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Conference hips::uk_audioo

Title:You get surface noise in real life too
Notice:Let's be conformist
Moderator:GOVT02::BARKER
Created:Thu Jul 28 1988
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:550
Total number of notes:3847

363.0. "What would you do?" by XSTACY::PATTISON (Where's me jumper?) Mon Jun 22 1992 21:23

   I have got myself into a slight dilemma (its a long story) which
   basically means I now have two very good (but old) turntables when one
   is probably sufficient. 

   - A Rega Planar 3 

   and 

   - An Ariston RD80 "transcription deck"

   I'm finding it hard to decide whether to -

   a) Sell the Rega (cost 150 pounds originally)
   b) Sell the Ariston (cost 230 pounds originally)
   c) Keep them both (resale values are probably low anyway).
   
   At the moment I have one at 33 and one at 45... (talk about extravagent!)
   Only one place on the back of the amp to connect them though. So its
   still fiddly to change speeds (both are belt driven with no auto-switching)

   Performance wise they are about equal, at least I've not yet been successful
   in finding a recording where one sounds any better than the other. The Rega 
   takes longest to reach operating speed.

   The Rega requires zero maintenance. The Ariston requires a lot of fiddling 
   to set up, and some cartridges won't fit on it.

   The Ariston looks like a nice piece of furniture, in the same way as an
   LP12 does. The Rega is understated, compact, and black. 

   Although the Rega is technically still under guarantee (lifetime) I'm not 
   in the UK anymore. 

   What would you do? 

   Dave
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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363.1Rega ownerBAHTAT::SUMMERFIELDCAut Tunc, Aut NunquamMon Jun 22 1992 21:265
363.2MARVIN::WARWICKTrevor WarwickTue Jun 23 1992 02:587
    
    I would be surprised if you made very much selling essentially budget
    turntables second-hand these days. Who's going to want one ? Unless
    you're desperate for the odd 50 quid, why not keep them. However, maybe
    there is a market, what do I know...
    
    Trevor
363.3Keep the RegaFUTURS::WATSONRik WatsonTue Jun 23 1992 12:2027
363.4Not much of a market out thereWOTVAX::MEAKINSClive MeakinsTue Jun 23 1992 12:425
    I too would keep the Rega.  Though don't expect much for either deck,
    there are so many LP12's out there for next to nothing.  I failed to
    sell my Systemdek, but I've kept it and added a Valhalla and it's
    really good, so I'm pleased it didn't sell.  Definately add a Valhalla
    to the Rega if at all possible.
363.5IOSG::HORSFIELDTotal ergonomyTue Jun 23 1992 12:5015
	hmm. yes, but what is the problem? you don't seem too
	unhappy...

	i assume you could get round the fiddly to change speeds bit
	by adding a switching box.

>The Rega takes longest to reach operating speed.
	
	i think the documentation for my Rega says to set it spinning
	and then leave it spinning until you've finished. in other
	words, don't stop it at the end of a record. 
	
	
	
	jack 
363.6VOGON::ATWALdream out loudTue Jun 23 1992 13:277
>>    there are so many LP12's out there for next to nothing.  I failed to

How much is 'next to nothing' for an LP12, and where should I look for one?

thanks,

...Art
363.7FUTURS::WATSONRik WatsonTue Jun 23 1992 13:499
    Be careful about paying `next to nothing' for a LP-12.
    
    They are a precision piece of kit and can be damaged quite easily. But
    having said that if you know what you looking for then there may be
    some bargains to be had. If you are serious about getting an LP-12 then
    I would be happy to lend an ear / offer advice - remember bringing an
    old LP-12 upto current spec could cost a small fortune...
    
    	Rik Watson (7) 782 2238
363.8Buyer's marketWOTVAX::MEAKINSClive MeakinsTue Jun 23 1992 15:348
363.9Thanks for the suggestionsXSTACY::PATTISONWhere's me jumper?Tue Jun 23 1992 18:3525
Sell 'em both and get an LP12... thats one I never thought of... 
Interesting. Mind you tempting as this is I'm quite happy with both
decks.. and It might take a bit of convincing the wife....

I just wondered which would be considered the best to hang on
to. Its not that I'm desperate for the cash, but it just seems 
such a waste.

I suspected the Rega would be best, but after trying various things
I couldn't really find much audible difference .   This
surprised me a little because I'd compared the Rega before with a
Linn Axis... and they were *totally* different. (I thought the Rega 
sounded better (!), and thats why I got it). I also compared both
with an LP12 just to verify my ears were working...... and yes the
LP12 did stand out. 

The Ariston was sort of a gift.

Only other thing is that for some reason my Linn K9 cartridge has 
a noticable hum in one channel when I fit it to the Rega, and its
barely noticable on the Ariston. Not sure why that should be, but I
suspect the cartridge itself may be faulty.

Dave
363.10Idiosyncratic RegaWOTVAX::MEAKINSClive MeakinsTue Jun 23 1992 19:0410
>Only other thing is that for some reason my Linn K9 cartridge has 
>a noticable hum in one channel when I fit it to the Rega, and its
>barely noticable on the Ariston. Not sure why that should be, but I
>suspect the cartridge itself may be faulty.
    
    The Rega arm often causes hum, you may need to talk to someone who
    knows how to cure this.  There's a good chance it isn't the K9.
    
    BTW anyone got a spare RB300 I could buy, I'm after one for my
    Systemdek?
363.11Tell me more!TASTY::JEFFERYI do not think you wanted to do that!Thu Jun 25 1992 14:234
363.12FUTURS::WATSONRik WatsonThu Jun 25 1992 15:5112
363.13Keep the Rega....BAHTAT::SALLITTa legend in his lunchtimeThu Jun 25 1992 17:0316
    Ah well. I had an RD80 when I bought my first Linn; I couldn't sell it
    at a reasonable price then (1986). As I was going to have to virtually
    give it away I did just that, and my father-in-law is still using it.
    
    If I was a punter, I'd be cagey about any used suspended subchassis
    turntable, not just Ariston or Linn, but at least with Linn you have a
    good chance of finding a dealer who can check it out. Aristons were
    mostly sold in sealed boxes; they needed as much attention as a Linn to
    get them working right, but the pricing never allowed dealers enough
    margin for the time they had to spend.  the only thing in favour of my
    Ariston was that it taught me about turntable setup problems.
    
    The Rega would sell faster, but that's probably because it's better,
    which means it's the one to keep.
    
    Dave
363.14REGA arm upgrade ?JANUS::JANUS::COTTAMIanThu Jun 25 1992 20:3610
Hello,

I have a very old Rega 3 with RB100 arm ( +AT95E ). Can anyone tell me how much 
it would cost to have a RB300 fitted ? Considering turntables don't come much 
simpler than the REGA - can I fit the arm myself ?  Is it really worth my 
while to upgrade - will there be a major performance improvement ?.

Thanks in advance,

Ian.
363.15Yes...FUTURS::WATSONRik WatsonThu Jun 25 1992 21:195
    The RB300 is trivial to fit. You can easily do it yourself but there
    should be no charge from a dealer.
    
    I personally think that the RB300 is a very good arm indeed and
    definatly worth the money - but only your ears sna tell you this...