Turntables

"great reviews by Rega afficionados" is enough to make mew question it.  I haven't heard a decent Rega table for anywhere near it's retail price.  None.

Well I've heard the Rega's vs the VPI Tt's at the same price point - the Rega's eat them. The P10 is much better than the Thoren mentioned above.

P10 is a great deck as evidenced by Michael Fremers review in Stereophile.

The new generation of Rega cartridges - heard top two - are lightyears better than the older versions.

A table comparable to the P10 is the Michell Gyro SE, though that was surprising to me.  I have the Michell and it's wonderful, both sonically and looks-wise.  I also have a hot-rodded P3 that performs like a P6 or better and though I still love that thing, I find the Gyro much more engaging.  But a reviewer who has both the Gyro SE and the P10 seems to believe they are on the same level, and at times the Gyro asks questions that the P10 can't answer.  He also has a Vertere yet still spins the Gyro all the time.  The Gyro has recently doubled in price though since I bought it (with Tecnoarm) so it would be close call with the P10, but doubt you'd go wrong either way.

@dover 

I am interested in your comparison between Rega and VPI. Could you be very specific in the sonic differences? 

My first failed attempt at getting an Audiophile table was a Rega… long time ago, and not at the level of a P6 today would be. My second attempt at an audiophile table was a VPI Aries… it worked… absolutely better in every respect to every table I had owned before it… not by a small margin… but huge margin. It was very very significantly better in surface noise, bass, details, musicality, midrange bloom and  rhythm and pace. The difference was mid-fi vs audiophile.

More recently I upgraded to a far superior table… a Linn LP12 nearly the top level with a Koetsu Rosewood signature cartridge. One thing I have become aware of is the idea of a “lively” sound… versus what I would call a dead silent background (massive turntables seem to have the later aspect), 

Anyway, I am interested in understanding the aspects of the Rega that seem superior to VPI.

@ghdprentice 

Yes - one of our local audio shops had Rega/VPi side by side for some years.

Comparing for example the Classic to the equivalent price pointed Rega they were both good, but for me the Rega had better timing, pace and rhythm and "cleaner" presentation.

My preference with a variety of cartridges was the Rega.

Since then the P8/P10 are significantly better than the previous P7/9 and RP series.

I am also not a fan of the VPi uniivots, they are not very stable - weirdo antiskate, low resolution arms that cannot get the best out of most cartridges. If I were to buy a VPi I would either get the gimbal arm or another make of arm.

Hence as a complete package in my view the Rega is easy to set up for non audiophiles, and delivers on timing and resolution.