Wow and flutter Rega P7 and P9, anyone measure?

Elizabeth that is a scarry issue pertaining to your P5. I like that table but would be concerned if I were to purchase one .

Chuck

The dealer staff could not see the deviation. But I have nearly super close range vision (nearsighted) (the deviation was about the thickness of two sheets of paper.)
They did not have a problem swapping the subplatter.
So I think the normal P5 buyer would not even notice the deviation fron flat. However, I was able to get it swapped no problem, and i would think anyone else purchasing one new, would be able to have another subplatter aquired if they found the original to be sub-par. IMO.
Buying used, then buy the aluminum machined replacement subplatter if you have concerns about the stock subplatter.

Elizabeth thanks for the information ..... I am thinking of purchasing a vpi classic instead of the Rega.

Chuck

... I am thinking of purchasing a vpi classic instead of the Rega.

Smart choice. Rega's are over-rated IMO.

A more optimistic spec would be that if the motor speed mean is 3150 Hz, then its variance is +/- 5 Hz, or +/- 0.16%

I personally feel that you don't need much speed deviation to hear it on solo piano or vibraphone (I listen to a fair amount of jazz). I also suspect that small speed deviations interrupt pace and rhythm in ways you might "feel" more than specifically hear.

That's why at my budget I like my Technics SL1210, and did some inexpensive tweaks to control resonances and vibration. It's easier/cheaper to mod a Technics to improve inner detail than it is to modify a <$2K belt drive 'table for better speed consistency.