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Rega P3 RS, Michell TecnoDec, Avid Ingenium

I sold off my audio system several years ago after having lost my dedicated listening room to a home renovation (thaaaaat's right smiley).  I'm looking to build a new system at a relatively modest level and have been researching turntables in the $2000-$2500 range.  The three I've been most focused on are the Rega P3 RS, the Michell TecnoDec and the Avid Ingenium.  Needless to say it's difficult to listen to all of these turntables in person without traveling around the country, so I was hoping to tap into the collective knowledge of the forum.  If anyone has any opinions on how these turntables compare then I'd love to hear them.  

For reference, I've owned a Planar 3/RB300 in the distant past and really enjoyed it.  I subsequently went to a Linn LP12, then a VPI Aries/SDS/JMW-10 and finally a Basis 2500 Signature/Vector 3.  So, yeah, I'm kind of going backwards at this point but I've given myself a realistic budget and just want something relatively affordable and simple so that I can enjoy my LPs again.

Thanks in advance.

lpluvr
bgross's avatar
bgross
533 posts
 

@lpluvr Hi - Holt Hill Audio in Andover, MA

oberoniaomnia
363 posts
 

@lpluvr re internal phonostage as bottle neck, with your "modest" budget and a $2.5K TT, I guess the integrated will be in the $2–5K range to keep things proportional. So the fair market value of the PS inside that pre-amp, power-amp, DAC, PS combo is guesstimated at most $500, maybe rather $300. I fully admit, this is a gross generalization. Sonic differences between that and $1-2K can be marked. 

Just my backseat driving 2c. Happy window shopping!

lpluvr OP
95 posts
 

@bgross Thanks so much for the name of the dealer.  I'll check them out.

lpluvr OP
95 posts
 

@oberoniaomnia I understand your logic.  But if you take that $300-$500 internal phono board in an integrated amp, and put it in a nicely made chassis with its own power supply, output connectors, power cord, etc. you might be looking at a separate phono stage in the $1000-$1200 range (lots of wild guesstimation here, admittedly smiley), with essentially the same performance as the less expensive internal phono stage.  Maybe one could make the argument that there might be some sonic improvement from the dedicated power supply in the separate phono stage, but then there’s also the additional wired connections between the separate phono stage and the integrated amplifier.

For my current budget, I’m likely to opt for an internal phono board and live with any compromises that come along with it but, inevitably, the upgrade bug will bite at some point and I may end up with a higher-performing separate phono stage.  Given my history, I wouldn’t be surprised wink      

g2the2nd
350 posts
 

Have you looked at any of the “entry level” SOTA tables? I don’t see a lot of chatter about them. It looks like they all come with Rega arms.

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