Rega Neo User Review

[cjm123]

Hi Guys,

I have a 2016 model Planar 3/Elys 2 and have been wondering whether the Neo would be a worthwhile improvement:hmm:. IMHO Rega have pretty well got the speed stability sorted in the 2016 stock Planar 3 and as I don't use 45s the electronic speed change was not a big deal to me however I thought the lower motor noise might be beneficial.

So I took some soundings from knowledgeable friends and and the consensus seemed to be yes it is an upgrade but don't expect a night and day improvement. As I was unconvinced I let it go until by chance I came across a used one for under half price and thought it was worth a punt.

Once I got it and as it was used I reset it to the original factory settings, hooked it up and as predicted did not hear major improvements except in bass articulation and definition which was obviously better. Anyway after a few days use it seemed to significantly improve with a cleaner more precise presentation across the bandwidth and notably better rhythm and timing so if anything the trademark Rega joie de vivre sound is enhanced a bit. It is also easier to follow an instrument even in complex mixes.

It runs with the case just warm to the touch but not hot and does not cause any hum issues in my experience.

In this day of megabucks prices for marginal if any real sonic improvements IMHO the Neo delivers a genuine and significant improvement at a typically reasonable Rega price. So for any of you Planar 3 owners out there thinking of a Neo as an upgrade it is IMHO well worthwhile giving it a try. So well done Rega!:thumbsup:

:cheers:

Chris

[walpurgis]

What's a Rega Neo? An intro followed by a description might be good. Some may wish to know function, spec and price too.

[Stryder5]

Power supplier!

Gary


What's a Rega Neo? An intro followed by a description might be good. Some may wish to know function, spec and price too.

[walpurgis]

Power supplier!

Gary

Is that the same thing as a power supply? And would it be a linear type or an SMPS?

[Shovel_Knight]

It's a quartz-based sine wave generator supplying clean 24V AC to the motor.

[hifi_dave]

And very effective it is too. Also reasonably priced.

[cjm123]

..sorry guys. I thought most on AOS would know it is a Rega turntable PSU. Thanks for the timely reminder not to make assumptions:)..so I will go to the bottom of the class ..again!:doh:

Chris

[hifi_dave]

Anyone interested in Rega turntables would most likely know what a Neo is.

[Stryder5]

Yes.

Gary



Is that the same thing as a power supply? And would it be a linear type or an SMPS?

[Stryder5]

I’m there too :)


Gary


..sorry guys. I thought most on AOS would know it is a Rega turntable PSU. Thanks for the timely reminder not to make assumptions:)..so I will go to the bottom of the class ..again!:doh:

Chris

[steve-z]

I’ve had a Rega P3 2016 now for over 2 years, I bought it second hand at less than 6 months old, it came with Ely’s 2 and TTPSU. I too don’t have many 45s in fact 3 so electronic speed change was not a necessity, if I’d have been buying the P3 new I wouldn’t have bought the TTPSU at all. Lots of users online always quote adding the TTPSU as the first thing in the upgrade path for the P3, because of this I conducted extensive comparative listening tests over a period of several days to evaluate if there was any improvement to the sound quality using the TTPSU, I also did speed tests with an iPhone app as well as with a strobe disc and strobe light. The results were disappointing inasmuch as I could detect no differences either in sound quality or absolute speed or W&F, for that reason I sold on the TTPSU. In my experience the first useful thing that can be done to improve the P3 is to upgrade the subplatter to a machined aluminium one such as the one I purchased from 33RPM Engineering limited for just over £50, that did give a perceptible improvement in SQ which I can only put down to a reduction in measured W&F which the change of subplatter coupled with the change to an Edwards Audio Little Belter Blue Drive belt has produced. Buying the Neo by my estimation is only really worth it if you’re someone who constantly swaps from LP to 45s, I believe there is speed adjustment on the Neo which could be useful if your deck doesn’t revolve at 33.33RPM, as it happens in its current form mine is spot on to within 0.01RPM and W&F is around 0.1% using the standard wall wart PSU which is as good as the majority of belt drives.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200114/dd93c49fdd26db82c601ac67458aabb5.jpg

Picture taken before Blue belt added.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[oldson]

after reading only good things about the neo, i have just ordered one.
steve-z , yours is the first negative comment i have read so far.
not having a dig, btw, its good that you give your honest opinion.
i will have to do similar tests as you have and hear for myself.
i have also just received a new sub-platter from Ben at 33rpm engineering. i could not find a dealer for the "little belter" so took the plunge and ordered a rega belt (the one they recommend for use with the neo).
it will be interesting to see if i notice any SQ improvement with this lot, though i will be a tad disappointed if i dont.
so far the only upgrade i have done is replacing the elys2 with an exact and i can say that was a huge difference to my ears.

[archiesdad]

Got a link to the firm? Can only find tube links but nothing their products. Ta.

[hifi_dave]

www.rega.co.uk

[archiesdad]

www.rega.co.uk

Ta, but sorry should have made it clear I meant 33rpm engineering with regards to products mentioned by ‘oldson’

[oldson]

Ta, but sorry should have made it clear I meant 33rpm engineering with regards to products mentioned by ‘oldson’

https://www.fidelitydesignsltd.co.uk/subplatters/subplatters.html

there you go :thumbsup:


love the avatar btw

[archiesdad]

Thanks muchly.

[oldson]

have done some AB testing now and i believe i can hear a sonic improvement with the Neo. mostly lower noise floor.
have also added an acryllic platter from 33rpm, its roughly 25mm thick and was not cheap but again added further improvements.

most people would have advised me to just upgrade to an rp6, which is probably the right advice. but i like to tinker.