Would you buy a Rega P1 or Goldring GR-2

I believe that the Goldring GR2 is designed and built by Rega. So flip a coin as far as the table goes. I would choose the Goldring table for the cartridge however.

NAD is a rega P2 also but with smoked top. I prefer a smoked top myself. All rega's I see advertised have a clear top. I have the NAD 535? The 555 is the newer model. I would look into a tt with rca outs for a little more myself, which I will do some day.

The Ortofon cart that comes with the P1 is just a "get you through the door and don't damage the records" type of cartridge. The Goldring 1012 GX is a seriously good cartridge that sells most places for around $300. Even at KAB USA it's $225. To me it's a no-brainer in favor of the Goldring. The cartridge alone is worth $200-250 more than the one in the P1.

hey viridian? would not what??

12-08-08: Viridian
Just answering your question, "Would you buy a Rega P1 or Goldring GR-2?" No, I would not buy a Rega P1 or Goldring GR-2.

While I can't speak for Viridian, I prefer this turntable anywhere near that price range.

thank you all for the responses. they were helpful.

For about the same money a Technics SL1200 will do you better. No off speed issues. No wavering piano notes.
You get VTA can swap carts easily. You get a 45 rpm BUTTON.

No doubt about it.

And yo there is a Technics SL-1210MK2 on ebay @ $222.

The most important question if we are considering only the P1 and the GR-2 is price. Since I'm relatively certain the GR-2 is no longer in production your only resource for purchasing it will be the used market and they don't come up very often. That said, at the prices they usually command on the used market you won't be spending much more than you would for a new P1 and you'll be getting a table that is worth much more than the few extra dollars you would pay over the P1. If the GR-2 still has its original Goldring 1012 GX cartridge then you are set for quite a while.

You can buy new Goldring GR2 tables, at least until they are out of stock. I don't know everywhere where you might get one, but here is one place:

http://www.audiophileboutique.com/Goldring.html

viridian put it best! Hilarious!