Rega P10 with Apheta 3

With a "better" phonostage, Rega P10/Apheta could be a final destination.

$5100 is a decent price. 

$5100 can also get a nicer used table,but without the cart.

Go for it only if you're REALLY into LP playback, and don't want the fuss necessary with next level TT.

IMO, it’s a great table, you love looking at it, which is important, and full warranty and dealer support. Upgrading the source is not a mistake. As long as you can responsibly afford it of course. With prices rising the way they are, I personally would buy sooner than later. 

Interesting opportunity.

You would see a significant upgrade going to a P6 or P8 with your current cartridge - I think since it's not planned there's no harm in passing it up.

If you feel it's that compelling - invest the money with a 6 month CD at 5% and re-evaluate in 6 months.  There are a lot of things you can do to improve performance for $5100!

I love playing vinyl. It is my primary source. I CAN certainly afford it. But don’t have a kitchen pass, if you know what I mean. 
All my system, except the TT have been purchased in the last 16 months. Plus all the power cables, interconnects, new AVR, 3 DAC’s, 3 sets of NOS tubes, 2 phono stages, 3 carts, etc. A constant stream. After I bought my Aurender, I told her I was done… for a while. Is 6 weeks a while? 🤔

So I guess the question is, is this where I want to spend what limited wifey capital I have left… for a while… 😏

Approval from the boss means use your conditional pass while you can.

P10 WITH an upgraded phonostage will  keep the ears happy for an extended time

IMO, with your current phonostage, audiophool curiosity will linger.

Perhaps one of those "Only live once" decisions?

@tablejockey 

LOL. Question: what do you mean by: “don't want the fuss necessary with next level TT.”?

I would jump on it at that price.

I demoed several tables costing more than my P10/Aphelion 2 combo and found nothing to make me move on from the P10.  

I think the only point of improvement or possible change to the P10 might be the cartridge. Some people love Rega cartridges.  Some people hate them.  I’m in between. I also have a Lyra Delos, Accuphase AC-2, Apheta 2, and others.  

@signaforce 

I think @tablejockey is referring to a turntable with more flexibility: ability to change out tonearms easily, which requires more adjustments.  Rega is great if you just want a plug and play, but if you get serious about vinyl, you’ll eventually want a turntable that fits the suspension/mass paradigm of vinyl playback…but then you are talking about getting your own cartridges and tonearms, and all the adjustments that come with that.  

You got a beautiful system. There is always room for improvement when it comes to vinyl playback due to its inherent limitations. Each addition we hope will minimize these error and bring us closer to the real thing. Its tricky pulling this thing without the kitchen pass. Can you afford this table and a pair of diamond ear rings or a diamond bracelet? 🤣 Who knows that might get you the kitchen pass for much longer duration so that you can add a better cartridge or even a phono stage. 😆

@signaforce   Tell your wife about the $20,000 TT you would like.  Suddenly you're being soooo reasonable buying the P10.  🤣   I own the P8 with the Apheta-3 cartridge and love it.  You won't be stretching the truth when you explain that missing this deal will mean thousands more in the future.  You can't take it with you.

I own the P10 though I have the Aphelion 2 cartridge. I love love love the form factor. It's what sold me on this TT. And I have mine mounted to my 165 year old factory loft 18" brick wall using the Rega wall mount unique to the P10.

A couple of bugaboos - my Aphelion went dead on the left channel after only 20hrs.  RegaUS distributor handled it well and very quickly. But still, just 20 hrs. on an up-charge cart?  

Second, the P10 PSU does not turn off. It's been an issue since the day I received my TT (so also as it left the assembly plant.). The ON/OFF switch sticks either in the on or off position. A call to Rega distributor/support was immediately answered with, "Yeah, that tends to happen.  We suggest you gently tap the PSU case with a light hammer or mallet or piece of wood. And if that doesn't work then just loosen the rear torx screws holding the case cover to the unit."  I kid you not.  For around $11,000 they want me to take a light hammer/mallet/piece of wood to my PSU.  The starter on my 1968 Chevy Impalas' starter?  O.K.  I get that. But not on the PSU.  

Lastly, the cueing drop does not drop perfectly vertical. It tend to drift ever so slightly to the inside just a groove of two.  I've adjusted my cuing technique. But, again, really? with a close to $11,000 piece of equipment. 

But absolutely love the look and form factor. Wall mount to the brick is SOLID. 

If you don’t make the move you’ll be sayin’, “shoulda, woulda, coulda” .

Go for it!!

Thank you all for your recommendations… especially those with advice on handling “the boss”. 😏

While it is a great deal on a great TT, I am going to pass on the Rega. 

The most important reason is I didn’t realize the power supply could not be hidden as the power button is on the PSU. It is the size of my Aria. That creates space issues as my rack is full. 
Other considerations: I would prefer VTA & azimuth adjustability. Also,I knew I would potentially need to upgrade my phono stage, but hoped the Rega cart would be end stage and if not, the adjustability of the P10 comes into question. I know they have shims… but…

I will continue to search and come back for recommendations. Thanks again!

"I would prefer VTA & azimuth adjustability" 

You have plenty of options, new or used.

Enjoy the hunt.

My wife of eight years (and during the time that we lived together) and I discussed every expenditure:  motorcycle, car, bicycle, boat, stereo gear, horse, dog, cat, appliance, furniture, piano, drum set, ski/boot/binding, tent, jewelry (mostly watches and investment silver and turquoise), grocery list.... well, almost everything, without somehow arriving at an agreement. Turned out we each had an area of expertise, and we each brought something to the table. We got together over common interests, and engaged in mutual activities (as much as possible and practical). Our dates were just as likely to be bar hopping on Denver's South Broadway music scene, Red Rocks, club size concerts, museums, theater (we both were connected with amateur theater), antiquing, art & craft shopping at festivals and markets, walking with Meridog The Airedale, bicycling, skiing, hiking or backpacking. Often we spent the evening quietly reading in the same room. We, sometimes not-- but usually, liked the same music, movies, books, friends. I drove the ski boat--I'm not a water baby like she was. Joyfully and eagerly we shared discoveries. I knew about her work life, and she knew about mine. We both went shopping together for the Kenwood KD 550, the Dokoder, various amps, and speakers (none of which I have parted with)... we each brought an Lp and a tape for auditioning. We agreed on the Fiat Spyder, and the old IH Scout, they were ours, not his and hers. We both utilized our stereo gear (without fear and in no need of supervision), we even watched the same TV. We made decisions together, as partners. I miss her.  God, what I wouldn't give for another dinner at Mama Elania's (the avocado soup starter!...) with our group of friends. Or Jesse Winchester and the newspaper on SUNDAY MORNINGS!!!!!

My current partner (who I first met 56 years ago at 14) and I have separate domiciles (mostly through individual histories/adventures), and income and bank accounts, but we still talk about what we want, need, and think. I wouldn't dream of a major purchase, or life decision I hadn't talked through with her (we happen to be having a couple going now: one on if I want to leave my farm and end my earth time back in the west, the other about what she wants to do with her mother's house). We value the other's opinion, maybe because we don't OFFER them, but we ASK for them. We are, in short, friends and equals as well as lovers. Do people here ask forum members to make decisions on a couple's bank balance? Is it a majority vote they seek? Do they need pals to dare, maybe join in on the stunt, prank, crime, confidence? Or, I wonder if the "better half, kitchen pass(?)" stories I read here are actually "There I was, square in the jaws of death!" war stories as far from reality as time and space allow. Maybe these are unhappy arranged marriages? Did a marriage across species take place  :0  ? Maybe you wake up in the morning wondering how in the blazes one gets there? I find this carping about life partners more distressing than the A-Gon flaming and the pissing contests (which also seem to go on endlessly). Could it be that adults can't set limits on themselves? Are people putting their marriage partner (or readers of a thread) in the role of little devil/angel on the shoulder, or as parent, or conscience? Do people see their life partners as an obstacle to be overcome and not collaborators? Separate but equal--- LOL? Have the things that have been decided without consultation created a gulf or rift, envy? Seriously, these posts,-- the should I involve my spouse, are the ones I find truly disheartening. Is there really such a thing as a once in a lifetime deal on audio gear (maybe one of a kind... but even that deserves familial discussion)? The same things come around on the market again, again and again. I don't understand what a person could mean if they say, "it's my money" and that person and another live under a marriage contract (if you can't keep a promise don't make a promise, my Dad, circa 1963). Is Hell never escaping junior high-school, or conquering desire, always demanding immediate gratification? Couldn't a person and a spouse budget together for future upgrades? Make a plan? Or is this all bar talk, squash court talk, water cooler talk that I can't possibly understand because I missed the lecture and didn't get the notes (is it just how people are?  OMG)?

I apologize if I offended. I am undecided about posting this, but I want to (recent memorable date for me has me slightly off my pins). I just do not understand adversarial, unequal, or unhappy relationships that continue in perpetuity... or the unwillingness to ask for permission, or agreement, or engaging in subterfuge as alternative.            maybe I'm more Epicurean than Stoic.

My wife and I have separate financial lives. Separate hers, mine, and ours checking accounts. (We do share the same investment advisor, but we have separate accounts there too.) Each month I transfer an amount from my checking to the joint account with which she pays the household bills. She doesn’t keep track of what I do with my money, and nor do I keep track of her money. When we go out for an evening or away on vacation, I usually pay, but she'll pay for a restaurant dinner occasionally.  Plus, she loves the music and is extremely blinded to what equipment looks like. (WAF doesn’t exist, in other words.) In fact, I would say that I am more of an aesthete than she. It helps that we have enough income not to worry in the first place.

I am the only one who thinks the Hana ML on the Project is pretty solid considering the rest of the system? You are doing fine sir. Live with the system and enjoy it. 

I thought so too, even though I’m not a big fan of ProJect. the Hana ML is great for the money.

@veemike 

Your Rega cartridge went dead in the left channel also?!  I had a P8 with a factory installed the upper end Rega cartridge (I think it was an Apheta 2).  The left channel went dead after about 50 hours on mine a few years ago, which is the inciting event that caused me to investigate vinyl in more detail. . .and I'm glad that I did!

YES! After just 20 hours. RMA was dated this past October 2023. Aphelion 3 cart.

@bubba12 @macg19 

Thank you. I actually thought my Hana was one of my strongest components & my TT cartridge combo fit very well within my system. The P10 would have started a new round of upgrades. But am staying pat… for now. 😏

@puptent 

Been happily married for 44 years. Even though my wife doesn’t share my passion for music, she would never deny me mine. Was just having a little good natured fun. Thanks 

Ask for price without the cartridge. I would use the Hana ML with the correct shim. It will sound so much better than the table you have. Later you can trade in your ML for the Umami Blue/ Red. You get a 30% discount at different times of the year. I’m not speaking out of turn. I know a lot about this. If you can upgrade to an Aphelion 2 instead of the lesser cart you will be done. 

The P10 has the cartridge factory installed, so I doubt they will remove it. But can ask. As a side note, it is already priced $1,245 less than a standalone P10. 
Talk to me about the standalone P8 at $3,895, with my ML. Some online actually prefer it. 

The Hana Umami blue/red look like an outstanding upgrade path, especially with the potential trade in offer for my ML. Thanks