Turntables


Hey all! I've been circling a Rega P10 turntable, which is their latest iteration. It has gotten great reviews by Rega afficionados, but not much notice from the TT community at large, that I can find. It's a deviation from the conventional thinking that mass=stability, and quiet. It is very lightweight, but stiff. I like unconventional, and am willing to take a leap, though. Question is, of course, has anyone had any experience with these TT's and what thoughts do you have? (Michael Fremer at Analog Planet did a 5 part video of the Rega factory with Roy Gandy a couple of years ago and I have to say I was really impressed by his devotion to his art and his conviction about the direction Rega has taken with its TT's.)

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I've not heard the 10, only the 8.

It was easily amongst the best turntables I have heard.

By that I mean to say that if someone had told me that I was listening to a reel to reel tape deck I would not have been surprised.

Virtually no surface noise, stable image, rock solid timing, and a feeling of assurance rare in turntable replay.

Perhaps, and it's only perhaps, there could have been even more bandwidth and a deeper bass.

The only other area I've heard anything significantly better was in image size and depth, but that system featured entirely different amps, speakers and room, so who knows?

Anyway, it completely transformed my opinions of the Rega P8. 

Perhaps, sometimes less is more?

I have a P8 - it is an excellent turntable for the money and as with all Rega's isn't something you can upgrade as easily as other brands (VTI, Linn, etc.).  I expect the P10 is an upgrade specifically because of the tone arm.

I chose the P8 over a Linn because it meant I'd have to replace the table if I wanted to upgrade anything beyond the cartridge and phone stage. 

I know myself and frankly bought it to enjoy the several hundred LPs I have and recognize my analog system is used 10% of the time and is more about the engagement.  My digital and analog sources are approximately equal in sound quality.

 

Thanks for all the comments/advice! I do have some mono lp's that I intend to play and want to acquire more. I will have the Rega Aphelia 2 cart, which is a mc, stereo one. I can't find out if Rega has a dedicated  mono cart, as I'd like to stay in the Rega ecosystem. But that is potential issue. I could get a 3rd party mono cart, but with the RB3000 tonearm, I would probably need spacers to use one. It's always something, isn't it? Lol! 

In my experience, the lightweight design of the P10 conveys music with pace and reproduces rhythms well. Compared to high-mass turntables, the P10 perhaps has a tone quality that is not quite as full or as warm.

I've heard a P10 with a Hana ML cartridge and really liked that combination. The Hana cartridge seemed to add a bit of warmth compared to the Rega MC cartridges.

In my experience and in my opinion, Rega produces turntables that consistently rise to the level of mediocrity below their inflated retail and their selling price. 

That's JUST my opinion and my experience.  Your opinion and experience may be different.