Charlie1 wrote: ↑2019-01-09 01:18
ThomasOK wrote: ↑2019-01-09 00:38By the way, we sell a lot of Rega Planar 1s and they offer quite good perfromance for the money.
Gonna hear RP1 vs RP2 in a couple of weeks. Which step up would you say is bigger - RP1 to RP2, or RP2 to RP3?
Just to avoid any confusion (which was all generated by Rega themselves) the current models are called the Planar 1, Planar 2 and Planar 3 (although they also say P1, P2, and P3 on the plinths). The preceding versions were the RP1 and RP3.
To answer the actual question, the Planar 2 is a worthwhile upgrade over the Planar 1. For not a lot more money ($200 in the US) you get a better platter and a better arm with the one piece cast armtube/headshell. The Planar 3 is a bigger upcharge of $470 with the $295 Elys 2 cartridge ($1145US, available without cartridge for $945 so you are saving $95 buying it with the Elys2). But it is a much bigger upgrade, mechanically and musically. You get an upgraded bearing housing, a better plinth with the brace system, a better arm, a better felt mat and better motor control electronics with the option to add a Lingo-like motor controller for $395. Thats a lot of improvement for the extra $475, not to mention that the cartridge is a quite decent $295 unit hand made at Rega vs. the Rega Carbon which is a $65 bonded conical tipped Audio Technica. I have long felt that the Rega 3 is one of the biggest bargains in the Hi-Fi market, along with the Majik LP12 and the Rega Brio.
To confuse things a bit more I feel the Planar 6 has moved into this category as well and I was impressed how much more musical it was than its immediate predecessor. The Planar 6 is $1995 with the $595 Exakt 2 included (a $195 savings). For that price you have the latest Rega Neo TT-PSU included, an improved and extremely light plinth, an improved platter with more flywheel effect, a machined aluminum inner platter replacing the plastic one of the models below it, a reference white belt, and the Exakt 2 cartridge. (Also available for $2195 with the $795 LOMC Ania, which seems to be a pretty musical MC, if you have a proper phono stage - you know, like a SINGularity!) :-) Anyway, take the $1145 Planar 3, add $395 for the Neo TT-PSU, $59 for the reference white belt and the $300 difference of the Exakt 2 over the Elys 2 and you end up totaling $1899. So the other $96 gets you a better inner platter, better outer platter and better plinth. Seems like a deal to me. Indeed I sold our demo Planar 6 last week to a customer who agreed with me and didn't want to wait for a new one. But I also sold two Planar 3s to others who weren't in that price range.
Obviously, the Planar 6 puts you in the $2000 price range rather than the $1100 ish price range so it will be a jump too high for many people. Also, if you don't need to go new a good used LP12, like a Valhalla/Ittok table, would be a more musical way to spend $2000. But then you need to make sure it is all it should be, including a properly rebuilt Valhalla a good setup and possibly a new cartridge.
So there's a fair bit to think about. But I have to say, with the Planar 1, 2, 3 and 6 and the Majik LP12 and various upgrades leading to the Klimax LP12, we have almost an embarrassment of riches to offer analog lovers - from newbie to seasoned veteran.