I'm looking at two Rega's on ebay. One is the newer P3 and the other says Planar 3. Any differences?
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.
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.
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!😀
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
mmuuusst rrreessissst urge to mod......
planar 3 bearing/subplatter with new platter, floppy drive motor and plinth.
Have to finish teres first!
Fran
The newer motor is also available as an upgrade to the planar3 to replace the suspended motor. It has detailed instructions to mount it.
I've been tempted to try it on mine as mine is basically shot anyway. But then I'd also be tempted to build a new plinth. Somebody on AudioCircle (SET Man?) took the old motor and mounted it separately and ran a long belt and he claims it improved it immensely. He also used a heavy wood cutting board as the plinth I think. I tend to believe him. After over 20 years with mine I'm ready for something else. It's far and away my oldest piece of gear.
Also, make sure whatever you buy has the RB300 tone arm. Mine doesn't, it has a Grace 707 which was the usual choice back in the day before Rega put their own arm on it.
I've been tempted to try it on mine as mine is basically shot anyway. But then I'd also be tempted to build a new plinth. Somebody on AudioCircle (SET Man?) took the old motor and mounted it separately and ran a long belt and he claims it improved it immensely. He also used a heavy wood cutting board as the plinth I think. I tend to believe him. After over 20 years with mine I'm ready for something else. It's far and away my oldest piece of gear.
Also, make sure whatever you buy has the RB300 tone arm. Mine doesn't, it has a Grace 707 which was the usual choice back in the day before Rega put their own arm on it.
FYI: There is a newer model of the Rega P3 ... soon in the high end stores (ship dates vary from yesterday to next week). I have one on order and will attempt to perform a (newbe) review soon ... but for comparison my current TT / tone arm is an Edison Upright ( example: http://images.craigslist.org/01021201030401040620070527fb386aa412251f3e74000430.jpg )
... anyway, this may explain the emergence of the older version of the P3 on eBay, etc ...
😀
... anyway, this may explain the emergence of the older version of the P3 on eBay, etc ...
😀
Well I'm leaning towards teh NAD since it's an P2 clone for $359. I just can't beat that, even used. I'm also looking at the Marantz PM7001 for the frontend. I ordered about $200 in albums last night! So this should be pretty fun. Only problem is the speakers are OB dipoles using PA drivers that's being built by myself, and I don't see that being finished for 2 months.
The newest P3 is supposed to top out above US$600 ... with cartridge.
I thought it might be interesting to install it in that Edison Upright = a combination antique restoration and DIY upgrade ... I have Bottlehead tube phono pre-amp for it as well plus about 100 pounds of the fat platters for ballast in the base. ... Any other suggestions?
I thought it might be interesting to install it in that Edison Upright = a combination antique restoration and DIY upgrade ... I have Bottlehead tube phono pre-amp for it as well plus about 100 pounds of the fat platters for ballast in the base. ... Any other suggestions?
The NAD I'm looking at has an MDF platter. How does that compare with the acrylic and glass? Do you need the anti static pad for all of them?
The MDF is a cost saver. It sounds fruity and less focussed then either glass or acrylic. Note that the Rege P2 has gone from glass to MDF as well. It used to be the same MDF platter as NAD and Moth units but they now machine a 45 deg contour on to it and it rides just above the plinth on the perimeter. I suppose it is a little heavier then the older medite platters used by NAD and Moth.
The extra clams needed for this appear to have come from changing the motor to a 12V unit. This does making a special PSU easier....
WRT to the motor upgrade pack, I think it is a dear solution. You repurchase the same motor with new electronics (not a lot actually) with some mounting block and double sided tape. The kit costs 40% of the deck......
I suppose it has to be easy to fit out in the field, even DIY, but I would have liked Rega to supply a mounting kit with new electronics. This should be possible for 20% at most.
What makes you say it is shot. My guess would be to look and see if the phase cap(s) depending on model and 110/220V operation has gone west or perhaps the pulley is loose on the motor shaft. A common failure. Re affix to shaft with a drop of crazy glue....
The motors are really quite rugged and hardly fail.
The extra clams needed for this appear to have come from changing the motor to a 12V unit. This does making a special PSU easier....
WRT to the motor upgrade pack, I think it is a dear solution. You repurchase the same motor with new electronics (not a lot actually) with some mounting block and double sided tape. The kit costs 40% of the deck......
I suppose it has to be easy to fit out in the field, even DIY, but I would have liked Rega to supply a mounting kit with new electronics. This should be possible for 20% at most.
What makes you say it is shot. My guess would be to look and see if the phase cap(s) depending on model and 110/220V operation has gone west or perhaps the pulley is loose on the motor shaft. A common failure. Re affix to shaft with a drop of crazy glue....
The motors are really quite rugged and hardly fail.
I went and bought this: http://www.soundcity.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=688&HS=1
I think this will be good enough for now. And at that price I should be able to sell it easy enough. I just watched one on ebay finish for like $455 today!
I'm looking at getting either a glass or acrylic platter. Any thoughts?
I think this will be good enough for now. And at that price I should be able to sell it easy enough. I just watched one on ebay finish for like $455 today!
I'm looking at getting either a glass or acrylic platter. Any thoughts?
I think glass or acrylic pricing would be close. Check Decibel Hifi for the Moth SRM made acrylic ones in aus.
Acrylic I feel has the edge over glass but to really be blown away see the Funk Firm Achroplat http://www.thefunkfirm.co.uk/plat.htm
Acrylic I feel has the edge over glass but to really be blown away see the Funk Firm Achroplat http://www.thefunkfirm.co.uk/plat.htm
Well I recently installed the motor upgrade, and it makes a WORLD of difference !
The old decoupled motor had worn elastics, causing the motor to wobble violently while playing at 33rpm. With the new motor, everything is stable, and the sound seems more focused, with a stronger impact.
It may seem pricey relative to the price, but since a Planar 3 may be had quite cheaply, I think it's a worthwhile investment.
The old decoupled motor had worn elastics, causing the motor to wobble violently while playing at 33rpm. With the new motor, everything is stable, and the sound seems more focused, with a stronger impact.
It may seem pricey relative to the price, but since a Planar 3 may be had quite cheaply, I think it's a worthwhile investment.
Well I got the NAD C555 (P2 clone) for $359 brand new. has anyone tried the AT 440mla on this or the P2? Do I have to get one of those spacers to adjust the arm height? If so, 2mm or 4mm?
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