Rega Planar 3

[jegal]

Currently I have a Rega Planar 3, Marantz PM7005, Carver TFM-6CB, Marantz CD6005, Bluesound Node 2i, Ascend speakers Sierra 2, SVS sb 1000 subwoofer, and for my dining romm Definive speakers and sw. I listen to all kind of music and love almost everything but rap.

After presenting my self I would like to hear some comments regarding my concern about my new Rega Planar 3 which I bought about three weeks ago and I set it up with a Tangospinner subplatter and an Ortofon 2M Red cartridge that I had in my old RP1 where sounded very rounded, pleasant and nice. I’m very pleased with the P3 mainly with the clarity and definition that I get in all solo instruments or jazz trios, but when it comes to a passage full of sound or when I have Etta James or Plácido Domingo singing loud, I feel a harsh not so pleasant sound, mainly in mid range frequencies. I don't know if the Red is not performing as it used to do in the RP1 where it had a warm and rounded sound or do I have to fit a different cart in the Planar 3.

I’ll appreciate all comments and suggestions.

[steve-z]

First of all from my own experience of owning a couple of 2M Reds I can say that is definitely where the problem lies, I found the Red to be coarse sounding particularly with the more difficult inner grooves. I have a Planar 3 and like yourself I’ve upgraded my subplatter with one from Fidelity Designs, in the 2 years of ownership I’ve had several cartridges on it, the Elys 2 which it came with which I didn’t like which I replaced with a Nagaoka MP110 which worked well and sounded good, if I’d wanted to stay with MM I’d have kept it but I had an itch to get a MC cartridge and I bought an Audio Technica ATF7 which I’ve been totally happy with for the last 18 months. You didn’t say if you wanted to get a MM or MC and what sort of price ceiling you have.
If you want something around 2M Red price I can recommend the Goldring E3, I have had one on my second string deck, an Audio Technica ATLP5 for a few months now and really like it, although I’ve never done a direct comparison I’d say it’s slightly better than the Nagaoka MP110 and it’s quite a bit cheaper. Hope this helps and doesn’t get you totally confused.
This may go without saying but I assume you use a test record for setting bias, the Regas are well known for giving too high a bias, I and others have found the correct bias for a 2g tracking force cartridge is with the bias slider at just below the “1” indication.

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[hifi_dave]

The 2M Red isn't the most refined of cartridges but before ditching it, check the overhang is spot on and increase the tracking weight to the cartridge maximum.

[Jac Hawk]

Yes i would check to make sure it's set up right before ditching it, but if that doesn't help then i can highly recommend the Ortofon VMS30 mk2 it's no longer manufactured but you can usually pick up a very good one on ebay for not much money, i had one in my Planar 3 for a number of years and only changed when i got my Audio Technica ART 9