We need some hint on your values in sound quality and the rest of your system, maybe the kind of music you listen to.
Theres a place under your UserID to put some photos of your system and ID your components. This is really helpful for us.
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Go with the Rega. I have had a P9/RB1000 for over 10 years and never an issue. You will get synergy with any Rega cartridge and all Rega tables respond well to upgrades. The P3 has an option for an external power supply, replace the felt mat and even consider upgrading the feet. I added Spiral Groove feet to my P9 that added a refinement/clarity without taking away the Prat Rega is known for. |
One benefit to the Project X1 is that the arm has adjustable VTA, whereas with the Rega one would need to use shims for VTA adjustment if not using Rega's line of cartridges. I personally would never buy an arm without adjustable VTA. The Project arms, while nothing special, also have low effective mass, so one could use them with high compliance carts (e.g. vintage MM) so there is more room for exploring different carts on the Project. All that said, I used to have a Project Esprit(?) and it sounded just okay, with bad isolation from itself and the environment. Moved on to Clearaudio not long after that. |
@cd318 I wouldn't start with a P8 unless the rest up the system is up to it or the OP plans to upgrade everything to match the P8. You can't hear the difference between a P3 and a P3+ unless you have the speakers, phono amp, amp to carry that signal |
You bring in a variable (an included cartridge) that makes it all hard to answer. In general, I would prefer Rega over Pro-Ject for the table/arm combo.* Picking a cartridge is another question, and getting a good deal because it is included isn’t necessarily the way to good sound. Better to buy the best table, then buy the best cartridge in your budget and fit it yourself, as it isn’t hard to do. *Yep, I just did the same thing by lumping in the table with the arm. But at this budget, that doesn’t really apply. |
And how would you know that? They couldn't sound better with the best cartridges around (whatever 'best' means)? I rebooted my vinyl life with a Planar 3, RB300 arm and a Shure V15xMR some 15 years ago. Then I changed up to a couple of BenzMicro MCs and then the Decca Jubillee and Reference. At that point I went to an SME table and so it goes. I have never heard a Rega branded cartridge, but I don't know of any reason to think they are as good as it gets. Even today, I have two RB330 arms holding extra cartridges on my SME tables. One of them has the best ever 'cheap' cartridge I have come across, the Nagaoka MP-500. It's good enough that I have already got two spare styli in the cupboard so I can keep it going. There are many other choices, and the fact is that if you like playing records you will soon have several. I stand by my statement that included cartridges may be cheaper, but probably have little to do with 'best.' It is very easy to change a cartridge and align it well enough with respect to overhang, VTF and VTA that no one should be afraid to try. Please don't feel limited to Rega cartridges if you buy a Rega table. |