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Help buying first analog rig - Clearaudio Concept or Rega P6

I am in the process of purchasing my first major analog rig since I was teen back in the 80's. My system has been digital. I had a period of about 8 years where I did not do much with audio as we were moving and building a new home. Shortly after our home was built, but before the basement was finished and the alarm was installed, we had a break in. Among the many things other things taken, they took a box of my CD's, basically all my SACD's. So when I the basement was finished and got setup again it prompted me to get into streaming. I have a dedicated listening room which is pretty big 16 x 25 and 9' ceiling on a concrete slab (i know that helps with turntables) with laminate flooring and area rug. My System is pretty straight forward digital.
-Innuos Zen mkIII to stream and play my ripped CD's along with other hi-rez digital I have purchased and some DSD's
-Chord Qutest fed with a Shunyata Alpha USB from the Zen
-PrimaLuna EVO 400 integrated
-Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII 
-Purist Audio Venustas Luminist Speaker and RCA  cables, Shunyata Venom NR V10 power cables

The only small stack of vinyl I own is what I had as a teen, 80's rock which I may listen to occasionally, but I plan on buying new vinyl. I listen to a lot of Jazz - Coltrane, Davis, etc, a lot of modern bluegrass mostly female vocal like Sarah Jarosz, Sierra Hull, Alison Krauss.
The 2 tables that I seem to have gravitated towards are:
-Rega P6 with Hana EL 
-Clearaudio Concept wood with the black satisfy arm and either their Concept MC or Maestro V2 cartridge.

I know the Concept does not come with a dust cover, no big deal for me, I can always add one down the road.

Phono pre
-Sutherland KC Vibe
-MS Phenomena 2+

My budget was originally 3000 for the table/cart and pre, but I really like the concept wood ascetically, it would fit nicely in my rustic/industrial decor which has a lot of wood. I know its not about ascetics, but I am just not crazy about the look of Rega, but it does get great reviews. My rack is butcher block and iron pipe, so the table would sit on the top shelf next tot he PrimaLuna. I am the kind of person that does not mind tinkering and I understand the inconvenience of records vs digital, but I am looking for the natural, openness and beauty that vinyl brings to the system. What am I missing?
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middlemass
868 posts
 
+1 gakerty and millercarbon:

I have the Rega and my only complaint is the VTA adjustment thing. Assuming all other things are equal, I would go with the Concept.
jond's avatar
jond
5,655 posts
 
Based on my experience with Rega, a Planar 3, I would go Clearaudio. The Wood looks great and the fact that the plinth is Baltic Birch and not MDF is a big plus.
williewonka
3,063 posts
 
@cd318 - I get what you are saying
"..but I really like the concept wood ascetically, it would fit nicely in my rustic/industrial decor which has a lot of wood.
HEY GUES WHAT? - the 9.3 come with a walnut plinth option ! :-)

I came through the school of hard knocks - I had a Rega and tweaked the heck out of it to get it to sound good - to the point where the only original parts left is the cover and ON/OFF switch

Whereas the 9.3 has so many SOTA features - you don’t even have to tweak it

But I posted more for those reading this thread out of interest and looking for other choices than the more often recommended Rega and Cleaaudio tables

I think there is some very strong competition out there if you bother to look. Unfortunately they are up against older and more established brands.

Here's a similar thread
VPI prime scout VS Music Hall 9.3 VS Technics SL-1200GR VS Rega Planar 6 | Audiogon Discussion Forum

It’s time for some new blood to get in the mix !

Cheers - Steve
deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
704 posts
 
I own the Rega 6, but it was a tossup with the Concept. Musichall was also in there. I would also suggest you go with the one you like the looks of the best. VTA is a nice extra. Didn’t impact my choice. I would add for you to go with the MC. This is the first table I had with a MC cartridge and I doubt I’d go back to MM again.
chakster's avatar
chakster
6,144 posts
 
The life span of an Elliptical tip of any MC cartridge is SHORT!
Then you will have to ship your cartridge back to the manufacturer for rebuild or to get new cartridge with disocount under manufacturer special program.

For an MC cartridge you need a really good MC phono preamp and if anything wrong with cables or phono stage it will be noisy.

Some people have no idea what they are saying, because an advice for MC cartridge to the newby is nonsense. It will cost more and can only cause more problem. Some people damage their cartridge during mounting process, especially on tonearms without removable headshell.

A good MM cartridge sound like mastertape and they are superior to cheap MC cartridges, especially if your music preferences is rock. The stylus can be removed during the mounting process to avoid damage. When the stylus is worn you can just buy another stylus. There are absolutely amazing MM or MI cartridges with exotic cantilevers and advanced profile of the stylus. On some models user can upgrade from one stylus profile to another just buying different stylus.

I wouldn’t even comment on Rega or some other belt drive turntables. A good MC cartridge will cost you more than a turntable like that. And when you look for LOMC cartridge make sure you’re buying the one with the most advanced profile, because the life span of advanced profile is 3 times longer than elliptical, so you will have more time before you will have to send your cartridge back to the manufacturer for rebuild. Otherwise it’s just a waste of money, a myth, fairy tales from audiophiles who never tried any proper MM or MI (they are better).

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