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Linn Basik LVX vs. Rega RB 303

Hi, Folks,
I have a very old Linn Basik LVX on my SOTA Sapphire. When I say "very old," I mean that I bought it used from the dealer back in 1986! :-)
I was having hum/buzz issues on my analogue side, and finally isolated it down to the turntable. It turned out to be a shorted tonearm ground wire along with some mechanical elements of the arm that needed tightening. All this was done by Mike at Austin Stereo, a great, local repair shop.
Now the hum is gone and the arm is sounding fine but the whole exercise has me wondering whether I might want to upgrade the old arm. My budget is modest so the Rega RB 303 at $600 sounds about right. By the way, my cart is an Ortofon 2M Blue.
Would this be a worthwhile (i.e., discernible) step up?
Thanks for your opinions!
rebbi
wolf_garcia
6,695 posts
 
You can still find a decent Akito out there. I love mine.
bpoletti
1,552 posts
 
For the money, I'd look at a Jelco SA-750E. SA-750D if you don't have the room for the longer "E" version. It's a significant step up from either a RBwhatever of any of the Linn arms.
royaloak
20 posts
 
Ittok all the way.

I like the RB300, think the latest offerings from Rega are of lower quality
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
Second on the Jelco 750.
wahwah's avatar
wahwah
23 posts
 
I recently replaced the AR/Jelco LVX arm on my AR ES-1 turntable with a stock
Rega RB300.
My AR arm is equipped with a Music Metre tonearm cable. The stock Rega arm does not have the soaring highs I got with the AR/Jelco LVX; but in every other area, there is an improvement-Blacker and quieter backgrounds. More substantial bass and dynamics-Plus, a FLUIDITY and BODY that hints of a more expensive arm.
The tonal balance of the SOTA is different from that
of the AR, so using a Rega might be too much of a good thing.
However if you rewire the Rega with a complimentary
wire that contrast with your SOTA you may have a winning combination.
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