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Rega P25...upgrade or replace

I've owned this rig for a while now, having upgraded from the P3. While it sounds very nice, it lacks the refined sound and resolution of...say a well recorded HDCD disc on my CD player. Table is stock, used with a Grado Ref. Platinum 1.5mV and Grado PH-1 (tried a ARC phono stage that was lifeless). I'm considering a step up to the Sonata cartridge, and tweaking the table/arm with one or more of the following: machined sub-platter, new counterweight, Cardas re-wire of arm, acrylic platter, Boston Audio platter mat.

Plan "B" would be picking up a nice pre-owned VPI Scout/JMW 9 setup...not sure on cartridge, but most likely the Sonata.

Any suggestions/advice from some of the analog gurus here?

System: BAT VK-300x w/ tube front end, Cardas Golden Cross cabling, CAL CL-15 CDP w/ JPS Digital AC power cord & VansEvers digital power conditioner, Tyler Acoustics Linbrook floorstanding monitors wired w/ Cardas.
hedgehog
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
What the Rega is lacking is the perfrct pitch digital offers. You need to upgrade to a TT with adequate speed/rotational stability.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
Verify the speed of the Rega. They tend to run fast. My belief is the cartridge is your limiting factor. While OK, it is not the last word in resolution. Consider a Sumiko Blackbird.
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,152 posts
 
I agree with Wendell (Narrod). A better matching cartridge would help.

Also I have found that upgraded "to the max" the Planar 25 is hard to beat. The upgrades you mention (machined sub-platter, new counterweight, Cardas re-wire of arm, acrylic platter, Boston Audio platter mat) ALL make a huge difference.
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