If the "sound per pound" is right, I would?
And I did.
Just seen this thread and thought I'd pop up some comments.
Context:
I recently sold my Michell Gorbe with SME V fitted with a Dynavector XX2 Mk2 as I wasn't enjoying vinyl like I used to.
The deck had a lot of value tied up in it and wasn't being appreciated.
Reading the Hifi press as I do, I got curious when I read about Rega's new flagship decks, with the trickled down Niaad engineering?
I'd followed the design of it, and was very impressed...but at 30K, what?!!
My local Dealer stocked Rega and when I read they had released the new flagship Planar 10 deck, I wanted to hear it.
I'd organised a Demo of both the new P10 and the P8, more out of curiosity than anything else.
I wasn't wasting the dealers time as I'd be buying my digital upgrades from them anyway.
One last blast I thought before I put the Turntable sale funds into upgrading my digital again.
...or so I thought.
Both decks sounded more musical and involving and , crucially, had more of the "X" factor thank my Michell/SME/Dynavector deck I'd just sold. Wow.
Decided on the spot I was investing in one of the new Rega decks.
A major surprise and not a direction I saw myself going in..
I could afford either, but don't like spending unless there's good return
So I wanted diminishing return type improvement with the P10 over the P8, buy the P8 and save money.
The 10 was after all nearly twice the price with the fitted Apheta 3 cart.
Sadly...no.
The P8 was wonderful sounding, and better than my previous deck - but the P10 was in a different league.
WAY better than the P8 and worth the extra money, even at nearly twice the price.
In absolute terms, even the P8 sounded better than my previous deck, and that deck was certainly no slouch. (SME V, hello?)
The Planar 10 however was just in a different category.
Its really is that good.
Gorgeous looking thing too, which is nice.