Upgrade Suggestions for Rega P2

@uncrocco - here’s a list of all my uprgades to a Rega Planar 2 (30+ years old)

http://image99.net/blog/files/04fdba8476cfd21bdd7a5fdf38c8cdf5-28.html

Best bang for the buck...
- Acrylic Platter + Damping ring
- ISOsub GT 2 S UPGRADE SUB PLATTER

These tweaks will allow you to hear the current performance level of your existing cartridge/phono stage. Without them you will not hear the best from yout cartridge.

There are many different brands out there - so shop around

If you really want to start with a phono stage upgrade - take a look at the Simaudio Moon lineup...
https://simaudio.com/en/product-category/phono-preamplifiers/

The offer exceptional resolution from most cartridges

The Audiomods arm is a superb addition to any Rega, but a more expensive option.

Another tweak is a plinth upgrade like this one
http://www.jwmacoustics.com/buck-naked-plinths/

Again - there are many, so shop around

It’s taken a long time to discover the various tweaks + a lot of cash - it was a fun journey, but if I had my time over - I would opt for a VPI turntable over all of the various tweaks.

But the one nice thing about Rega - I think they probably have the most third party upgrades of any turntable out there - s the selection is huge

Hope that wets your appetite :-)

Regards - Steve

And from the MC side of the fence- I opted to go the Moving coil route after several MM carts failed to impress.

I could not believe the improvements my $229 Denon DL103, with a sherical stlus, using a Cambridge Audio phono stage achieved over the Rega MI carts and Goldring MM carts - even my Nagoka paled in comparison to the Denon - all using the same phono stage

I now use the Soundsmith modified Denon DL103, with an Optimized Contour Contact Line stylus. I have a Simaudio Moon LP5.3RS phono stage and the sound is extremely detailed and well balanced

The amount of playing time before replacing the stylus varies so much, depending on lots of criteria specific to every turntable/arm/cartridge combo, but 1000 hours is probably closer to the mark on a well setup turntable - some poeple have gone as long as 1500 hours. On a poorly setup turntable, any stylus regardless of cartridge type can wear out after 600 hours.

Regardless of whether you go the MM/MI or MC route - I would highly recommend getting a good (i.e. configurable) phono stage - it will last you the rest of your days, provide much better performance and will be a better match to a wide variety of cartridges, should you want to try them. Something like the Simaudio Moon 110 LP is a great buy. The 310Lp is even better

Just another opinion :-)

Regards - Steve