Bought my Rega P8/Apheta II combo, just a couple of months, before the Apheta III was announced, and i’m still pretty angry about my dealer not telling me? I heard the new Apheta and i must say…Wauvv…!! Totally different performance and surely for the better. But i’m about (maybe) to swoop my P8/Apheta II combo, with the MOFI Ultradeck+M (Master tracker p.u.), as i can get a clean swoop, without having to pay extra. The MOFI deck is a demo, but with a brand new Master tracker. But here’s my problem: I’m in doubt here, and perhaps most because iv’e sticked with Rega for many years, owning several Rega decks, from The Planar 2 - P3 - P3-24 - P7 - RP8 & now the P8. So i am one of those very trusted fans, and i’m thinking getting out of my comfort zone? But again…it’s a hard choice, for which TT is in fact better here? I guess it comes down to taste and system matching, so some guidelines and help is needed. Cheers from Denmark
Does the Alpheta II sound bad? If you are so impressed with the Alphetta III why do you feel you need to change the turntable?
If you are used to REGA The chances are big your are going to regret that move.
There is a reason you do not need to pay extra. Nothing comes for free.
- RP8 and P8 are amazing turntables.
- Apheta III is identical to Apheta II except for the diamond cut. The key advatage being lower surface noise, which comes handy with older record collections like mine
but both have similar sound signature in terms of bass clarity, mid-bass, and upper detail as well as sound stage.
Right at $2499 is the Mobile Fidelity Ultradeck turntable that comes fitted with the MasterTracker Cartridge.
Mobile Fidelity - UltraDeck Turntable (musicdirect.com)
Rega decks are great but in the US I think it’s hard to beat VPI for VFM considering the import premium paid for Rega.
Check out the demo/discontinued section of the VPI website.
I just do not understand why the western world is sacrificing their companies to tariffs. The only party benefitting from that is Asia. For the same reason US brands like PS Audio, McIntosh, Emotiva etc. are financially very unattractive in Europe.
Brexit doesn’t improve that situation either.
Sad, really.
First two used market, CA new:
• Rega P8
• Well-Tempered Amadeus GTA
• Clearaudio Concept w/Satisfy Tonearm
Owned all three, love, love, love all three.
Yep, the P8 on musicdirect is $3100. UK price is £1700 including 20% VAT. Remove VAT and at an exchange rate of 1.39 the UK price is $2K. Over 50% mark up - presumably to cover US tariffs, freight and distribution.
A VPI scout prime is $600 less than the P8. B-stock Primes are $100 more than a P8.
I went for the magnetic bearing with my twenty year old Master Solution. I can highly recommended it but it’s not cheap brand now. If looking at second hand Clearaudios it might be worth choosing the one with magnetic over ball point bearing.
Clearaudio turntables area also responsive to the setup so that other expensive accessories like the outer ring and upgraded clamps also make a noticeable difference.
Their turntables are well engineered so if a second hand unit is not abused, it should be a safe buy. Their tonearms divide opinions, though. If you prefer a pivoted arm and if you have options, maybe some other brand might be safer but it really boils to the synergy of the whole system. It’s also no guarantee that other arms in the same price point are substantially better (whatever ‘better’ means).
Happy shopping.
Edit: Oops! Fashionably late to the party. Mar’20 it was, not '21.
The VPI turntables are also beautiful. Nothing wrong with them. I just would not turn in a REGA P8 that I would already own, for a Mofi turntable. VPI for the reasons you mentioned seems a good deal in the US.
If I was stateside, I would definitely get a VPI over Rega, they’re similar in performance but as others have stated, the import costs of the Rega’s put them in a much higher price category. You get more value out of VPI.
UK / Europe side, I’d buy Rega / Michell
There are so many really attractive turntables these days, perhaps more expensive than 40 years ago, but considering all the technology used I feel that there are excellent options available even for entry models. In Europe for example the upgradable Pro-Ject turntables, upgrades are available for reasonable money compared to Linn.
Personally I like Thorens subchassis turntables for the sound quality, reliability and uncritical to place, although we are lucky as our floor is concrete, poured on a foundation of piles and sand between the foundation, the sand dampens most of the vibration. The constructors were careful to make the floor level.