My Rega P5 dem

John,

the upgrade mentioned is to a Scoutmaster with SDS ;)

None of this common muck you know :D
 
So Merlin, help me understand here.

These Scouts from AA or Elusive Disc are compatible with 50Hz / 220V? Is here a switch on the motor for either voltage and mains frequency?

Like Joel, I checked both sites and couldn't find a shipping quote under $150. Add $60 for the basic dustcover factor in UK duty, clearence costs and VAT and you're still hovering right around £1200.

And how could you possibly expect to better the TT/PSU, twin-belt drive and hypnotic ceremic platter of the P7 if you're not gonna at least add the SDS? Get yer Rega dealer to knock-off 150 quid and that P7's lookin' pretty sweeet! ;)
 
Dexter,

you are of course forgetting that the UK price is currently less than £1,100 ;)

And how could you possibly expect to better the TT/PSU, twin-belt drive and hypnotic ceremic platter of the P7 if you're not gonna at least add the SDS?
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I am suggesting you listen - nothing more. As for the Rega PSU, yes it's a nice touch. Propbably essential however given the inbuilt motor design. As for everything else, it's swings and roundabouts really isn't it. One offers a properly decoupled motor, a quality unipivot arm, and an inverted bearing and acrylic platter. the Rega goes about it's tasks in a different fashion.

To assume that the Rega is superior without listening just shows the problem inherent on these forums and the reason for my bringing up the subject.

Again, just for balance here is the conclusion of the Scout review from the same listener, which sums up my sentiments perfectly

But if you're just starting out in analog or upgrading an existing front-end, and if you can spend $1500 on a turntable and tonearm, here's some advice: Go hear VPI's new player right away. This is not a cautious, conditional, "for special tastes only" recommendation. (No offense to those things that are: Hey, I love my Lowthers, but God knows they're not for everyone.) Rather, this is a flat-out, unconditional, "Holy Mother of Crap, I can't believe how good this thing is" recommendation. It's hard to imagine another way of spending $1500 that will add this much to your system.
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merlin said:
you are of course forgetting that the UK price is currently less than £1,100 ;)
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Well, it was last month anyway - but for how much longer?? :D

merlin said:
To assume that the Rega is superior without listening just shows the problem inherent on these forums and the reason for my bringing up the subject.
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Er, with respect Merlin, I don't think anyone is suggesting that. Michael has outlined the various reasons involved as to why he went with the Rega, and I don't think he or anyone else is denigrating the Scout at all.

I admit you've certainly made me think about it as an alternative to the usual 'selection' I'd normally restrict myself to here in the UK but, as Michael says, the idea of having a good dealer on tap who really knows his stuff and cares as much as being honest and offering his customers VFM must be a very alluring one and, particularly as he is new to vinyl, I personally find it just as valid a reason for choosing the Rega as any other reason.

You can't beat the personal touch! :)

Regards,

JonR
 
merlin said:
Dexter, you are of course forgetting that the UK price is currently less than £1,100 ;)

To assume that the Rega is superior without listening just shows the problem inherent on these forums and the reason for my bringing up the subject.
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Earlier in the thread, someone mentioned the UK list was £1,200 and then you advocated going the US-direct route. I was simply following-up on those.

And I've made no assumptions whatsoever about the Rega's superiority or inferiority to the VPI. I've just been fascinated by your rather fierce insistence on extrapolating that the P7 would somehow "struggle" in the face of the VPI when it is barely a footnote mention in the Rega review. Then you edit your post to include a snippet from a Scout review that was written long before the appearance of the P7 on the market. I get the sense that you're really straining here. :eek:

I'm certainly not advocating the P7. In fact, earlier in this thread, I commented on how my new 2nd-hand Xerxes pretty much laid it to waste in my recent listening sessions with both. But that's just me and it doesn't mean other folks here wouldn't find the opposite to be to their liking.

We are in agreement, however, when we advocate listening. I think that people who post on these forums need to be careful about leaping to conclusions about gear on a strictly theoretical (and some might even say, "objective") basis (i.e. "well, if it's got this, this, and this, then it's gotta be better than that, that, and that", etc.). And there is absolutely no substitute for system synergy, an intangible that can only be truly appreciated via an in-home demo.

In the coming weeks, after I demo the new Xerxes 20, I might climb up on my soapbox to proclaim it the bestest, greatest thing ever. But I'm sure people will have the good sense to place it in its proper context. ;)

After all, there is entertainment value to all of this and that's why we're here, sharing our experiences and information, as long as we don't take it too personally! :D

Cheers, Dex
 
merlin said:
If that's the same NA as I listened to, then let's just say we hear things very differently Joel ;)
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Possibly not the same. Mine has the old Hyperspace heavy platter, a decent cart and a proper gentleman's phono stage.
I suspect we do listen very differently, though.
 
Will do chaps - was in the dealer having a listen to a re-furb'd LP12 today which was being run-in for its new customer. Still sounded fantastic :) almost tempted to go the Linn route - get a used one and have it breathed-on. Just need a TT that'll fit on a wall shelf in my room - the *Gyro's simply too big and heavy. :(

It'll be up for sale in the next few days if anyone's interested... ;)
 
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Gromit said:
Rega P5 & 7 dem booked for friday morning :)
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Looking forward to reading your impressions! I've only heard a Gyrodec on one occasion (when I purchased my TecnoArm) and then only briefly, but I was quite struck by its depth and detail, quite different to the Rega sound I had been used to. So I'll be curious to see your thoughts approaching the P5 & P7 from a different direction. :)

Best, Dex
 
Dexter said:
Looking forward to reading your impressions! I've only heard a Gyrodec on one occasion (when I purchased my TecnoArm) and then only briefly, but I was quite struck by its depth and detail, quite different to the Rega sound I had been used to. So I'll be curious to see your thoughts approaching the P5 & P7 from a different direction. :)

Best, Dex
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Good observation re the Gyro's sound - and one of the reasons I bought mine having come from an LP12 at the time (back in '92). It was very interesting hearing a Valhalla LP12 again today, having not heard one for some time. Fitted with an RB300/Elys it did make a very convincing case for itself. :)
 
JonR said:
Gromit,

Are you thinking about the possibility of going from a Gyrodec to a P5, then?

Regards,

JonR
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Jon - more than likely to a P7, the 5'll be a sort of 'control' test if you like. Our domestic situation has brought about this - we had our first child 3 months ago - so I need to get my TT up off the floor. Unfortunately, our walls are all plasterboard so putting up a shelf of the size the Gyro requires would just be out of the question. The Rega's just about the only unit that's light and compact enough. Should boogie pretty well with the Exposure emp too. :)

Very much looking forward to hearing the '7 anyway - always been a Rega fan having owned an R200-vintage Planar3 many moons ago. :)

Will keep you posted :)
 
Gromit said:
Just need a TT that'll fit on a wall shelf in my room - the *Gyro's simply too big and heavy. :(
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Is footfall a big issue at your place, Gromit? Just wondering why you're only considering a wall shelf as opposed to top rack placement.

Dex
 
Dexter said:
Is footfall a big issue at your place, Gromit? Just wondering why you're only considering a wall shelf as opposed to top rack placement.

Dex
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Not really Dex - we've good solid concrete floors fortunately. Rest of my stuff's on a 4-tier Quadraspire unit, for the domestic and aesthetic harmony SWMBO demands ;)

Tried the Gyro sat on top of the Q4 'rack' but the sound took a very obvious nose-dive - it currently sits on an open frame Audiotech table which works well, especially for what I paid for it. It'd be handy to get the TT to 5' off the floor, hence the wallshelf idea.

Other idea was to get the Gyro 'SE-fied' but the house gets very dusty due to us having a rather large dog :D
 
Hi Gromit,

If you're finding yourself nostalgic about the LP12's presentation and image scale but don't miss it's boomier bass tendancies, you might also want to demo a Roksan Xerxes. For me, it seems to distill the best attributes of the Linn and Rega sounds without any of the compromises generally accorded to either. Since it is a 3-plinth semi-suspended design, it should also fare quite happily atop your Quadraspire! :)

Cheers, Dex
 
The great thing is that there are still so many great decks available both new and secondhand.
I'm also looking forward to reading about the great P5/P7 shootout.
 

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