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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 1 response by overthemoon

overthemoon
398 posts
 

@Op I am not experienced in Clearaudio and I have owned two Regas.

Think of your vinyl playback as a stool

  1. Phono preamp
  2. Cartridge
  3. Turntable (and at some point you can separate into arm, power supply, etc.)

The turntable can make a huge difference - even staying with your current cartridge and phono stage and upgrading to Clear Audio, Project or even Rega.

I personally went with Rega because of its simplicity and I am not a tweaker.  And that's the best thing and worst thing about Rega's; there's certainly more upgradability in other manufacturers.

And there's lot's of options for quality turn tables that can make a big improvement with out changing your cart of phono stage.  Then when you upgrade your cart - you'll be getting increased value for the dollar spent.

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