adjust VTA.

I don't have the answers, either. I'm just going to listen for awhile and see what happens.

W 

Wayner-I have the P3 with upgraded everything and the subplatter upgrade would be the one I would do before any others. Gandy and Company have been making these decks for a zillion years so I'm thinking maybe he got something right somewhere down the line considering how many people really like the P3. Tinker Toy or not, I enjoy the heck out of spinning vinyl on mine along with the AT 440Mla...

[Wayner]

Nels,

Not an insult at all. These machines are what they are. Most people with good common sense will recognize their weekness within a short time. Compared to my Empire 598 and VPi, the Rega is in third place for a lot of reasons. I still love it for what it is....an isn't!!!

Have a good one.

W  aa

[Wayner]

Linkweewee,

I may splurge for the subplatter as now I have almost $800 into the damn thing. I do like the sound though. Money....what the hell.

Wayner

[TONEPUB]

The subplatter is the best upgrade you can do to the rega.
It cleans up the presentation a lot...

I'm using the new P3-24 with the Groovetracer subplatter
and a Grado Statement.  It's very musical.

[Hank]

Thanks guys!  I'm on the fence.  Not a lot of time to tweak (there's those HH Scott amps lying around, plust a couple of Scott tuners, and a new Chinese tube amp, plus I just got a quote request for som A/V-1 speakers).  It would be easy to buy a 1200 with the dampening fluid option and be done with it.  I do notice quite a bit of discussion of that line of KAB tables on here. 
Know of anyone who wants a Rega?  I do like the looks of the RB300 arm and understand it is a fine arm with perhaps a rewire.  Decisions, decisions...
Anyway, thanks again - I may take a while to decide.