Differences in Rega P3 vs Planar 3

[augerpro]

I'm looking at two Rega's on ebay. One is the newer P3 and the other says Planar 3. Any differences?

[woodturner-fran]

I think there are some differences. The first one that I'm aware of is that the finish on the plinth is a painted one with the P3 compared to the melamine one on the planar 3. I have an inkling that the plinth on the planar 3 was chipboard with melamine whereas the plinth on a P3 is HDF (or MDF, not sure).

There may have been a change to the motor and I think there was one to the motor pulley - I think some of the planar 3's ran about 1% too fast.

Other than that, I'm not too sure. Anyone here know more?


Fran

Ps. I have a planar 3 here that I do intend to rehouse in a new plinth, just reuse the bearing and subplatter, but make a new platter/arm and drive it with a floppy motor.

[mpmarino]

Ps. I have a planar 3 here that I do intend to rehouse in a new plinth, just reuse the bearing and subplatter, but make a new platter/arm and drive it with a floppy motor.

Me too - I hate looking at the thing - knowing it's just a 49 cent piece of particalboard. I think the bearing and glass platter deserve better.

Oh well, I guess it's about 20 projects away

My opinion is to look at another deck - I don't know what - just a different one!

[augerpro]

Are replacement plinths expensive? And how hard is it to make your own?

[woodturner-fran]

Well I don't know of anywhere other than Rega to buy a new one so I'd end up making one. I'd probably do a Teres "lite" and go the wooden route I think. Or maybe a MDF base and sit the original glass platter on that. Another thing I'd like to try is ala Redpoint and do an aluminium one with teflon to see how that sounds.


So many things to try. When they bring in the metric week I'll get to them all....



Fran

EDIT: Just reread your post - I thought you said replacement platter. But the same goes for the plinth. You'd have to make one up yourself.

BTW as far as I know the bearing can be purchased from Rega for small change. Its a very good bearing for upto 4kg or so platter, or so I've read.

[tubenut]

Hi all

Not too sure of plinth construction differences but you could be right. There is certainly a different looking finnish to new and old.
If MDF painted is better then laminated chipboard I dunno. The old version with softer chip and laminates would seem ore of a constrained layer damping plinth

A rather big difference is that the motor drive circuits and motor mounting are different.

On a Planar, the motor is decoupled from the plinth by hanging from a rega drive belt...
On the P version, the motor drive circuit is claimed to reduce motor vibes to a level such that the motor can be hard mounted on to the plint with space age material. (Looks like foamy 3M double sided tape to me but hey if Nasa uses it to hang a photo in a space shuttle, I guess that makes it space age....)
Hard mounting the motor improves pitch stability, makes startup quicker and no more motor clonks when starting up it is claimed.

[augerpro]

Do you guys know if the NAD C555 is a Planar2 or P2 clone? I found one on ebay and a new one from soundcity for $359. both come with a Goldring Elektra cart.

[tubenut]

P2 clone, though there are cosmetic differences

[augerpro]

Hmmm so $359 for new one with the Goldring Elektra is probably a pretty good deal?

[woodturner-fran]

mmmm this thread is making me want to have a go at my old planar 3....


mmuuusst rrreessissst urge to mod......


planar 3 bearing/subplatter with new platter, floppy drive motor and plinth.


Have to finish teres first!



Fran