I've decided to buy a Rega P3...

[Ian Lascell]

I've decided to buy a turntable. A decision that took a long time to make. And I have spent a lot of time doing searches on the web and also right here in this forum. I always research new purchases extensively until I am comfortable with what I want to buy. Well, based on all the reading I have done, I have decided on a Rega P3 (newer one, not Planar) with the RB 300 arm. After reading in multiple places about the synergy achieved with the Rega, I will also be looking to pair it with a Dynavector 10x4 mk.II.

Now, my question is: are there any suggestions for a place to buy one used? Most of my system has been assembled by buying used from Audiogon, eBay, and a couple of brick and mortar dealers within driving distance. As long as I have been patient, I have eventually gotten affordable prices on the used equipment I have been seeking. But I must admit, there don't seem to be many of these P3s available out there used. Maybe nobody wants to get rid of them.:) So I figured I would ask other Rega owners, because I know there are a bunch here among us, if they have any info that could help me track one down. Thanks and I look forward to reading any suggestions.

Also, if anybody has any advice for a prospective P3 buyer, such as accessories or upgrades or anything else, I'd really appreciate that as well. This will be my first turntable in a long time and certainly my first of any quality, so I may not be aware of some things that are obvious to long time vinylphiles.

[Sckott]

I proudly own a Rega P3. I've had a lot of hours on it.

Rega says their US distro is:

Cogent Inc.

Steve Daniels
Mike Pranka
11140 Petal Street
Suite 350
Dallas, Texas 75238


Retailer contact info:
Steve Daniels
Tel: 001 972 234 0182
Fax: 001 972 234 0249
E-Mail:Steve@soundorg.com


Rega owners support:
Mike Pranka
Tel: 314 454 9966
E-mail: pranka@i1.net


At one time, looking for one, I noticed people went selling their P3's for more than new ones cost to buy outright. Try Steve, ask him where you could buy one without breaking a leg.

There are many mods for Regas, and many different tweeks as well. They're very easy to set up, and sound great.

Originlive.com is where you can go for arm mods, but don't worry about that now.

The next time you buy brocolli though, save one of the small wide rubber bands. You may need it down the road if the Rega runs too fast. It's a simple, free tweek that works like a charm.

Congrats in adv.

[Ted Bell]

If you buy used by mail, make sure the seller gets it properly shipped. See here: http://www.theturntablefactory.com/packing.html

Good Luck!

Jay

[Sckott]

That's great advice. Regas come shipped that way. When I got rid of my B&O, I did the same thing.

I'd be careful buying a Rega used. Like I said, they're rarely FOUND used, and people plug bids in so frantic, it ends up more than a new one. :confused:

[Jamie Tate]

I bought my P3 locally but it took 5 months to get it.

I then tried to buy it off the Internet but ran into problems. They have a very strict region policy. You can buy from outside your territory for some reason, even through mail.

Enjoy your purchase!!

[Gary]

What's a Rega P2 worth? Does it sound close to the P3?

I have one in storage.... it has the RB250 arm. I should sell it or something.

G

[teaser5]

I love my REGA. In fact I bought it a phono stage recently to keep it company
;)
Enjoy-
Norm

[Sckott]

Originally posted by Gary
What's a Rega P2 worth? Does it sound close to the P3?

I have one in storage.... it has the RB250 arm. I should sell it or something.

G

You can send your RB250 arm in to originlive.com for a really nice wiring upgrade and more (like the teardrop weight). A modified RB250 is dynamite. I almost did that, but I really liked the RB300 for many reasons. Hardware looked more attractive to me.

You could sell it.... it does nicely on eBay, to be honest.

[EC3970]

I would guess that some owners trade up to the P25, a Rega dealer may have a used one, maybe not in the color you would want though.

Besides the P3 you'll next want vinyl...lots and lots of vinyl! :)

[Ian Lascell]

Thanks for all the info. You guys are great. What exactly do you do with the Broccoli rubber band?

[Sckott]

There are issues well documented (and pelted by nay-sayers) that a Rega P3 can get quick sometimes. All you have to do is take an #87 rubber band (or the blue/green rubber band that goes around broccoli), take the platter wheel off and place the rubber band around it to increase the circumference just by a tad around the belt contact area. It's totally harmless and removable. Some people had ground the notch around the belt-contact area around the motor to achieve the same result. Don't do that.

Just keep the rubber band around.

Just keep one around in case you find your Rega to get "quick" on you. Strobe disc for US users using normal "light bulb" light is here http://www.extremephono.com/ftp/60Hz.PDF

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by EC3970
I would guess that some owners trade up to the P25...

What would I gain from that?

[Jamie Tate]

Originally posted by Sckott
Strobe disc for US users using normal "light bulb" light is here http://www.extremephono.com/ftp/60Hz.PDF

Pretty neat Mr. Gort! :thumbsup:

[Kevin Farley]

don't they check them with a strobe disc? I'm really concerned about speed accuracy with Regas. Is the motor CV or CC? Do they just need to adjust the motor control circuit a tad? or is there a pot to tweak it?

What are people's experiences with this table? I mean, if a $99 technics can have a quartz-locked 33 1/3, why not a $750 audiophile deck?

I'm really looking forward to someday getting a P3, but the speed thing worries me.

[Cliff]

Ian, I've been researching TTs since about May. This one is #1 on my list so far. We must do similar research :) Please let me know what you think of it. I am hoping to buy my first TT within 6 months. The latest issue of Stereophile lists this one as a recommended component, and if I'm not mistaken, it's rated a "B". The best rating per price point on their list!

[Sckott]

I've personally blamed a simple $20 belt, but I've yet to order one (laziness). The motor is NON ADJUSTABLE.

I'll let you know about the belt thing later. It was bugging me, but on using it this weekend, I really think it's just the belt.

[Vinyl-Addict]

The next time you buy brocolli though, save one of the small wide rubber bands. You may need it down the road if the Rega runs too fast. It's a simple, free tweek that works like a charm.

I would think that all P3's would run the same speed given their manufacturing and assembly process. All of the hubs are injection molded(I think), IOW, they are all the same diameter, as are the motor pulleys so they should run the same speed.

Upon closer inspection of the plastic hub, I noticed by measuring on a precision lathe that it has an uneven surface. This may be a major cause of the speed instability.
I machined an aluminum hub & stainless axle for my P3 and checked with the strobe disc. It runs almost perfect 33 1/3, better than before the mod. BTW, I made the aluminum hub the same diameter as the stock plastic hub.
Another thing I noticed was that their assembly process is not very precise.
The spindle cap on my stock bearing shaft was not pressed on straight. I noticed this when I removed the felt mat. It was not turning concentric with the platter. Keep in mind that this is a budget TT and having checked out other TT's in this pricerange, I see similar issues so don't let these issues stop you from buying a Rega TT. I am a machinist by trade and am extremely picky of anything less than perfect so these things can be easily
corrected with the equipment I have at my disposal.
I believe the P3 is a great TT for the money and would recommend it to anyone looking for a TT in the $700 pricerange.
As far as accessories, I would buy the "Heavyweight" counterweight, and later on upgrade the cabling. You can always use the arm in a better TT if you upgrade to a better table in the future. Good luck! :)

[-=Rudy=-]

Originally posted by Vinyl-Addict

Another thing I noticed was that their assembly process is not very precise.
The spindle cap on my stock bearing shaft was not pressed on straight. I noticed this when I removed the felt mat. It was not turning concentric with the platter. Keep in mind that this is a budget TT and having checked out other TT's in this pricerange, I see similar issues so don't let these issues stop you from buying a Rega TT.
I am a machinist by trade and am extremely picky of anything less than perfect so these things can be easily
corrected with the equipment I have at my disposal.


You've touched on a good point here though...for $750, I would expect, not to mention demand, that these minor issues be non-existent in something that expensive. What you're mentioning on this Rega sounds flat-out sloppy cost-cutting measures. Even going beyond audio equipment to just about anything mechanical, it amazes me how cheaply things are assembled and built today. I wasn't a machinist, but I was in a related field for almost 20 years, selling bearings and power transmission equipment. I've learned what "quality" is, and what happens when corners are cut in the name of "keeping it cheap". It certainly kept OUR business going! :)

That's why I look at some expensive merchandise I see at the local stores and laugh at the poor quality materials, fit and finish, and other aspects that are being sold as "premium" merchandise.

I can relate to your perfectionism as a machinist--your "modification" is something that I'd actually be interested in duplicating IF I knew how to do it...and if I owned that particular turntable. I'd gladly even pay an extra $50 to the manufacturer to add that little extra bit of material and labor to a product they are already making a very comfortable margin on. But I shouldn't have to, really.

You have a potential good side business offering your hub modifications to other Rega owners, y'know... ;)

[Vinyl-Addict]

You have a potential good side business offering your hub modifications to other Rega owners, y'know...

Rudy, I never really thought about selling any mods I make. If I were to do it to make money, I would have to make quite a few at a time to keep manufacturing costs down.
Here is a pic of an acrylic platter I made with the SS bearing axle and aluminum hub underneath it. I f you look closely you can see the large counterbore under the platter to clear the motor spindle. The platter is 25mm thick, which is twice the thickness of the stock glass platter, however, this platter will not affect VTA.:)
http://www.geocities.com/fsmillie@pacbell.net/index10.html

[Sckott]

That's nice. I was about to ask if you took your skills into your hobby.
Nice work!

Just ordered a belt for mine. :sigh: Might as well!

All you would need to do is maybe manufacture a threaded spindle for a nice clamp, and that's a MOD made in heaven. :love:

[Chris Desjardin]

I was looking at this turntable as well, as I have been back into buying vinyl again. However, the speed issue is bothering me. A lot. If there was a more stable mod than the broccoli rubber band (no offense, Scott, you found something that works), I might consider it. I'd like the turntable to work well without modifying it - while $750 is budget priced for some, it serious bucks for me. The tonearm mods looked interesting as well, but very expensive for us, plus we have to ship the arm to the UK. Are they really worth it, or would we be better off going for a better table?

I know I sound picky, but this is one purchase I want to be done right.

[Sckott]

Chris, I've resorted to believing my belt is loose. I mean, I actually asked myself,

SELF? Did I remember my Rega belt being much more tout before?

And that's when I checked it. It DID seem a tad loose. Was it "fast" before? No.

It may not make sense, but when a belt gets old, you WILL get speed flux.

$23 for a genuine Rega belt.

So don't worry about the rubber band mod. The motor pull and the hub don't change shape over time, it's the BELT that takes the beating....

[Kevin Farley]

"Keep in mind that this is a budget TT"
Not really. A Music Hall MMF-1 is a budget turntable. a Technics SL-BD22 is a budget turntable.
For a $750 unit to have such things as hubs out of round, cheap belts, and not to have QA that tests the accuracy of the system is absurd to me.
I would expect flaws like this (spindle not plumb, etc.) in a 50 dollar player, but aren't these things that can be manufactured so that they are true, balanced, round, level, and plumb?
Not to rag on them, I've heard nothing but good things about Rega, but it worries me that they can't get the basics right. Step one of a good turntable IMO would be that the bloody motor system was accurate to, say, .001% of speed with negligible wow and flutter (oh, guess they're the same thing...)
Then to keep vibration out of the system, so that the tonearm and cartridge can extract the music.

[Chris Desjardin]

Originally posted by Sckott
Chris, I've resorted to believing my belt is loose. I mean, I actually asked myself,

SELF? Did I remember my Rega belt being much more tout before?

And that's when I checked it. It DID seem a tad loose. Was it "fast" before? No.

It may not make sense, but when a belt gets old, you WILL get speed flux.

$23 for a genuine Rega belt.

So don't worry about the rubber band mod. The motor pull and the hub don't change shape over time, it's the BELT that takes the beating....

That makes me feel a little better, but I think Stereofile also said it played 1% fast on their sample. Plus others have said it as well.

I guess we'll all have to place orders with Vinyl-Addict for his mods!:D

I still think this is the table I'll get. Too many good things heard vs. problems to stay away.

[Vinyl-Addict]

I mispoke saying that the P3 is a budget TT, sorry about that. What I should have said is something like this. The RB-300 arm is the majority of the cost of the P3 so In order to cut cost elsewhere they elected to go with a plastic hub and spindle cap. The hub is actually captured between the bearing axle and spindle which is a 2 piece structure. They basically take the axle and press on the plastic hub, then press the shorter end of the axle on top of the hub to sandwich it between the 2 pieces. Then they press on the plastic spindle cap which you place your records on.

I doubt they check runout on this table, they rely on the assembly process to locate each part. If I hadn't mentioned these issues, would anyone have noticed? If you can see your hub or spindle running eccentric with the platter, there is definitely a problem. At that point, return it for a replacement, Rega has a warranty. :)