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Help me decide between these two turntable/cartridge combinations

In about 6 weeks I plan to pull the trigger on a new turntable/cartridge combination. I have narrowed it down, and am torn between the following two:

·         Rega Planar 8 with Apheta 2 Cartridge ($4295)

·         EAT C-Sharp with Ortofon Quintet Black ($3,995)

These two turntable/cartridge combinations are at the very limit of what I can spend – in fact the Rega is really pushing the limit. I’m looking at these combinations because of the discount that comes from bundling these cartridges with the turntable – plus they come installed from the factory.

One of the requirements I have is that the turntable must have a low profile – the total height cannot exceed 5.3 inches. This rules out other models like ones from VPI, Pro-Ject, etc.

These two turntables take totally different approaches – with the Rega being very lightweight and rigid, vs. the EAT which weighs three times what the Rega weighs.

The equipment I would be using it with – a Parasound P6 preamp and A21 Power Amplifier, and B&W 702s2 speakers with DB4S Subwoofer. The listening area is a finished basement – wall-to-wall carpeted with padding underneath, on top of concrete, so a good strong foundation is in place.

I listen to about 50% classical, 25% Jazz/Blues and 25% classic rock. Most of my records are fairly high quality – MoFi Original Master Recordings, Deutsche Grammophon, etc.

I’ve searched through this forum – the Rega has received great comments (as well as great reviews from the magazines). Not as much on the EAT, although Absolute Sound was fairly positive. I found it interesting in this forum someone got the EAT and returned it due to mechanical noise/vibration (through the Audio). They replaced it with the Rega P8 which did not have this problem.

One possible concern – I sometimes play my records loud, and my speakers are only about 4-5 feet away from where the turntable is. I’m wondering which of these two might be better under these circumstances. It does not seem to be a problem with my current turntable – a 35 year old Bang and Olufsen 2404 turntable with MMC-2 cartridge.

Comments? Which one would you prefer and why, or would you recommend some other table/cartridge combination that is low profile and under $4,000?
btanchors
gallus
45 posts
 
Please allow me to add a third contender: Acoustic Solid.
AS is a German manufacturer that makes much more interesting tables than the EAT/Pro-Ject and Rega you are looking to - imho.
To your budget, the best fit is the Solid Metal 111. It weighs almost 4 times the Rega 8. Very solid indeed!
I guess in the US the whole package with AS tonearm and cartridge you set you back around US$3500. In comparison to the Rega and EAT, it is much easier to upgrade the AS in the future - from deck to motor, not to forget the smart tonearm base system that allows a much easier change of tonearms and is not length restrictive afaik.
I am not sure whether is possible to attach a second arm base in this particular model but you can ask the dealer.
I´ve just googled and found a dealer in Canada. I don’t know if there is a US distributor.

stereo5's avatar
stereo5
6,385 posts
 
I am not a fan of Rega, having owned a Planer 3 back in the 90’s. I found the sound very lightweight with the denuded Blue Point cartridge I was using.  If the EAT has a lot more mass that the Rega, I would go for it.  Personally, I would take the Technics SL1200G at 4 grand over either of the two tables you picked. 
baltus
8 posts
 
I’m also not a Rega fan, having owned a Planar 3 from ’97 -- ’19.
And considering the praise the Planar 3 got, I don’t trust the review of any of their turntables. If You deside on the Rega - be sure to measure the speed of it before You insert Your card.
EAT makes a good impression - millecarbons remarks are wrong; EAT is the brainchild of Jozefina Lichtenegger, the wife of Pro-Ject founder Simon(?) Lichtenegger. They have some experience.
The E.A.T riaa amplifiers are magnificent (according to rewievs at least).
However - if it where my mony - they would go to the germans; Acoustic Solid or TransRotor.
Myself, lacking the funds, went for a 1981 model Technics SL-1210.
Lucky me!
Anyway; good luck and good listening!
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@btanchors, dare we ask why the 5.3inch height restriction? I mean do you really want to rule out the Technics 1200G from your equations on the sake of mere centimetres?

However if it has got to be between one of these, a top Rega or a top Pro-Ject I would go for the latter. The Rega has very little other than rubber feet to offer any resistance to resonance control, whereas the Eat has only that stupid stabiliser/clamp to worry about.

Like stereo5 above I once owned a Rega 3 and whilst it was good I always felt it was a little bandwidth limited.

The Eat C Sharp is also considerably less expensive. I know the Pro-Ject Classic is a great deck so I'm going to assume that the Eat should be at least as good. 








noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
How will you get the EAT clamp on and off with 5" to play with?!
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