I used to quite like Rega, but...

[bigmoog]

I have rega a rb250 and 300 and a 1998 version of the Planet CDP, none are in use but I keep them, as they represent, for me, high quality 'budget' equipment that have given me musical pleasure for reasonable outlay - I always thought Rega offered a real 'you get what you pay for' item....but there's no way I would lay upwards of 6k on any new CDplayer or TT unless they:

1: Were 'worth' the money in engineering and sound quality over and above any rival

2: didnt come with any marketingspin or flatearth propeller headisms


still, I wish Rega luck

[DSJR]

Back in the bad old days, we at Studio 99 were often criticised for not allowing those who could afford it (the Hampstead crowd) the means to "upgrade..." We had the Linn/Naim active 'Briks and that was that - oh, for bass freaks, we had the KEF 107's and we minions were permitted to stock the now forgotten Nakamichi pre's and power's, the latter based on the Threshold Stasis circuit and giving a refreshing change from the up-front harshness that was Naim CB style and the muted grainy deadness which was late-eighties Linn.

Whatever, we could have sold the full Absolute Sounds portfolio instead of a few Sonus Faber speakers and Koetsu cartridges and whether they were better or worse than Naim, it could have saved the business in turnover until the big Naim stuff came out in any case. Naimies buy Naim regardless, the same as Linnies and Beopeople do...

I wish Rega well. They obviously feel (rightly perhaps) that the bottom end of the enthusiast market isn't a stable place to be - they're selling loads of turntables again, but for how long (and I'm asking that genuinely, as the used market is so strong) and maybe feel that there are enough fans of the brand who'll spend the extra and stay loyal... I'm told the new Elicit is very good at the price, maybe this has given them an incentive?

[MartinT]

Back in the bad old days, we at Studio 99

Was that in Camden High Street? If so, I bought a Michell Syncro from there a lifetime ago.

[Marco]

I always thought Rega offered a real 'you get what you pay for' item....but there's no way I would lay upwards of 6k on any new CDplayer or TT unless they:

1: Were 'worth' the money in engineering and sound quality over and above any rival

2: didnt come with any marketingspin or flatearth propeller headisms

I completely agree with Jonathan, especially with the bit in bold.

Quite simply, building a genuinely high quality, 'no-compromise' turntable is more of an engineering challenge/exercise than anything else, simply because turntables are mechanical devices with many moving parts. Therefore, it's no surprise that the truly best sounding examples of the breed are statements of serious engineering practice.

In that respect, it's no accident that the likes of Garrard 301s, Technics SP10s (both when in suitable plinths), EMTs and SME30s (the latter you undoubtedly pay handsomely for) outperform much of the competition and are up there with the very best turntables ever made. Observe also models near the top of their ranges from the likes of Kuzma, Clearaudio and Brinkmann, and it is obvious how much of these designs are based on solid engineering principles and practice.

I'm afraid the harsh reality is that Rega, as good a company as they are in their own field, do not have anything like the engineering expertise, or required tooling, at their fingertips of the companies who produced/are producing the turntables above, and so when it comes to charging (if it in fact becomes reality) in excess of £6k for one of their designs, what exactly are you getting for your money in terms of serious engineering?

I'm sorry, but the (now removed) picture of the suggested prototype, or anything resembling it, is in that respect but a toy in comparison with the above mentioned turntable designs, and would certainly not qualify in my book as being anything worthy of a £6k price tag. Certainly not if No1 highlighted in Jonathan's list above is the most important consideration - and for the most discerning audio enthusiasts it always will be. For £6k+ I want something that's engineered to the most exacting standards and built like a brick shithouse, weighs a ton accordingly, and addresses speed stability to the nth degree of accuracy - all of which go some way towards ensuring serious performance.

I've no doubt however that whatever new flagship turntable Rega release onto the market will be considerably superior to anything they've produced before, and undoubtedly will compete very favourably with designs from other manufacturers who occupy the same league in terms of engineering prowess, so that in itself will be an achievement, but in terms of competing with the big boys in their playground, Rega will always be the little boy watching enviously from the sidelines...

I wish Rega all the best with their new high-end product, whatever it may be, but I'm afraid that it will never be taken seriously by the cognoscenti who know what it really takes to make a genuinely high-end turntable worthy of a £6k+ price tag. However, if it's any consolation to Rega fans, I'd have any turntable that they produced for £6k long before I'd have the equivalent from Linn!

Marco.

[DSJR]

Was that in Camden High Street? If so, I bought a Michell Syncro from there a lifetime ago.

Camden High Street was either Nicholas HiFi (seventies/early eighties) or Subjective Audio (eighties/early nineties?) IIRC. "Our" main shop was in Swiss Cottage (now a totally different "solus" B&O franchise) and the second shop where I worked for many years is also now a B&O only franchise.


It's interesting to see so few of the first wave of Linn/Naim dealers still around and/or selling these brands. Not surprising I suppose as the hippies who started these businesses are now retiring age..

[hifi_dave]

Camden High Street was either Nicholas HiFi (seventies/early eighties) or Subjective Audio (eighties/early nineties?) IIRC. "Our" main shop was in Swiss Cottage (now a totally different "solus" B&O franchise) and the second shop where I worked for many years is also now a B&O only franchise.


It's interesting to see so few of the first wave of Linn/Naim dealers still around and/or selling these brands. Not surprising I suppose as the hippies who started these businesses are now retiring age..

Cheeky ass*le.

[Marco]

Hey, there's nowt wrong with hippies!

Marco.

[MartinT]

Camden High Street was either Nicholas HiFi (seventies/early eighties) or Subjective Audio (eighties/early nineties?) IIRC. "Our" main shop was in Swiss Cottage (now a totally different "solus" B&O franchise) and the second shop where I worked for many years is also now a B&O only franchise.

Ah, thanks for that. It was Subjective Audio I was thinking of. I do also remember visiting Studio 99 in Swiss Cottage as I was always there visiting friends.

[niklasthedolphin]

First of all, Rega makes very great sounding arms when mounted on matching high end soft hanging suspended TT's with wooden plinth.

Second, a weak motor pulling the platter with a belt, basically has a far better chance of sounding great than DD. At least the best belt driven are far better sounding than any DD.

Third, Rega made/makes great entry level TT's, just like Technics did. Just forget Rega's attempts of making high end TT's and also forget any claims of Technics being anything but entry level.

"dolph"

[Marco]

HAHAHAHAHA... Whatever you say, Dolph!!

Marco.