when you A/B'd the P2 and the P3 did you use the same needle?

Max,

I would choose the P2 or P3 over the MMF 5, the Project arm on the Musichall is not that good and they are attached to the table in permanent fashion.

The Rega, on the other hand sports the RB 250 or the 300, these are really good arms for the price, you can also tweak and modify the arm by re-wiring it and adding a better counterweight. There are several other tweaks you can do to increase performance that you can easily find at Audio Asylum.

Goldring's aren't the best carts in the world either, they are okay, but you can beat them easily for less money spent.

M_a_x wrote:Instead of starting yet another turntable thread (there are tons) I thought I'd just hop on the end of one with my problem.
I'm looking for advice on purchasing a new turntable. I have about 6-700 dollars to do this with. Any search of turntable on here brings up people all shouting the praises of Rega...great, if you can get it? On eBay it is 90% Rega P1s for $350.00..are these that great? That's about all I can find in my price range.

Email this guy:

tmidgett wrote:
here's what rega's site sez:

The Sound Organisation is the US Distributor for Rega.
Please contact them for details of a Rega dealer near you.

The Sound Organisation

Stephen Daniels
11140 Petal Street
Suite 350
Dallas
Texas 75238

Tel: 001 972 234 0182

Fax: 001 972 234 0249

E-Mail: Steve [at] soundorg [dotttttt] com

That's what I did and he put me in touch with a Rega dealer here in Mpls. Assuming you're in or near a city, I'm sure there's a dealer close by.

The P3 was $695 when I got mine about a year ago. It's worth every penny. Obviously, you have to shell out for a decent cartridge, too but it's worth it.

Someone from this site turned me on to the Lenco l75 "idler wheel" rebuild I'm working on right now.

There suppose to be great if you want to do some DIY work.

Look em up

Brian

Again, I'm getting lots of recommendations for turntables that no longer exist. On one of the links given to me, the guy listed the P1 as turntable of the year (2006). Is it that good? Seems pretty inexpensive for turntable of the year.

---bump---

A little help, please.

I have a chance to pick up a lightly used VPI Scout with an Audioquest pt6 arm and an Ortofon x5 high-output MC cartridge for a total of $900.

This is quite a bit more than I wanted to spend on a turntable, but I'm seduced by the quality-to-price ratio. Is this a crazy good deal or should I pick up a used Rega P3 for a few hundred less?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

Redline wrote:geiginni wrote:

The problem with my current setup is it will not track the really hot dynamic parts well

Try 2 grams, really, it's ok. More damage is usually done to the groove walls by tracking too lightly.
You also may want to step up to one of the wood bodied Grado's, it made a world of difference for me.

Since this thread has been revived, I just wanted to second the wood-bodied Grados.

I just got a Grado Sonata. It's fantastic. Not cheap, but not riotously expensive for what it is, which is an awesome phono cartridge. I had a Shure V15vxMR for many years before this one, and there's no comparison between the two.

bri2u2002 wrote:Someone from this site turned me on to the Lenco l75 "idler wheel" rebuild I'm working on right now.

There suppose to be great if you want to do some DIY work.

Look em up

Brian

It was probably me, I have had two of them: the latest one is fairly massive, around eighty pounds or so.

The Lenco's are beginning to get expensive due to all the attention they are now receiving, so a lot of guys are turning to Rek o Kut's for a refurbish and modification job.

The old idlers are amazing TT's when done properly.

It is also interesting to note that both Teres and VPI are introducing idler systems that will 'upgrade' their present TT's.

Here is the Teres system:

http://www.teresaudio.com/verus-motor.html

They call it a direct-coupled drive system to avoid the idler stigma.

This looks like a potentially good buy...

bfields wrote:VPI Scout

Bfields, I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending you go for this if the initial outlay isn't going to be so much of a pinch for you (it's a *great* price btw.) VPI tables are uniformly excellent and the Scout is very well thought of. Rega P3s are fantastic value and not to be beaten at their price point but the VPI Scout is in another league.

I don't think you can lose, they hold their value should you wish to sell and although it's a hefty outlay it really will give you a lifetime of listening pleasure, worth every penny in my opinion.

EA forum use Redline raves about his VPI Aries Scout.