Turntable advice

[9091craig]

I'm in the market for a turntable with a budget of around £500. Most web searches on the subject point me down the Rega Planar 2 or 3 road but I'm open to any suggestions and/or advice. Many thanks in advance!:)

[hifi_dave]

If you want new, then you won't find better than the Rega Planar-3. IMO.

[wee tee cee]

Im pretty new to vinyl-bought a rp1 then the upgrade pack.

Just bought brand new vinyl to play my favourite albums on special occasions.

I took it across to Brians place just to see how it compared to his pimped lenco.

I was terribly dissapointed...the lenco was as good as his digital set up-maybe better in some respects.

The rega resides in the cellar....i will ensure it finds a good home!!!

A lenco gl75 now resides in my main system!!!!

For plug and play rega is spot on.

Hi fi Dave knows his stuff the rega kit is great hi fi and great value.

All my years on AOS ive never seen Dave try to make a sale....just help folk enjoy their music more.

Just my experience.....

Hope your journey runs smooth......

[paulf-2007]

If you want new, then you won't find better than the Rega Planar-3. IMO.
I think you meant better value Dave, personally I don't rate Rega much, kind of ok is all.

[paulf-2007]

I'm in the market for a turntable with a budget of around £500. Most web searches on the subject point me down the Rega Planar 2 or 3 road but I'm open to any suggestions and/or advice. Many thanks in advance!:)
I would go used direct drive or idler drive and probably expect to upgrade along the way, A lenco with a better arm and a nice Shure cart should get you something way beyond a Rega. Or a jap direct drive.

[hifi_dave]

Everyone has an opinion. I base mine on selling more brands of turntables over 40+ years than I care to recall and working on numerous others.

Rega are great value, great performance, reliable and great backup. I don't know of better around the OPs £500 budget.

[Phil Bishop]

Everyone has an opinion. I base mine on selling more brands of turntables over 40+ years than I care to recall and working on numerous others.

Rega are great value, great performance, reliable and great backup. I don't know of better around the OPs £500 budget.

+1 with the caveat that I think the Rega MM cartridges let the side down a bit.

[Firebottle]

I would go used .. idler drive and probably expect to upgrade along the way, A lenco with a better arm .....

Personally I think the standard arm on the Lenco GL75 gets a bad press.

Providing the V blocks are replaced (any originals will be knackered by now) the GL75 will give a superb performance with a medium compliance cartridge.
I run mine with a ZYX R-100 and the sound is stunning if you have quality amplification.

:D

[Bigman80]

If you're set on a belt drive, these can be found for around £500 used.

http://www.inspirehifi.co.uk/quest.html

I had one. It was amazing and I totally underappreciated it when I had it.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Cycleallday]

Everyone has an opinion. I base mine on selling more brands of turntables over 40+ years than I care to recall and working on numerous others.

Rega are great value, great performance, reliable and great backup. I don't know of better around the OPs £500 budget.

I totally agree with you Dave.

I bought one new last year when I also had a Linn, 401, 1210 and Michell.

The Rega has stayed and the Linn and 401 have gone to pastures new - its just a good simple deck when used with a Rega cart.

Too many others need 'enhancing' to reach equivalent sound.

As said we all have out own views on kit.

Mel

[Phil Bishop]

Personally I think the standard arm on the Lenco GL75 gets a bad press.

Providing the V blocks are replaced (any originals will be knackered by now) the GL75 will give a superb performance with a medium compliance cartridge.
I run mine with a ZYX R-100 and the sound is stunning if you have quality amplification.

:D

I am not really qualified to comment here - I once owned about 20 Lencos, GL75s, GL78s, GL59s, GL70s and even a 60 :lol:

I totally agree about the GL75 with a sorted arm - new V-blocks available on eBay. They sound superb.

However, you have to know what you are doing - they are old now and the electrics concerned me a bit.

I now have a couple of Regas and they suit my needs perfectly :-) I did love those Lencos though. A mate and I restored a couple of old ones - they looked and sounded AMAZING. Loved them with 78s :-)

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4200/34829407202_c6b1099b96_k.jpg

Phil

[tapid]

Another call for Lenco 75, a well sourced one for great value and sound, me thinks. Good luck

[paulf-2007]

The electrics on a lenco couldn't be simpler and the motors are built to last.

[Haselsh1]

Before I had even read any of the comments on here I was immediately thinking Rega RP3. It's even available in bright red :eyebrows:

[Phil Bishop]

Before I had even read any of the comments on here I was immediately thinking Rega RP3. It's even available in bright red :eyebrows:

My RP6s are in green and red :eek:

[steve-z]

I’ve had a 2016 model Planar 3 for almost a year now, I think it’s an excellent deck and probably the sweet spot in the range for VFM, as Phil rightly said avoid the Rega MMs, for someone who isn’t adept at aligning cartridges then the 3 point mounting does make them pretty well idiot proof but the SQ leaves something to be desired, put on a Nagaoka MP110, a Denon DL110 or as I’ve done an Audio Technica ATF7 LOMC, they all work well in the excellent RB330 arm which is the real star of the deck, don’t waste money on the TTPSU as it makes no difference to the SQ at all, it’s just for lazy people who can’t make the effort to move the drive belt to play a 45.


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[shane]

A couple of alternative ideas.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 332463096490

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F 382295877196

[9091craig]

Thanks Dave. If I go for the RP3, is the Elys 2 cartridge good or would you recommend something else that won't break the bank? Also, are the cables worth replacing?

[martian sunrise]

I've still got my Sony PS-6750 for sale ,if you are interested...

[hifi_dave]

Thanks Dave. If I go for the RP3, is the Elys 2 cartridge good or would you recommend something else that won't break the bank? Also, are the cables worth replacing?

90% of the P3s I have sold have gone as a package with the Elys-2 and all are content. Alternatives include the Rega Exact and the new Audio Technica 7 series if you want a brighter delivery.

[hermano]

I'm in the market for a turntable with a budget of around £500. Most web searches on the subject point me down the Rega Planar 2 or 3 road but I'm open to any suggestions and/or advice. Many thanks in advance!:)

Don't know if any use to you, but I have a sealed box Pro-Ject PS01-Wave by Parov Stelar (never opened) http://www.project-audio.com/main.php?prod=ps01-wave.
Was given to me as a present but decided not to use it as own TT is still ok.