I'm doing the same thing. I've done a lot of research and the Rega 6 is a great choice in that price range. I'm most probably going to save until I can afford a Well Tempered Simplex based on what my friend has told me about their upper line tables. It's one of the few TT's that sounds a lot better than anything in it's range is what he's said and there are a ton of reviews on that one and the Armedeas that say the same thing. That golf ball pivot set up for it's arm is amazing I guess. Just something you owe your self to look into. |
what device do you use and how? thanks.
I've got a couple of boxes left of LP's that the ex didn't toss by 'accident'. I've got a Rotel RT855 with VandenHull MM1 with very low hours. Both are working nicely. I worry a bit about the arm bearings and wonder if they need to be oiled or anything. Going with a 16.5 most probably and also getting the Bellari tubed MM pre amp as it's not too expensive and my dealer loves it for what it is. I'd love to hear the Well Tempered Simplex and Amadeus vs each other with a better pre and maybe Dynavector cart |
I'd love to. Looks like my Juice Plus business is really starting to take off. That's all my play money so to speak. What cartridge are you using? If I go that high end (which I need to), I want the right cartridge and phono pre amp with it and that has to be in the equation. |
LOL... too funny. I'm assuming you are tongue in cheek here. |
Tony, I got it, but I had to make sure, lol. What's the viscosity of the furniture oil you are using? I find beez wax from a special African bee works best for tightening the bass, but at the expense of the soundstage. Just another tradeoff. ;)....see I really do get it |
Rega's are still a great table for the money. Do you care more about looks or how it sounds and stands up over time? I stopped by to see John at Audio Connection yesterday on my way to Philly (I'm in CT) and I walk out of there with a Heed phono stage, Basis 1400S with Benz Glider S. He sells the VPI, Basis, Clearaudio and Rega tables. Has most of the big boys covered. It will depend on your personal tastes like anything else, but I've learned that in audio, some of your best values are not always wrapped in 1" aluminum housings or the hand finished wooden plinths. |
Sounds like a nice rig. I heard the Lynn and Rega 6 today with Vandy Quattro's. loved em both. Totally different sounds. I won't say which one I liked best, but the Vandy's ROCKED. |
great posts to all. I've been listening to a ton of tables lately. More than I should be, lol. I have found that most of the tables above 5 k (with arm and cart) are well worth it IF you can afford it. There are so many differences in the lower priced tables and I haven't loved all of them. My main dealer sells the Rega, VPI, Clearaudio and Basis. He was having me listen to the Rega 6, but then I noticed he had a Basis tucked away. I went with the Basis without hearing it. First product I've ever done that with, but I trust him and his analoge guy and he knows the rest of my system as I got it from him, lol. I'm so glad I made this purchase over the Rega 6.
I didn't like the 6 vs other tables I have heard it against, HOWEVER the other systems were much more money. I think the Rega was thin compared to the top of the line Linn, Basis, VPI, Well Tempered (finally heard one) and the German Ayre(DPS) with Ortofon arm and cart.
Turntables have so much that go into their sound and you really need a dealer you trust who has honestly heard different arm and cart set ups. The Rega arm is amazing as I've heard them all on different tables. For the price you really can't come close. I have found though that the TT and not the arm makes the biggest difference by far. It's not even close in that it drives everything. The better tables just sounded right and relaxed when you listen to them. Bottom line is that you can go anywhere with your vinyl and it will sound better than any digital. I finally heard top digital, including DSD done right and it sounds great. I'll gladly listen to it 80% of the time when I'm reading or on the computer, but when listening I relax more with vinyl.
The thing is that personally, I'm done with tweeking and rolling tubes etc... I'll put a Gingko Cloud under the TT as that thing is by far the best isolation device I've come across. Even tables that have their own special isolation sounded better overall with the Gingko vs those without. I"ve heard a ton of other higher cost platforms, but they changed the sound and didn't always make ti better. Some would tighten up everything, but they ruin the stage or the highs. Some would clean up the stage and ground it, but ruined the bass or sucked out the mids too much for me.
Bottom line is that you need to get what you like. The phono stage means just as much as does the wiring. Lot's of variables, but the basic table, cart, arm set up for 500 on a Gingko Cloud 10 has sounded better to my ear than all of the 20k digital set ups that dealers were demoing for me. |
I think that when I heard the Rega 6, that it wasn't isolated properly. It was just thread bare in the mids. Sterile almost is how it sounded. I heard it vs the totally tricked out Linn 12 and the Linn just had more pace and rhythm. It wasn't even close. I know the cost diff was huge, but the Rega just didn't sound right, but years ago I loved the Rega. I regret not getting the P3 around 1998 or so. I got the Rotel 855 with VDH MM1 (great cartridge I'm selling off with this table). It's a nice rig and set up properly is awesome. That said it wasn't a Rega.
So many variables with analog playback and I think some sell it, but don't set it up properly. |
I decided to get a great Gingko Cloud 11. These things sound freaking awesome. I've heard them in a few places on different tables and WOW for the cost. I have heard all kinds of devices, however so many ruin the sound. I think that it depends on the table and it's suspension as to what device to use. So far I've heard Gingko on the Linn, Rega and a 60k plus Basis and on all of these different types of suspension it made a positive difference. This is why you need a good dealer who knows what works best.
As for adding an isolation device, what's wrong with adding one when it helps? They work with any turntable. That's just like using a good rack or your electronics using proper legs.
BTW, may of us have used special devices on our speakers to change the sound a bit. Personally I don't with speakers anymore, but for a TT or transport or any tube gear (been a tube guy for a long time before going with Ayre). It's not a big deal to most. |
I wonder if Rega knows that most use their own isolation devices and that's why they do this. Heck, if I can find a 1k rig with everything and make it sound as good as a 2k rig by adding a 350 device, that's still a big bargain to me. I have now heard the Rega 300 series arm on a ton of tables and the arm really is a bargain. It allows you to possibly get into a top table and then let you upgrade the arm later if you need to. I will say that from my ears, the table means much more than the arm and possibly cartridge. I know many manufactures feel the same and I can see why. I was able to hear two different tables with a top of the line arm and then with the Rega arm (same cartridge). The sound wasn't THAT far off and the cost differences were at least 1k and I think one arm was probably 3k or so. It's just all dependent on so many variables. |
Great post Kiko. You really broke it down the way many of us see it. |
Steve, that's the neat thing about audio. To your ears and in your system you love the Technics/Stanton. I used to use that set up many years ago and changed to a Rotel/Van den Hul MM1 that I'm currently selling. I liked the Rotel much better for many reasons, but that's for me and my systems that I've used it in. I'm updating to a Basis w/basis Rega 301/Micro Benz Glider and it's a far step up the ladder (demo cost was awesome).
It's like anything else in audio, but especially vinyl. Set up is KEY. The room and equipment make differences, but cables in vinyl are a HUGE thing also. I heard the Traveler recently in a system that is very revealing (Maggie 3.7 and Hegel 300 integrated) and it made the Maggies sound ok. I don't like the Maggie sound and for me to be able to listen for even a few songs was amazing to me. I just hear the Music Hall 11.1 yesterday, which is a HUGE step up in price, lol...It sounded much better than the Project tables or the Regas I've heard recently. Not sure how the MM7 sounds in comparison.
this is why there are so many models in all price ranges. |
Sounds like a nice rig. Personally, I've learned that getting through a local dealer is supporting the local shops, plus I"ve always had problems in shipping audio. My brother just opened 4 boxes of Paradigms he bought and had shipped. The first tower was crushed and the whole side of the speaker was crushed.It will sound OK, but not perfect adn it looks terrible. No resale value either. The store said it was too late and not their fault. Screw them for any referral business in the future. The other tower had a finger dent in it's tweeter. That came that way from the store and not shipping. No way, no how it was shipping....again, oh well. Also, they shipped speakers that weren't serial number matches. I always demand speakers who's numbers are next to each other. Just my deal I guess.
Glad you had no problems and that it's working well. Yes, those of us who listen, feel strongly that vinyl is the best way to go when you want to really relax and enjoy the music. Enjoy and relax. |
Well, my day has finally arrived. Tomorrow John from Audio Connections will be delivering my Vandy Treo's along with my Heed Quasar Phono stage and my Basis 1400, Basis/Rega 300/Micro Benz Glider. It's a demo and he was very fair. In the end, this set up is about as good as I could find for the money. For me, this is the perfect set up and I'll now sell off my lightly used Rotel 855/Van den Hul MM1 cartridge (any takers? ).
I'll let you all know how it sounds after it all breaks in. I'll upgrade to the new belt soon I'm sure. Just need to get a VPI 16.5 cleaner now. |
You know the Rega wasn't my cup of tea when I've heard it, but it was a very very good table and much better than anything near it's price. It didn't stand up to a 5k plus Linn or a 8k plus Ayre table. I liked it better than the VPI's I heard (VPI's were at least twice the price). I think it's a very solid performer and not a Bose type of product. Can't go wrong with a Rega and upgraded cart. |
Why stop posting in this thread. I am loving the back and forth. Each of you have different views and are expressing them without personal attacks. That's what forums are all about, right?
As for the Rega, to me it's a great deal if you like their sound. It didnt' do it for me and I kept looking. I bought my first ever piece of equipment without listening...the Basis 1400 with Basis 300 arm, Basis weight and the Benz Glider cart with Heed phono stage Quasar preamp.
Johnny just came to install the TT, phono pre and Vandy Treo's. HOLY CRAP. What a sound. My digital is nice sounding and the Vandy's aren't even close to being broken in, but man do they sound great out of the box. Well the Basis is a demo (new old stock kind of deal I guess). I am so glad I got it. I am in love with the relaxed, but detailed presentation. Even this unit needs breaking in, but the mids are lush and relaxed. Very detailed and the bass is tuneful. I heard the differences in notes. The micro and macro dynamics are awesome. I can tell that once broken in, it will most probably blow me away a to how good this turntable set up will sound. It's already sooo much better than any digital I've ever heard and I've heard the 50k plus systems that are out there as I have been visiting every high end shop on the east coast during my travels as I knew I was getting a new system.
I will save up for the Vector arm. I spoke with AJ at Basis about upgrades for the table and he said that I can upgrade the bearing or a few other things, but nothing is worth it until I upgrade the arm to the Vector. That's what I'll save up for my next analog upgrade.
I was a smart shopper and I won't say what I paid for all of this, but I didn't go over my budget and all the other tables I was listening to (new and used) didn't sound this good to my ears. I would love to hear my set up vs the Linn that I heard in DC or the Ayre (DPS) Ortifon set up I also heard down there. Both were wayyyy above the 5k mark,not the 1500k mark, but I bet my systems is close enough for my ears. Just glad I found so many cool albums I never knew I had. Happy camper here. |
Terry, you are correct. I had been looking for used tables or demos. I love my dealer as he's walked me through everything. He just wants me to have the best system I can afford. More than a few times he talked me out of spending more on components. John just gets it. I have been to so many dealers in the last 8 months or so and I only trust a small handful. I won't go into the names, but either they seemed dishonest or clueless or both.
I spoke directly to AJ at Basis before I made the purchase and he said that John was a great guy to deal with (I already knew that though). He told me to stay away from used tables as they rarely are in good shape. he said they do their best to fix broken tables, but it's not always easy or sometimes they just can't. I've never wanted to buy a table or CD transport used as they are moving parts and you never know if they've been taken care of properly. Were they stored correctly or moved correctly. As for listening, it's the most important thing. Even though I never heard the Basis, I trusted Johnny because he knows my ear and he knows my system. It worked. If I didn't like the Basis, he would have taken it back and helped me find the right table. I will also have to say this Heed Quasar phono is as good as the EAR or any other phono I've heard recently. It's an absolute steal at the price and I don't even have the separate power supply for it yet. I don't even know anyone other than Audio Connections who sells the Heed product line(I'm sure there are a few though). It's very special for under 1k and it has MC and MM stages. |
Abrew, it's all good man. We are talking about personal preferences here. None of us are right and none wrong. All ears and rooms are different. It's not really OCD. It's a fun hobby and should always be that way. |
See, we all get upset when folks don't agree with our view on things or they dont' like what we own. In the end, it's only about what each person hears. It's the equipment, it's the room, it's the ear. Just so many things that change the sound we all hear. |
Thanks Steve. It's getting better and better. I can't for the TT weight to be shipped. That's going to tighten up the bass I"m sure. I'm surprised that I love it so much already. It's such a great system for me in my room. I'm loving it. It just sounds right and even though I can't tap my foot anymore (MS), I can feel the rhythm and pace of the music like no ones business. |
