View Full Version : Rega older RP8 or latest P6?
after going round and round in circles (no pun intended) trying to decide on an upgrade path from my modded RP3, i have finally got it down to a choice of 2.
the older RP8 that still has the outer plinth and hinged lid or the latest version P6.
just interested on views of which one to go for?
Probably depend on rest of your system to an extent, and what it'll sit on and where.
the deck will be on a wall mount. speakers also on wall brackets.
my, very modest, system is listed in my sig.
its a fairly small room i listen, unfortunately.
They say to keep regas away from speakers so as long as the wall is solid and speakers are not too close should be ok.
I'd be inclined to go with the rp8
vinyljunky
15-05-2023, 20:05
I have a rega rp8 no brainer very musical deck and can handle high end cartridges if you want To go the upgrade route although I just use the rega ania cart
my budget went out of the window, as usual.
currently home trialling P8 with ania-pro.
Mikeandvan
21-05-2023, 19:14
The only audible difference will be the echo in your bank account.
hifi_dave
22-05-2023, 01:42
There's a big performance gap between the old RP3 and the latest P8. You won't be disappointed.
There's a big performance gap between the old RP3 and the latest P8. You won't be disappointed.
you are dead right, i am not.
part- exed the rp3 in and now own the P8/Ania-pro and its superb!
hifi_dave
24-05-2023, 00:47
Well done.
hopefully in a few weeks i can afford a used Aria to go with it.
hifi_dave
24-05-2023, 20:41
Just let me know.
Just let me know.
do you have one?
hifi_dave
24-05-2023, 20:52
Can do.
When you are ready, please e-mail.
Can do.
When you are ready, please e-mail.
would also consider alternative recommendations, should you have any?
hifi_dave
27-05-2023, 20:51
I don't know of anything at the price which performs as well and is as practical. Closest is the EAR Phonobox, excellent but more expensive.
I'll throw in a curveball on the Phono stage front?
New Pro-Ject S3 B is pretty great, picked one up just to let me play records for now.
Was curious as this one had balanced outputs for a daft price, and was getting great reviews.
Very surprised by the great job its doing with my P10, still running in but even at that its sounding at least as good as my old Primare r32.
Thats with the stock nasty switch mode 18v psu, so I'm able to improve its power supply at some point.
£350 new.
Bit of a shock actually at the sounds this thing puts out.
(Using Balanced outputs, not tried its normal RCA outputs)
I'll throw in a curveball on the Phono stage front?
New Pro-Ject S3 B is pretty great, picked one up just to let me play records again in the meatime.
Was curious as this one had balanced outputs for a daft price, and was getting great reviews.
Very surprised by the job its doing with my P10, still running in but even sounding at least as good running balanced as my old Primare r32.
Thats with the stock nasty switch mode 18v psu, so I'm able to improve its power supply at some point.
£350 new
Bit of a shock actually the sounds this thing puts out.
(Using Balanced outputs, not tried its normal RCA outputs)
ive a project phono stage. its very good at its pricepoint which at time was about 500 or so
.
Certainly makes the P10 sound great into a £6.5K preamp, I'll give it that.
i am kicking myself really, as i missed out on a Aria 2 over on PFM, went for under 500 quid.
as an alternative have been thinking a Trichord.
the Diablo has plenty of adjustment and can be upgraded with matching psu at some point.
i do believe the company are about to release a new stage, Neo i think its called, but know little of what its like.
Simon,
Do you have a spare £350?
(See my Previous Post)
Simon,
Do you have a spare £350?
(See my Previous Post)
hi, yeah i did see your post ref the Pro-ject unit.
the Mofi unit i have now retails at the same price and i wanted to try something at the level of the Aria.
so , for me, as far as Pro-ject goes i would aim at their DS or RS range.
having read Rega's recommended cart loading settings of 100 ohms and 1000pf, i would really like a unit that offers these settings.
the Aria does (obviously) as does the Trichord Dino MK3.
i understand the capacitance setting is a personal taste thing and has less effect than the impedence (Rega said this when asked) but i would like to try for myself.
i am guessing from the cost of your pre that your system is leagues ahead of mine and i imagine the Pro-ject unit is most likely the weekest link?
i appreciate the suggestion though, dont get me wrong.
on a side note, a Pro-ject DS unit would match nicely with my DS2 digital unit ( which incidentally also has a MM/MC stage, but lacks any adjustment)
I wouldn't automatically take price as an equation to sound quality. As with any type of component there's a lot of expensive rubbish out there.
my ds2 was the usb version, but it was bought to do a job; ie to record my vinyl as well as being a good stage. money is not always proof of good sounding... and ease of use was another reason i got it.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200714/52d9b18e679855ccae61c41616c80d98.jpg
Just mentioned that as an indication that the Project was doing a good job.
It is kinda out of place with the rest of the kit I guess, and will be upgrading it in the future.
Not in a rush though.
Happy to run mine for a while, I'm enjoying playing records through it. https://theartofsound.net/images/smilies/thumbs-up.gif
Grant's right,
Can't always use cost as a guide to sound quality, I think the Project phonostages bears that out.
absolutely agree about the price : performance thing.
found this out a long time ago with headphone amps.
i have a Project Ember MK1 made and designed by a couple of members on diyah forum.
its an awesome bit of kit for the money.
also using it as a pre into my Marantz pm7003, bypassing the Marantz built in pre. to my ears it sounds better.
have been offered a home trial of the Aria by the dealer from which i bought my P8, so i would be daft not to try it first.
they are aware i wont be buying a new unit as my Neo psu is the older style case, being ex-demo unit ,and i would want to match the Aria should i get one.
the biggest problem i can see with the Aria is its size! i knew it was big from just looking at pics but its 325mm deep, which will not look good on my desk.
now listening to my system with the loan Aria.
sounds amazing...... BUT its not massively better than my £350 Mofi studiophono, which has surprised me a bit.
luckily if i go for the Aria it wont be a new one, as i could not justify the price.
hoping to keep the Aria for about a week.
the dealer is also trying to get hold of a Dynavector P75 mk4 for me to try after. this unit seems to get plenty of good reviews and is much cheaper than the Aria.
they also are able to get a Chord unit and Tom Evans for me to try.
i have a distinct feeling there will be little to chose between all and, who knows, i may stick with the Mofi.
I wouldn't automatically take price as an equation to sound quality. As with any type of component there's a lot of expensive rubbish out there.
Project Phonostage is £350 :scratch:
Project Phonostage is £350 :scratch:
so is my Mofi.
dont think Macca was refering to your Pro-ject btw
one major plus with the Aria, for me, is there is no need for future upgrade with a silly priced psu unlike an awful lot of other manufacturers.
Project Phonostage is £350 :scratch:
I was responding to Simon's comment:
''I am guessing from the cost of your pre that your system is leagues ahead of mine and i imagine the Pro-ject unit is most likely the weekest link?
i appreciate the suggestion though, dont get me wrong.''
My point was that just because the Project is comparatively inexpensive doesn't mean it's out of its depth in a system with components costing a lot more.
You can spend thousands on some pretty terrible (IMO) phono stages.
tried a Tom Evans microgroove X tonight and it did not suit my needs at all.
very silent and loads of high end detail ,but the warmth i get from my Mofi (and got from the Aria) was absent.
dealer is gonna try and get me a demo unit from Pro-ject.
2 units i am interested in are the DS3 B and the RS.
"sounds amazing...... BUT its not massively better than my £350 Mofi studiophono, which has surprised me a bit."
currently on my 2nd home trial with the Aria and i must retract my previous statement.
it will have to be an Aria for me now, see little point in searching any further now.
cant stretch to new and would prefer the MK2 anyway as it matches my neo
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