Most significant upgrade

Thanks for the wide variety of responses. One thing I should not is the room is set up quite differently than the pics show.......sorry for any confusion. I the ML's firing long ways in the room which is 14' x 19' with velvet curtains behind and room tune panels on the reflective surfaces adjacent via "Jim Smith's" flashlight technique. I also had no idea I had a "toy" for a turntable.......It's quite funny but I did listen to nearly every turntable and arm combo in the entire southeastern part of the US from Virginia down to Miami and for the money spent, the Rega P5 sounded pretty damn good............although the new VPI Classic 3 blew me away, but so did the price. I tend to agree with Mezmo as I am sitting back listening to Margo Timmons Live Trinity Sessions LP (after having heard them live in New Orleans) with a big freakin grin on my face.......greed can get the best of us, but I do appreciate all the comments/opinions. Both the good and the bad.

On a more specific question, I can't count on both hands how many folks have suggested the Vandy 2's, including the dealer I purchased the Rogue from. What about the Harbeth Compact 7s??

Inna: A toy?? Seriously???

jake, thanks for the positive thoughts on tuning the room. I've been doing some extensive reading on the subject and have tried a few cheap diy versions with great success,,,,,,,great input brother, Thanks!

"Inna" bad mood? Funny, Some dudes that have been in the vinyl bizz for longer than I have been alive strongly recommend the P5 over the P7 as the increase in cost does not justify the return on performance, i.e. Michael Freemer and Art Dudely

http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/1204rega

I'm quite sure the Germans make a great table, hell, I work for a German company for Christ sake but to call something a toy? Come on dude, you can be more creative than that? Seriously I appreciate the opinion, just keep it peacefull man............It's just music for the soul.

Pubul57, I heard a pair of the Harbeth Compact 7's with my wife at my local dealer in New Orleans and we were both very impressed. Now keep in mind, it was being driven by top notch ARC gear, but none the less I was shocked at the sound coming from those relatively small speakers. I love the sound of the Vandy's but they are so damn big! ha ha, I know that is shallow, but I do agree with you 100% the Rogue or tubes of any kind bring out the 2CE like nothing I have ever heard.

Inna, Regarding the so called "refusal" to upgrade my TT, totally not the case. Why do you think I started this thread? I just don't appreciate childish mudd slinging at any product line no matter who it is. Has no reason that I have a TT that you feel is sub par, that is fine, and may be true, I just respect opinions that include more imperical data and less opinion. Maybe it's a Southern Thang?? Either way, I felt my biggest issue was the wacky impedence curve of the ML's (they dip to around 1.7 ohms @ 20k) With that said, I spoke at lenght to Mark at Rogue, and he assured me it would not be a problem and in fact they had some ML's running at their factory for sh1ts and giggles and were all running into the room to hear what speakers were playing, when they saw it was the supposed hard to drive ML's, they were quite surprised. However, it's just bugging me knowing how low these things dip, but it's all mental cause they sound pretty damn good. But I love variety, but through this thread I'm finding it may be a damn good time to sit back, have a glass of vino and enjoy what sounds very healthy so far.

Regarding the cart I have on my "toy", it's an Ortofon 2M Black suggested by the guys at Needle Dr, due to the rigid arm of the Rega P5/RB700, this was suggested over the Sumiko Blackbird. That coupled with the phonostage on the Rogue being better suited for the higer output of the Ortofon.

Samhar, I was not directing the toy comment to you. Many apologies if you took it that way, it was directed to another contributor that called my TT a "toy". Your comments are more than respected and appreciated.

Yall are so much fun and oversized!! Just kiddin........seriously I'm not taking any comments/suggestions personally, I just don't like product bashing of anykind, that's all folks. :)

We may not be oversized or bigger than Texas, but down in the "Big Sleazy", the birthplace of Jazz, Louis Armstrong, and some of the best free street musicians on the planet, we love our music.....audiophile?? Not so much............Music O phile for life.

Peace

Pubul57, I would give my quarterly bonus to have a pair of Merlins, but my CFO/Wife would kill me....you are lucky indeed my friend!!!