Upgrade Suggestions for Rega P2

Get a Hana mc cartridge. Either a LE or LS, depending upon budget ($500 & $700). Add a Bellari SUT if the MF phono stage lacks a mc gain option.

@uncrocco - here’s a list of all my uprgades to a Rega Planar 2 (30+ years old)

http://image99.net/blog/files/04fdba8476cfd21bdd7a5fdf38c8cdf5-28.html

Best bang for the buck...
- Acrylic Platter + Damping ring
- ISOsub GT 2 S UPGRADE SUB PLATTER

These tweaks will allow you to hear the current performance level of your existing cartridge/phono stage. Without them you will not hear the best from yout cartridge.

There are many different brands out there - so shop around

If you really want to start with a phono stage upgrade - take a look at the Simaudio Moon lineup...
https://simaudio.com/en/product-category/phono-preamplifiers/

The offer exceptional resolution from most cartridges

The Audiomods arm is a superb addition to any Rega, but a more expensive option.

Another tweak is a plinth upgrade like this one
http://www.jwmacoustics.com/buck-naked-plinths/

Again - there are many, so shop around

It’s taken a long time to discover the various tweaks + a lot of cash - it was a fun journey, but if I had my time over - I would opt for a VPI turntable over all of the various tweaks.

But the one nice thing about Rega - I think they probably have the most third party upgrades of any turntable out there - s the selection is huge

Hope that wets your appetite :-)

Regards - Steve

The best way to upgrade a rega p2 is to trade it in on a different table. Silk purse / sow’s ear and all that.

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far. 

All you need is a decent MM or MI with nice stylus profile and stylus replacement. This is the best choice for your turntable, your tonearm and your phono stage.

Do you know that any MC cartridge must be re-tipped every 600 hrs (average) and it’s quite expensive, time consuming.

Most of the MC require expensive phono stage with different loading options or even an external SUT to work well. High Output MC are inferior compared to low output MC and must be avoided. Moving Coil cartridges are very sensitive to the cables (shield). You can cause only more problems by using MC cartridges if you’re not an experienced audiophile. Also with your entry level turntable it does not make sense at all (in my opinion) to spend more that $400 on a cartridge, but with this budget you can buy a stellar MM or some inferior MC (not counting an MC phono stage on top of it).

The MM or MI/IM is the best choice for you, really. But chosing an MM and MI is also very important if you want the best one. Read this article firsrt.

Just stay away from the MC cartridges (my best advice).

Most of the MM are neutral compoared to colored MC, the MM/MI are better trackers (higher compliance), easy to use, and stylus can be replaced by a user in 10 seconds. I'm a big fan of the vintage MM/MI from the 80's.