Rega Planar 2 (P2000)Upgrade and Rebuild

[Natara]

I recently bought Planar 2 without an arm for £75 (P2000 model) to use in 2nd system i was putting together. I already had a fully modified Audio Origami RB300 for it and thought I'd just buy a new belt, happy days a nice little plug and play deck to go with the Nait 5 and Dynaudio Audience 52's,
3 weeks later all that's left of the original is the bearing housing, feet, plinth and the lid.

The P2000 has an older 110v motor, plastic sub platter and a platter made of either resin or mdf it's hard to tell so I decided to replace all three and also get a TTPSU.

Unless I absolutely have to I always buy used as well as keeping costs down it means that the items you buy are fully run in and unless you buy them on eBay and just stick to forum classifieds you can be almost certain you'll get what you thought you where buying.

[Natara]

Luckily I got a reply over on pfm from someone who had three of the items an aluminium sub platter, Delrin platter both by Phonography Systems and a TTPSU Mk2 for a very reasonable £250 and he also threw in a ceramic bearing and a red silicone belt. I took my chances on eBay and got lucky for £85 I bought a used official Rega 24v motor upgrade kit

I've never heard of Phonography Systems before now but I have to say both the aluminium sub platter and Delrin platter are beautifully made and a dream to fit.

There isn't much to say about the build really as apart from the motor all the other bits are simple drop in replacements and even the motor is pretty much a drop in you just need to take the old motor off and centre the new one.

I have now decided to trade up to a Neo PSU at an added cost of £60 (after I sell the TTPSU) and also add some new feet and a double belt pulley which was £14.

[Gazjam]

Hi Nat,

A good result all round then.
How much did the upgrade and table cost all in?

I'll bet bang for buck you've saved a fair bit!

[Jac Hawk]

Sounds a bit like my planar 3, the only thing left of the original deck is the baring housing and the ball, everything else is new. There’s a guy in Preston that I got my platter and sub platter from, fidelity design was his business name but I think he’s closed it down now but the parts he made were top notch. I’ve gone for the 24v motor upgrade and separate PSU for convenience more than anything, one thing I would recommend is decoupling the motor I got the SRM Tech silent base and it has been the biggest improvement to the sound quality of all of the tweaks and changes

[Natara]

Sounds a bit like my planar 3, the only thing left of the original deck is the baring housing and the ball, everything else is new. There’s a guy in Preston that I got my platter and sub platter from, fidelity design was his business name but I think he’s closed it down now but the parts he made were top notch. I’ve gone for the 24v motor upgrade and separate PSU for convenience more than anything, one thing I would recommend is decoupling the motor I got the SRM Tech silent base and it has been the biggest improvement to the sound quality of all of the tweaks and changes

I'm glad to hear from someone who has actually gone for a Silent Base as I have a jet black Silent Base reserved for me by SRM it's coming at the end of June / 1st week of July.
I also have the 24v motor upgrade and was going to try and build my own version of a Silent Base but for £129 it's hard to beat financially.

[Natara]

So far after deducting money for the bits of the old deck I've sold it stands me in about £400 considering that a new Rega P6 is well over £1,000 now and Groovetracer charge $350 plus postage from the U.S for just a Delrin Platter I think I've done pretty well.

[Natara]

Here's a few photographs of the Phonography Systems sub & main platters, the Rega RB300 the cart is an AT150EA and also the 'donor' deck the P2.

IMG_1795 by IMG_1800 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141362658@N06/]
IMG_1799 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141362658@N06/]
IMG_1802 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141362658@N06/]
IMG_1796 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/141362658@N06/]

[Jac Hawk]

I'm glad to hear from someone who has actually gone for a Silent Base as I have a jet black Silent Base reserved for me by SRM it's coming at the end of June / 1st week of July.
I also have the 24v motor upgrade and was going to try and build my own version of a Silent Base but for £129 it's hard to beat financially.

it is good value, on mine I’ve completely moved the motor control board out of the original plinth and installed it in the silent base, it makes set up a lot easier as the motor is only connected to the pcb with short wires so if you’re not careful you end up pulling wires out

[Gazjam]

Agree!
Always liked that version of the P2, the black on grey plinth looks great.
Prefer that to the gloss black versions.

So far after deducting money for the bits of the old deck I've sold it stands me in about £400 considering that a new Rega P6 is well over £1,000 now and Groovetracer charge $350 plus postage from the U.S for just a Delrin Platter I think I've done pretty well.

[Natara]

Thanks JH sounds like a sensible idea.