Rega Planar 2

joecoulson

So as some of you know I struggled with the old Pro-ject and lost. I am fickle in the fact I hate to have any part of my system down for the count so I went out last night and picked this guy up





When I got it home, the first thing I did was swap out the Rega Carbon cartridge for my Nagaoka MP-110. I love this cart and have read how well it pairs with the English TT.





The sound this table puts out makes me wonder why I kept struggling with the PJ for all those years. Imaging and blackness have vastly improved. Not to mention I don’t have the famous Pro-ject rumble anymore. The motor is the new 24v one and it’s so quiet. The deck is the gloss black and looks fantastic





What was strange to me was that there is no ground wire. It threw me at first and I thought it had some cheap phono pre built in. But apart it’s part of the RCA connections. Not family with that but no issues. Dead silent.
The tonearm is really slick too. Much more simple that the latter and tech is as it should be for 15 years newer.





Very happy with this, it’s not a high end deck by any means, but it’s a damn sight better than the PJ. Plus the glass platter looks pretty awesome from the side.
Thanks for reading.

verb

Cool! I got the P1 from @scubalab - still getting to know it better. So far so good! Have fun my man!

SCompRacer

Nice table! Once upon a time I had a Rega Planar 2 with RB200 arm.




Regarding TT grounds, they can be a separate wire or they use the Left channel ground or none at all. There were even ground straps from cartridge to headshell using Left channel ground.

halo

It's a very nice looking table and it's well regarded against other tables in that price range (and beyond). You could do a lot worse.

I really love the MP-110 cart as well, glad you're enjoying it!

joecoulson

Thanks gentlemen.

joecoulson

Just ordered this and a new clamp to go with the new deck..

gfong

Nice table, glad you are enjoying it. The upgrades will be nice! I really like Rega tables, stylish easy to set up and nice sound.

steveinaz

Love the simple elegance of Rega tables. If I ever got back in the vinyl game, the P3 would likely be my pick.

[Deleted User]

Congratulations. That is one beautiful piece of equipment.

joecoulson

And when this arrives




I’ll update with some beauty shots.

joecoulson

SCompRacer

Nice upgrade!

halo

Looks great! How do you like the cork mat?

I went with the Way Excellent II turntable mat from Herbie’s Audio lab at the suggestion of @SCompRacer and @ALL212 and I really like it.

joecoulson

Not sure it’s stops all static. What’s the link for that mat and do you like it? Pic?

motorhead43026

Google...………….Way Excellent II.

joecoulson

Didn’t ask you....









J/k

motorhead43026

Looks interesting, I checked it out.

motorhead43026

There is a used Rega 2 on Ebay with an optional RB250 tonearm. Would any of you Rega owners know if it makes a discernable difference.

joecoulson

@halo did you have other mats before that one?

joecoulson

DSkip wrote: »

Anyone looking at Rega should also look at JWM turntables. They're Rega with a custom plinth.

Beautiful looking tables Skip

halo

joecoulson wrote: »

@halo did you have other mats before that one?

I had a leather deer hyde mat before that. It was supposed to reduce static buildup but I didn’t notice any difference between it and the rubber mat that came with the table.

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Leather-Deer-Hide-Turntable/dp/B00JDWHDSS/ref=sr_1_21_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1544323205&sr=8-21-spons&keywords=turntable+mat&psc=1

joecoulson

And the Way Excellent Mat II helped?
I know the cork does better than any other felt may I have had.

SCompRacer

If your tone arm doesn't have adjustable VTA (Vertical Tracking Angle) you have to watch the thickness of mats you add to a turntable that didn't come with a mat.

A thick mat will lift cartridge end of arm. If arm cannot raise arm at pivot end, you can run into issues with SRA or Stylus Rake Angle.

In other words, SQ or sound quality can suffer if stylus is not at the correct angle in the groove.

Here is a diagram that exaggerates but shows what I mean.

SCompRacer

To reduce static tics, you could look at a dust bug or grounding type dust bug. My old dust bug doesn't have a grounding strap. You would moisten (do not saturate) the bug with distilled water or that Discwasher cleaner.

This is one I have and still use sometimes.

joecoulson

Wow what a great principal for dealing with static. Works well?

Tony M

I like how newer TT's look like works of ART.

Your Rega looks great!

joecoulson

Thank You Tony. I’m a mess as of late. Just ordered a Vincent phono Pre so she should be purring even better pretty soon.

verb

joecoulson wrote: »

Thank You Tony. I’m a mess as of late. Just ordered a Vincent phono Pre so she should be purring even better pretty soon.

What Vincent did you get? I’ve been eyeing the PHO 700 or 701.

halo

SCompRacer wrote: »

To reduce static tics, you could look at a dust bug or grounding type dust bug. My old dust bug doesn't have a grounding strap. You would moisten (do not saturate) the bug with distilled water or that Discwasher cleaner.

This is one I have and still use sometimes.

Looks like I have to go to eBay for a Watts dust bug. There's another version made by Rek O Kut available at Needle Dr. Which is the one you have in the photo Rich?

Watts:


Rek O Kut:

joecoulson

verb wrote: »

joecoulson wrote: »

Thank You Tony. I’m a mess as of late. Just ordered a Vincent phono Pre so she should be purring even better pretty soon.

What Vincent did you get? I’ve been eyeing the PHO 700 or 701.

The 701. I’ll be going from a Cambridge Audio Solo to it and I have read specific reviews making that exact change with huge improvements so I’m very excited. $499 at AA.

SCompRacer

Mine is the Watts. It does impose a drag but not significant. If you have a speed control turntable it will compensate.