Head is spinning with wretched Turntable Upgrade Indecision - help!

[andybee33]

Hello all,

I'm a frequent lurker but very infrequent poster here - mostly as I seldom have anything intelligent to say :)

I've been driving myself mad lately trying to figure out how to approach a turntable upgrade and I'm just going round in circles, so I thought I'd ask in the hope of some fresh input.

I currently have 2 turntables (though I don't really need to have two) - they are as follows:

1) An old (1995 or so) Rega Planar 3 fitted with an SRM silent base, white drive belt, SRM/Tech mat and bearing and a Goldring 1012 cart/stylus. Standard RB300 arm which is really getting on for needing a rewire. I play this through headphones (Sennheiser HD650s) via a Rega Phono Amp and a Little Dot Valve headphone amp.

2) An even older but MUCH loved Pink Triangle Little Pink Thing - totally standard with a Rega/Moth arm and an Audio Technica AT120E cart. I play this (infrequently as I'm scared of burning out the electrics!) via my main system which is a Rokasn Kandy K2 Amp and Power Amp - bi-amping a pair of Roksan Caspian FR5 speakers (I do like Roksan stuff).

Anyway, I have a bit of 'silly' money to do some upgrading at the moment (maybe £1000 or so) but I'm not getting anywhere figuring out what to do. I love the LPT but, in practise, I probably can't upgrade it much. The Rega is really at the end of it upgrade path. I keep thinking it might be time for a 'proper' suspended turntable (maybe a Gyro SE or a used LP12 or Xerxes) but to get one of those and a worthy arm and cart is a bit of a stretch. I've also been looking at arm upgrades (rather than rewiring my RB300) and really like the look of the Audiomods Mk4 and Mk5 arms.

In a hypothetical dream scenario, there would be some things I could do to the LPT to make it even more great but preserve its looks and character (and maybe give it some suspension). However, in the real world, I wonder if adding a fancy arm and cart to the LPT would give me the best sonic bang for my buck.

So - some fresh ideas about how to approach this issue would be really appreciated. My goal is to have the best overall sound I can manage using (or selling) what I've already got and adding some extra cash. I don't need to end up with 2 turntables at the end of it - but boy would I miss the LPT - I just think they are so cool! :D

HELP!

Thanks and regards,

Andy

[struth]

Both decent decks Andy. you could sell one and use it along with the cash you'll have to upgrade the TT. I would certainly think about bettering your cart and Phono stage as well... maybe try that first in fact, as they will still be usable if you then decide to upgrade the TT.
Lots of good tt's come up for sale here. maybe you should also see if there are any AOS members in your vicinity that do analogue and go have a listen to their gear and see if you like.
Just a few ideas.
cheers, and happy hunting.

[DiveDeepDog]

You need to hear some alternative TT's, I really believe the upgrade path starts there. For example I'm pretty sure LP12 with Basik arm would sound better than Rega 3 with Audiomods V?
You could look for a better PT that had suspension to begin with?

Personally, I like idler drives (particularly Garrards) you'd get a 401 + plinth for well under £1k. It'll need some care and attention and time, but far from impossible.

[Andrei]

What an intriguing post Andy! No matter what you do I would be interested to know how it ends up. I am not a TT guru despite my enthusiasm so I can only make a few generic comments.
First, see if you can make contact with Richard. His handle is 'Oldpinkman'. He is a great bloke and very knowledgeable in general and is the resident Pink Triangle guru. I am positive he can help if it comes to enhancing your PT.
Second, consider a power-supply upgrade if that is possible. With a TT you really want that platter spinning at a stable speed and good power is fundamental.
Third, having noticed that you are considering a fresh start, have a long browse around the Techiepedia http://theartofsound.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?46-The-Techiepedia . The Technics SL1200 / SL1210 turntable will hit you like a breath of fresh air as it is a direct drive. The nice thing about these babies is that they sound great straight out of the box - oops, you can only get them second hand, but what I mean is that they are an excellent TT without any mods. The wonderful thing about these babies is you can take take their performance to a truly high-end level. But best of all you can do this at your own pace. You mod the isolation, you mod the mat, the tonearm and/or headshell, the power supply, the platter ... and so it goes. A brand new bearing will only set you back a few quid. They were so well built that getting an 'old one' is hardly relevant. (Having said that though - go for a MK5g if you can. They look cooler and have better internal tonearm wiring).
Finally, if you can post a couple of pics of the PT, that would be welcome!

[jandl100]

An interesting conundrum, Andy. :)

So - you're scared to use the LPT but love it anyway.
OK - keep it as an ornament, sell the Rega and buy something better with the available funds. :thumbsup:

Personally, I'm a deranged devotee of Japanese direct drives, so that's the direction I would go in. And I'd definitely put an MC cartridge on it.
In fact, just changing the Goldring 1012 on your Rega for something better (e.g. Dynavector 10X5, Denon 103) would work wonders and would leave £££ to spare!

But yes, a used Michell Gyro, for example, with suitable arm and a MC cartridge would also be great but might stretch your budget.

But don't forget that whatever you do you'll need a decent phonostage to make the most of them.

[Clive197]

First, see if you can make contact with Richard. His handle is 'Oldpinkman'. He is a great bloke and very knowledgeable in general and is the resident Pink Triangle guru. I am positive he can help if it comes to enhancing your PT.


Andrei, don't you remember, Marco had the OLDPINKMAN taken out and shot. He is no longer with us, he's extinct, shuffled his AOL coil, a non-resident Pink Triangle guru, a stand up guy no more, we all miss him (some more than others).

[andybee33]

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the useful comments and advice thus far! I agree that the first thing I need to do is go an listen to some other turntables. I found a place called Inspire Hifi (http://www.inspirehifi.co.uk) quite close to me. Does anyone here know them? They do Rega (and other) upgrade packages as well as a number of other turntables (most of which I've never heard of). I plan to call over there with my Planar 3 and do some back to back listening.

Interesting to see that a few people suggested a better phono stage and/or an MC cart. I've always been terrified of MC carts - mostly because when I found out about them (as a student with my first Planar 2) they all seemed to be impossibly expensive. I've actually got an Ortofon MC15 Super II sitting in my drawer (that came with the LPT) but I haven't been able to use it as I have no MC phono preamp.

Cheers for now,

Andy

[MikeMusic]

Well you are in the land of the Tech
Thought about a 1210 ?
That can be bought 2nd hand for sensible money and modded as far as you want to go, then modded again when more dough becomes available.
I'm sold on them

[Gordon Steadman]

Andrei, don't you remember, Marco had the OLDPINKMAN taken out and shot. He is no longer with us, he's extinct, shuffled his AOL coil, a non-resident Pink Triangle guru, a stand up guy no more, we all miss him (some more than others).

I think you will find that redemption is possible and an armistice is in operation.

He's in France at the mo but does have some internet time occasionally. I assume he will be back next week but it may be a longer holiday.

[Marco]

Indeed... The Pinkster is alive & kicking, and in da house! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[fiddlemaker]

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the useful comments and advice thus far! I agree that the first thing I need to do is go an listen to some other turntables. I found a place called Inspire Hifi (http://www.inspirehifi.co.uk) quite close to me. Does anyone here know them? They do Rega (and other) upgrade packages as well as a number of other turntables (most of which I've never heard of). I plan to call over there with my Planar 3 and do some back to back listening.

Interesting to see that a few people suggested a better phono stage and/or an MC cart. I've always been terrified of MC carts - mostly because when I found out about them (as a student with my first Planar 2) they all seemed to be impossibly expensive. I've actually got an Ortofon MC15 Super II sitting in my drawer (that came with the LPT) but I haven't been able to use it as I have no MC phono preamp.

Cheers for now,

Andy

I used a Rega 3 for several years after selling my LP12 due to a period of skintness.
In my opinion, both these decks are ridiculously overrated, and easily bettered without spending much money, particularly if you buy secondhand. The Linn is no better than a Thorens 150 or 160, and the Rega is a good advert for digital audio.
Wouldn't bother with "upgrade packages" if I were you. Far better to sell and get something better, IMO.

[NRG]

+1 What sensible advise! Also, never put a 103 on the end of a Rega arm....please promise! ;)

[Andrei]

Andrei, don't you remember, Marco had the OLDPINKMAN taken out and shot. He is no longer with us, he's extinct, shuffled his AOL coil, a non-resident Pink Triangle guru, a stand up guy no more, we all miss him (some more than others).
:lol:

Indeed... The Pinkster is alive & kicking, and in da house! :eyebrows:
Marco.

The greatest comeback since Lazarus.

[synsei]

...and the Rega is a good advert for digital audio.

I thought that was a wee bit harsh ........ shortly after picking myself up off the floor... :D

[paskinn]

I think you are a 'Pink' man at heart, and you should follow your heart. The Pinks are perfectly serviceable and among the best sounding decks you can get. My own approach would be to sell both decks and buy a good PT11 or even an Anniversary, if you can stretch to that. For me, these decks outclass all the cheap direct drives and old idler wheel thingees by a clear margin. A mid-range to die for. The Pinks are also ideal for a longer term upgrade to an SME arm.
Don't be timid, it's just a hobby, no one gets shot. And one other thought, if you do get a good suspended Pink deck, never allow Arthur to talk you into costly 'mods', Pinks have their own integrity which should be respected. Wish I'd never sold my wonderful Anniversary.
Good luck, it's just fun.....

[Marco]

Hi Peter,

Nice to see you checking in... May I draw your attention to this post (and the discussion before it): http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?33294-What-is-your-last-Turntable-going-to-be&p=570482#post570482

;)

Marco.

[Tarzan]

I think you are a 'Pink' man at heart, and you should follow your heart. The Pinks are perfectly serviceable and among the best sounding decks you can get. My own approach would be to sell both decks and buy a good PT11 or even an Anniversary, if you can stretch to that. For me, these decks outclass all the cheap direct drives and old idler wheel thingees by a clear margin. A mid-range to die for. The Pinks are also ideal for a longer term upgrade to an SME arm.
Don't be timid, it's just a hobby, no one gets shot. And one other thought, if you do get a good suspended Pink deck, never allow Arthur to talk you into costly 'mods', Pinks have their own integrity which should be respected. Wish I'd never sold my wonderful Anniversary.
Good luck, it's just fun.....

Ah, the PT Anni, my goodness me what a T/T that was, incredible sounding.:eek:

[andybee33]

Hi again folks,

Thanks again for the comments. They have been very helpful. So much so in fact, that I've figured out exactly what I want to do and I've even started doing it. Here goes.

The Little Pink Thing is staying. Peter is right, I love it. However, it's moving from my main system, where it sees little use, to a new 'all period' system I'm setting up in our games room. I'm thinking maybe a Musical Fidelity A1 or something and god knows what late 80s/early 90s speakers. Part of the appeal of the LPT is the nostalgia and I'm looking forward to putting a new system together that is all of that era - just for fun. If I ever upgrade the LPT it will be for another PT deck.

The Rega is gone! I went to Inspire Hifi today and had a listen to some of their in house decks and also their upgraded LP12. I was frankly very impressed with both but, in the end (I'm surprised to say) I thought the 'Vivid' LP12 setup was just lovely, so I bought one! For the time being I'm keeping the RB300 arm off my Rega (to keep the costs down a bit). Can always upgrade it in the future.

The little dot headphone amp is going on eBay. Why did I build a headphone only system anyway? Daft.

So there we have it - a lovely new turntable for main hifi which I can upgrade with better arm and cart as funds allow and a cool new project to reunite the LPT with hardware from its own time and vibe. It will need to be quite low cost, as I'm now skint, but happily so.

All the best,

Andy

[walpurgis]

Nice one Andy.

Robert Isherwood is a decent guy to do business with and his products are very attractive. Bet you really are skint though! :)

[paskinn]

Good luck, it all sounds rather promising....and the new deck should give many years of fun.

[struth]

great stuff mate:cool: