$1k cd players vs. used

Posted by: Eric Barry on 27 October 2000

Has anyone heard the Creek CD43 or the new Rega Planet?

How would these compare to an older Creek, a Cal Icon mk. II, Micromega, or old-style Planet all available for around $400 or less? Or anything else worth hearing for the same money?

--Eric

Posted on: 27 October 2000 by Former member

I have heard the new Rega Planet (a friend recently bought one) and I heard the old one some time ago along with the two box Jupiter / Io, also from Rega.

I know nothing about the Creek.

ALL OF the Rega boxes I found to be excellent at "light classical" music, by which I mean less than a full orchestra and not very loud and bangy. String quartet type stuff. They were very round earth. The new planet reminded me very much of the Jupiter / Io - if a little less air / space and sense of the 'sound' of the venue recordeed in.

(My friend plays the Cello - and as such really likes the sound. He even prefers it to my 3.5 for this, although he is kind / condesending enough to allow the Naim is a much better all round and rythmic player.)

I'd say if you wanted a similar sound - the Linn Genki (for example) does it a bit better - but it's a similar thing to my ear.

I am a very subjective listener - so hopefully the days results might put it into context .. in order of approval:-

1) Naim 3.5 ... dynamic, hairs stood up on neck
2) Linn Genki ... smooth, pure, silky .. bit sleepy
(someone here said Ikemi is same but 'like they moved the curtain')
3) Rega Jupiter / Io - refined, airy - didn't rock
4) Rega Planet - similar to above, but at half the price really good if you only play chamber music. Probably needs careful amp + 'speaker thoughts.
5) Arcam (the cGBP900 one - plastic not FMJ) - kinda does everything better than average, like a very well mannered aunt who has never done anyone any harm but also never doen anything very interesting.. (I said this was v. subjective!)

If you want to rock - don't.

Jonathan

Posted on: 27 October 2000 by Roger Ridley

I recently purchased a Rega Planet - the dealer didn't say anything about a new model. When did this come out and what are the differences?

Posted on: 28 October 2000 by Mike Hanson

I haven't had a chance to hear the new Planet yet. However, you can tell it from the earlier one, because the loading bay is in the center of the top, rather than on the left-hand side. Apparently it's supposed to sound better, but I can't qualify it further than that. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

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