Buying a new TT today

You can't go wrong with your choice AJ. The deal you got was fantastic, and you got to hear the differences as you compared each level of Rega's offerings and assess their value to you. Like you saw though, all Rega would have been a mistake if you bought their phono stage. Some of us like Chakster are trying to save some cash and get as good a sound and value as possible.

I've never regretted spending money on stereo equipment except in my college days when I sold stereo equipment and was constantly swapping my own system. Fuses blew, turntables couldn't track and it was a merry go round of upgraditis. Now when I buy anything I make sure it's equal to or most likely better than the rest of my system and fits well.

15-20 years ago I had a Music Hall MMF 5 and I was going to put a Rega arm on it (RB700). When I looked at it, it was almost the same price as trading in the whole table ($7 or $800 versus $1150) for a P5, so I did it. That's how you get sucked down the rabbit hole. The P5 ended up holding it's value a hell of a lot better than what would have been a bastardized MMF 5.

Fast forward 30+ years from college and my speakers I recently traded were 25 years old. My amp is 15 with no plans of ever changing it unless there is major failure, which I don't expect as it is built like a tank. Current similar performing models are now 4 times what I paid. My cartridge is going on 9 and it looks like I will service it instead of replacing it. It is the best of both worlds; a high output moving coil with output of .65mV.

If I had cash burning a hole in my pocket, my local stereo salesmen would be glad to help me empty it to get something that sounds better. There is ALWAYS something better (or coming out) as even Mike Lavigne knows.

The system that supposedly won best at any cost at a stereo dealers show (I guess given a set room size and one table/arm/cart/phono stage/preamp/amp/with 2 speakers and cables-conditioner) was $400K. I am not sure if digital/streaming were part of it or not - I don't think so. There were others >$1M it beat. The cart/phono stage were both Van den hul top of the line, and there are far more expensive options out there for those things.

So, until you have $400K invested you are on the never ending journey. Enjoy the ride - there is no destination.

sokogear,

"15-20 years ago I had a Music Hall MMF 5 and I was going to put a Rega arm on it (RB700). When I looked at it, it was almost the same price as trading in the whole table ($7 or $800 versus $1150) for a P5, so I did it. That's how you get sucked down the rabbit hole. The P5 ended up holding it's value a hell of a lot better than what would have been a bastardized MMF 5."

Good advice, if you ever plan to sell later. Original spec plus boxes etc will get you more.

"If I had cash burning a hole in my pocket, my local stereo salesmen would be glad to help me empty it to get something that sounds better. There is ALWAYS something better (or coming out) as even Mike Lavigne knows."

I'm sure they would. 

As the OP wisely decided, it's generally best to stick to do your research, stick to your budget and accept whatever compromise that may bring.

Getting an all in package like a Marantz TT-15S1, or a Rega or any of the Technics decks seems a wise move too.

Some of us like Chakster are trying to save some cash and get as good a sound and value as possible.

@sokogear because i'm buy many of them to compare them in my system when it comes to cartridges the most, also when it comes to turntables. I have tried over 70 great cartridges in the last 7 years i believe (doing that vintage carts research for myself) and it was not an entry level cartridges, it was very hard to find top models from the past (mostly MM, but many LOMC too). 

I bought too many turntables somehow, way too many for my listening room. Also many phono stages, suts, headamps ... 

This is madness, but i want to make it rational. 
It is not about saving as you can see, but when it comes to the price for some new equipment it is simply insane (a cartridge for $5k for example or even higher, a phono stage for $10k, a turntable for $20k ... etc). There are many vintage components in perfect condition that can blown away almost any new even if the price for new one is 10 times higher. And i've seen/heard some very expensive systems that sounds like sh.... This is why the price tag is not the key to a perfect sound. 

   

chakster,

"This is why the price tag is not the key to a perfect sound."


I don't think it ever has been anything more than an extremely lazy way of thinking. 

No amount of industry encouragement to spend can ever change that. Hi-fi shows are notorious for demonstrating that. The data from blind listening tests suggests the same.

Even in the case of turntables where good engineering does not tend to come cheap, cost is not always a good indicator of performance. 


Michael Fremer (Analog Planet) put up his Continuum Labs Caliburn ("that costs as much as a house" $200k+) against the then new Technics 1200G ($4k).


These videos can still be found on his Analog Planet YouTube channel. 


Technics SL1200 v Continuum Caliburn
https://youtu.be/qY9YYkqW8ng

After the results proved inconclusive Fremer decided to offer the same comparison featuring a vocal track this time.

Vocal track comparison
https://youtu.be/QKfs5lYZuQk


There was even a later follow up video posted by another YouTuber who attempted to analyse and compare the data between these two turntables.

Analysis Caliburn v 1200G
https://youtu.be/ZEGj6iim57w

Bear in mind also that the Continuum Labs Caliburn was long held to be one of, if not the very best turntable in existence.

@cd318 I watched those videos long time ago, who will buy a $200k turntable? I have no idea who told you this is the best turntable ever made ?

Try this or this version.

When the difference in sound is very small but the difference in price is very big would you go for the most expensive one? Do you own this turntable or youtube is your reference to compare cartridges and turntables listening to the mp3 file?

Only very reach people can buy the most expensive, but the vinyl is not for reach, it’s for everyone. In my country we have people who will buy ONLY the most expensive audio gear and those people know nothing about the sound, there is a business model for such people and we have a lot of companies in High-End world serving those people needs (only the most expensive gear). Desire to have a perfect sound in your house/room has nothing to do with desire to own the most expensive high-end gear.

I appreciate the ability to build a decent audio system using reasonably priced components only (but they are still expensive). We must have knowledge and experience to do so, it is an interesting process.