I want to move from Rega Planar 6 help me to pick a new turntable

I have the RP-8 and swapped to a Garrott Bros cartridge - tremendous sound!

I had a associate at a HI-FI shop tell me when moving up you have to go BIG in order to hear a real difference in sound, otherwise you are just making a lateral move. He then played different systems. I went from a Pro-ject rpm 5 to MMF 9.3 - huge difference in sound... so much quieter.  I love it. Next is the cartridge upgrade maybe

Hello Audiogon,

In the last 45 years I have had over 200 TT and for the last 25 years have loved my VPI"S All Three! I have ventured off to customs in the last few years such as UK Builder ARB Rega, Hungarian Builder, Stradivari, But the best TT for the Money is made by S.A.M. in Croatia! It is superior to Anything Under $4000. and up! Do your homework! Ivan is really easy to work with and talk to and it will far exceed ANYTHING in its price range PLUS! 

All the Best !

Just get a cartridge that doesn't require azimuth adjustments. You may want to consider a P8. Arm is fantastic (RB880).

Here is an update. I found a local dealer who stocked Technics SL-1200GR, I went there and got it to test drive at home. I was upfront, that I am looking for an upgrade from Planar 6 and may return Technics if I won't like it. They were ok with that.

So I brought it home. Here is just first impressions.

Set up. Much easier than anything I tried before. Literally it took me 5 mins on Technics to do what it took me at lest 15 on Rega on other tables I had before. Head shell helps a lot.

I put the same Dl-103 I had on Rega and I have not bothered to set up VTA or Azimuth. Literally put cartridge, adjusted overhang, verified that it lined up with protractor (by naked eyes no tools used) and that was it.

Then I went to listen few records. The setup was absolutely the same as with Rega.

I was a little bit unprepared to what I heard. I was expecting to carefully listening to all the details and look for some barely noticeable changes in sound. I was wrong. Big time.

Immediately I heard, much better low end. With Rega it was good, I could hear bass guitar, kick drum, etc. With Technics I hear them being played. Not just that there is bass guitar, but that it is being played, with all nuances. Attack, Release, transients. It was very apparent. 

Then I noticed more details. Especially on my beloved Dire Straits first album. As you may have heard Mark Knopfler plays with fingers instead of pick. And on Technics it was very clear. I am a guitar player myself and I know what to look for and indeed all that little dynamic nuances only possible when played with fingers were there.

I will continue to listen, but to be honest I am shocked. I was not expecting it to be that different.

I then ask my wife to listen to that table. She is no audiophile and to some extent a bit skeptical. But she immediately told me that it sounds better.