I'm finding the love. I feel strongly that if you're going to trouble someone (me) to take a platter off, move a rubber band, put the platter back on (when there are so many other options that don't require those extra steps), it should really be worth it. The short story for me: Rega 2 wasn't. I didn't think it was even close. Here's the longer story.
I had a self imposed budget of $800 for a turntable. I don't know why anything past that point felt wrong, but it did. I was drawn to the idea of getting vintage, and that was originally my intent (Pioneer 570, maybe). I spent a lot of time visiting Austin's vintage stores (there's at least three good ones). I spent way too many hours scouring eBay lists for months - but always shy to pull that trigger. The local vintage stores (mostly) appeared to be way over priced. I also read all these boards (probably the most helpful). I questioned a lot of jaded old former band/FM radio engineers now selling vintage equipment. I *tried* even talking to Magnolia staff at Best Buy (that was the most painful). I debated and discussed and argued over vintage versus new, and DD versus belt drive. I became a tad obsessed.
So, here's the tables I tried, running from a Denon AVR-x3200 / Rotel RB-1572 pre-amp to a pair of Polk lsim 705s. For each of these I used the blue Ortofon cartridge. Tables were preempted with ART DJPRE II Phono Preamp.
Audio Technica 1240
Technics 1200 MK2 (with stuck tonearm weight)
Rega 2
JVC JL-A40 DD (partially restored)
Pioneer PLX-1000
The JVC was what I was wanting to replace (which got me started on this journey). The AT1240 was just okay, I can't say much else. It seemed fine, not great, not terrible. The Technics actually seemed to have a significant improvement in the quality of the sound, but alas the wires were beginning to fail and the counterweight was stuck (so back it went). Next, after a lot of reading, I was excited to try the Rega 2. I was expecting the greatest "wow" factor. I must be the only one underwhelmed by this table. Also it was so light and "simple" - that actually bugged me - it felt and sounded so insignificant. It was also the most sensitive of all the tables to feedback. It was also played as the softest volume. I don't get the attraction, but I'm certainly don't have the background or experiences of all these places selling and bragging about that table. It is so fun trying to return a Magnolia product to a different Best Buy location.
So, after all the running around the PLX was the one that felt substantial (like the Technics); it was heavy to begin with. It also was fun to set up; a lot of quality, metal, thoughtful contents (a rubber mat, for one). I like the blue lights. I like how stable it feels (not like the Rega "toy"). And, without question, to my ears it sounds the best -- by far. The detail, the bass, the volume, NO FEEDBACK. This might be the one. I'm gonna sit with it a while and see, but clearly had a small "w" wow factor.
I had a self imposed budget of $800 for a turntable. I don't know why anything past that point felt wrong, but it did. I was drawn to the idea of getting vintage, and that was originally my intent (Pioneer 570, maybe). I spent a lot of time visiting Austin's vintage stores (there's at least three good ones). I spent way too many hours scouring eBay lists for months - but always shy to pull that trigger. The local vintage stores (mostly) appeared to be way over priced. I also read all these boards (probably the most helpful). I questioned a lot of jaded old former band/FM radio engineers now selling vintage equipment. I *tried* even talking to Magnolia staff at Best Buy (that was the most painful). I debated and discussed and argued over vintage versus new, and DD versus belt drive. I became a tad obsessed.
So, here's the tables I tried, running from a Denon AVR-x3200 / Rotel RB-1572 pre-amp to a pair of Polk lsim 705s. For each of these I used the blue Ortofon cartridge. Tables were preempted with ART DJPRE II Phono Preamp.
Audio Technica 1240
Technics 1200 MK2 (with stuck tonearm weight)
Rega 2
JVC JL-A40 DD (partially restored)
Pioneer PLX-1000
The JVC was what I was wanting to replace (which got me started on this journey). The AT1240 was just okay, I can't say much else. It seemed fine, not great, not terrible. The Technics actually seemed to have a significant improvement in the quality of the sound, but alas the wires were beginning to fail and the counterweight was stuck (so back it went). Next, after a lot of reading, I was excited to try the Rega 2. I was expecting the greatest "wow" factor. I must be the only one underwhelmed by this table. Also it was so light and "simple" - that actually bugged me - it felt and sounded so insignificant. It was also the most sensitive of all the tables to feedback. It was also played as the softest volume. I don't get the attraction, but I'm certainly don't have the background or experiences of all these places selling and bragging about that table. It is so fun trying to return a Magnolia product to a different Best Buy location.
So, after all the running around the PLX was the one that felt substantial (like the Technics); it was heavy to begin with. It also was fun to set up; a lot of quality, metal, thoughtful contents (a rubber mat, for one). I like the blue lights. I like how stable it feels (not like the Rega "toy"). And, without question, to my ears it sounds the best -- by far. The detail, the bass, the volume, NO FEEDBACK. This might be the one. I'm gonna sit with it a while and see, but clearly had a small "w" wow factor.