A battle of D/Ds: Heavily-modified SL-1210 vs. Kenwood L-07D and Nakamichi TX-1000.

[Marco]

What's the difference between a PLANAR 2 and a P2, then?

Has one got less of a Mickey Mouse motor or a thicker elastic band than the other?

Marco.

[DSJR]

The Planar 2 was up to 2000 approx and was in basically two versions. The first had a wooden trim around the plinth and an R200 tonearm and may sound best (from memory) with the Linn rubber mat it first came with (Dave Wren has the deck and I currently have the mat and the two will be married up soon). A bit feedback prone and possibly a touch fast, but extremely musical and endearing to listen to IMO. All of these decks had the motor on an elastic suspension, a superior version of the Connoisseur BD1 motor mounting system as I recall.

In 1983 (early October to be precise), the RB arms appeared, the Planar 2 lost the wood trim and the sound became dryer in sound, but more precise, the feedback problem disappearing. The thicker wool-felt mat as used on the 2 gradually seemed to thin, as did the Planar 3 mat, which was always a little thinner in any case. The plinth changed in composition too in the intervening years but I don't feel the sound changed overmuch, although as cartridges improved, the decks regained much of the early model's "musicality." - IMO...

By 2000 approx, Rega had launched an improved motor phase board, which allowed smoother running and the motor could now be fixed to the top laminate on the plinth. Speed accuracy and stability were much improved as a result. I believe the Planar 2 was re-worked not long after, given an MDF platter (chamfered and silver painted in early ones) and became the P2 (the P3 was also born at this time as I recall, but the changes could have been phased in). The Planar 25 and Planar 9 was tentative steps into higher end and the 9 was an excellent alternative to the fruit-box pre Keel I understand.

I lost touch with Rega in late 2003 as the firm I worked for self-destructed and was out of the industry by the time the new RB tonarms arrived and the 24V option was launched. I also know little of the P5, 7 and current 9, except to say that a certain dealer chain that sells Rega had the odd fully-boxed and unopened deck finding its way into client's hands. In our day, we'd have lost the agency had we not set up and tested every one we sold - only took 1/4 hour so no big deal..

[Marco]

Dave,

Thanks for that. In terms of our discussion here, I think we should just agree to disagree and move on, as we're POLES apart on this.

However, in order to put this debate to bed once and for all, why don't we arrange a sesh at hi-fi dave's place where I could bring my Techie down and we could compare it to the Planar 2 in question in the system of your choice? I don't mind travelling.

I'll make a bet right now that if the Techie doesn't annihilate the Rega in every conceivable way, I'll donate £200 to a charity of your choice. I'm serious.

And if my modded Techie beats it, then an L-07D most definitely will!!

What do you say?

Marco.

[DSJR]

I have no axe to grind and no ego to speak of, so I'd love to hear the Techie annihilate the Rega. it would be great to meet you in person anyway and I'm due to meet Dave very soon in any case. PM him and see what he says..

I'm only having a little tease you know, So much of what the likes of me were conditioned to has been proved as wrong (to suit Linn/Naim's ends), yet much of it still holds true with any gear in any combination...

TTFN

[Marco]

I have no axe to grind and no ego to speak of, so I'd love to hear the Techie annihilate the Rega. it would be great to meet you in person anyway and I'm due to meet Dave very soon in any case. PM him and see what he says..

It would be great to meet you both in person, too, and I'm sure we could have some fun. No offence intended, but I'm afraid that I just see (any) P2 as being no more than a decent budget T/T, which undoubtedly offers good SPPV. Yes, sonically, it punches above its weight - no question, but I don't in any way consider it as a top-notch turntable.

The fact is it does not have the overall engineering prowess of an SL-1210, let alone an L-07D, and as I firmly believe (and experience bears this out) that the sonic performance of any turntable, and how accurately it reproduces recorded information on vinyl, is largely down to how well engineered it is, I cannot see how any P2 could compete with either the Technics or the Kenwood. The P2/R200 I had certainly wouldn't have!

Like I said before, my Techie when it was KAB-modified annihilated my old 'race-tuned' P5, let alone what it would do to it now, so I can't see how a P2 (any P2) would be different.

I'm only having a little tease you know, So much of what the likes of me were conditioned to has been proved as wrong (to suit Linn/Naim's ends), yet much of it still holds true with any gear in any combination...

Yes I do realise that. I do think though that the bit highlighted above is the crux of the matter

You mentioned that you were due to go down to Dave's place again at some point. When was that again? If Dave's ok with it, we could all meet up then

Marco.

[Ammonite Audio]

And if my modded Techie beats it, then an L-07D most definitely will!!

Ahah! Is this a sneak preview of Part 2?

[DSJR]

I'm hoping to venture inland for a couple of days early in August and have loads of people to see and gear to pick up. No dates set as yet...

[Beobloke]

All of these decks had the motor on an elastic suspension, a superior version of the Connoisseur BD1 motor mounting system as I recall.

Really - is that where the inspiration came from?

Christ, anything would be better than the motor and suspension setup featured on that festering, steaming turd of a turntable!!

[Alex_UK]

However, in order to put this debate to bed once and for all, why don't we arrange a sesh at hi-fi dave's place where I could bring my Techie down and we could compare it to the Planar 2 in question in the system of your choice? I don't mind travelling.

I'll make a bet right now that if the Techie doesn't annihilate the Rega in every conceivable way, I'll donate £200 to a charity of your choice. I'm serious.

Are further spectators allowed? I'll bring the cake!

[DSJR]

I'm sure this could be arranged, but the premises are just not big enough for all and sundry to attend a "bakeoff....." sadly.