2. analog
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Upgrade Cart/Subplatter on Rega Planar 2 or Step up to Clearaudio Concept

Debating a turntable upgrade (currently Rega Planar 2 with Bias 2 Cart) and ROI of me either doing a subplatter upgrade (Groovetracer) and Cart Upgrade (Hana EL, SL or Dynavector 10 x5) vs. purchasing a Clearaudio Concept with Satisfy or Satisfy Carbon tone arm with either CA MC or Hana SL.

Is it worth $3000-$4000 investment and better for me to sell my Planar 2 or dump $750-$1500 into upgrades. Curious on opinions. Havent been able to demo tables side by side. Either way moving to MC I would have to get a separate MC phono stage. Currently use the built in phono stage on the MF M5si. 

Also open to suggestions as well as Phono Stage suggestions with either scenario. 

Current System:

Dyn X34

Musical Fidelity M5si

Rega Planar 2 with Bias 2 cart

Bluesound Node 2

uncrocco

Showing 2 responses by cd318

cd318
2,636 posts
 

It would seem wiser to upgrade the turntable.

With a 4k budget there’s plenty of chose from, including other Regas.

For what it’s worth, I recently heard one of the skeletal Rega decks and was pleasantly surprised at how it seemed to sound like high quality tape.

Surface noise, what surface noise?

But there’s lots I haven’t heard recently - Technics would be another deck to look at as well the Clearaudio you mentioned.

I simply wouldn’t bother trying to mod the Rega, unless you wanted to change the motor, the arm, the platter, the plinth etc

cd318
2,636 posts
 

Yeah, the wood finishes look good. Adds a little class, if nothing to sound quality.

It’s a neat looking deck but I wouldn’t take the all black version.

 

Cartridges are matter of tone and taste. For example some folks hate the infamous Denon DL 103 and some adore it.

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-denon-dl-103r-cartridge

 

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