upgrade my rega, or buy an alternative?

[graeme uk]

I have a rega planar 2, its ok, but would like better.
The rest of my system is a marantz cd67se, quad 44 pre, quad 405-2 (in bits at the moment getting op amp upgrades, output transistor upgrades and a DMPSU upgrade) and a pair of mission 733 speakers.
Cartridge is an ortophon 510 mk11.

Im not entirely happy with my vinyl sound, well theres a few weak points in my system that need looking at to be honest, but dealing with the turntable first.

Is the planar 2 worth messing with?
Is this guys upgrade kit worthwhile?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ULTIMATE-REGA-...QQcmdZViewItem

Or should i forget the rega and buy something else?

Or should i make myself a turntable.

I'd like to make my own as i'd like to build something suitable 70's looking to go with my amps, but my buget is limited to aroung the £150 mark. I have the skills to make the turntable, but no tools any fancier than an electric drill.
So my options are,

spend £150 on the rega upgrade kit

sell rega for probably only £30 and spend £170 on another second hand deck (but which?)

Sell rega and spend £170 on building a new turntable

Scavenge rega for parts and spend £150 on making a new turntable.

Whats most likely to give me the best improvement?

Thanx.

[tubenut]

The SRM mods at GBP150.00 are good value.
However, an alternative way to spend Shekels would be to consider the Funk Firm Achroplat (takes care of mat and platter duty) at about GBP100.00 I think in the UK.

The Achromat/Plat concept works really well.

Then order a steel stub and counterweight from Moth Group (Brit Audio Online) or a helpful rega dealer as used on the RB300 (about GB30.00 I think). You will need a gauge for Tracking after that and perhaps DIY rerwire the arm with some Cardas available for around USD9.00 per 4 core foot. Use 5 foot or so and wire from clips to RCA in one run!!!

If you have more dosh you could get the Incognito wiring loom.

With limited tools at your disposal I am not sure you can do better then these options in DIYing a turntable for GBP150.00

[graeme uk]

Thanx, very helpfull.
I guess my best bet is to modify the rega, any other suggestions for £150 worth of upgrades?

[phn]

Why not pick up a Lenco Goldring deck? L75 and L78 cost next to nothing from what I have seen on eBay UK. Nice 1970s look. Since the Rega arm doesn't fit those without modification (too long), the scarcer L88 could be even better. You can also design some nice looking plinth to these decks if you like.

Just to throw a few ideas in there.

[sreten]

Hi,

what makes you think the Rega is only worth £30 ? surely a lot more ?

Personally whilst upgrade kits are not a bad thing, I don't like them
particularly, as a lot of it you can do it yourself with some ingenuity.

If I wanted to spend £150 I'd buy the RD11/RB250
currently (< 1 hour left) on e-bay and flog the P2.

Assuming the rebuilt RD11 / modded RB250 will not cost more than £150 + P2 selling price.

/sreten.

[graeme uk]

planar 2's just dont go for that much, dont know why. I might get a little more.
I think im going to mod my planar, but im going to try and make parts myself, rather than just buy them.
What lets this deck down?
Im thinking,

First build a better platform, i might build a sand box to put it on.
I can probably make an acrylic platter
I can make a silicone mat, i cant believe people charge nearly £30 for them!!
I can change its looks so it fits in with my ideals
If the platter is thicker than the origional, can i just make a spacer to lift the arm?
Ill try and make as many of the available upgrades that are suggested elsewhere, but what about arm mods?
A company does strucural mods to these arms for £70, what is it that they do?
Is there a cheap DIY way to improve the arm wiring?
Any other suggestions?

I will look into the goldring options too, just in case it all goes wrong

[tubenut]

First build a better platform, i might build a sand box to put it on.

Good idea, or a rigid wall mount shelf.

f the platter is thicker than the origional, can i just make a spacer to lift the arm?

You could but there are limits to the length of the arm mount post/thread and be careful to have enough space for the top of the counterweight in the lid etc.
You could machine out a cavity for the bearing/sub platter and pulley as per SRM... You end up with a thick platter that hides those mechanics and it has nice peripheral mass.

A company does strucural mods to these arms for £70, what is it that they do?

A new counterweight and stub. You can get close with a Rega RB300 Steel Stub and Steel counterweight at less then half that cost.

I have seen post about using threaded rod for the stub and removing the spring arrangement from the 250 weight and replacing that with a hex bolt/screw. No experience there. The RB300 weight works.

Check out the low cost arm rewiring thread that is alive on the forum at the moment....