No Rega people here? Hmmm what a shame because these tables just sound very, very good. I went with the Rega P5. Getting bored I needed a change from my Basis 1400/Rb300 combo I have had for awhile now. I have had a P3 many moons ago with the RB300 Arm it was enjoyable and kept your attention.
I looked at and originally wanted the KAB Technics 1210, then a VPI Scout, and finally the Rega series in particular the P5 and P7. All of them got great reviews and been around for quite some time now. The audiophile in me chose the P5 (used) with the optional TT PS and eliminated the KAB Technics. The VPI upgrade path does not and has never turned me on. I had a HW19 MKIII, this no matter what the tables sound like afterwards with upgrades always translated to big bucks. Figuring in the costs of the upgrades even over time you can have a much better table to begin with by just re-selling the VPI and even buying another VPI someone else upgraded. The best way to buy VPI is used and partially loaded. This upgrading is a turn off for me and others too I have read.
The light weight P5 has a liveliness, and tone correctness that translates to a very satisfying experience especially for the cost. This table "boogies!"It does have that over used term PRAT. Yes, and more so than with the Basis 1400. Piano is some of the best I have heard on the P5 no doubt because of the external regulated PS. The VPI with out regulation did not get piano very good. It would cost $1G to fix that buying the STS.
I'm using my Dynavector 10X5 and it is a nice match for a super easy setup. I was surprised using 2 of 2mm spacers it was right on sound wise and set up wise. NO messing with it. In fact I don't know if I can stand not messing with anything on this table. One other thing mentioned in the reviews. There is "astonishingly" little groove noise. This must be to the credit of the RB700 arm.It is actually intriguing that this table is capable of all this.
As I have read and agree for now, the Rega P5 is a package as is and should not be upgraded by any of the after market upgrades they have out there which might change the original Rega intended sound. So be it for awhile. From the start of this if I didn't like it I would just turn it around and re-sell it. But for now it stays and is a recommended listen to anyone looking in the price class. It is a very engaging table. As usual my dsclaimer, YMMV!
D
