Nice Rega Deck, but how does it sound?
Posted by: garyi on 13 May 2002
just dug this out of epay, it looks fantastic, but how does it sound? What was the idea behind the platter?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1351502832
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1351502832
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by J.N.
My local Naim dealer reckons that he has a job to keep up with the demand for Rega turntables.
Sells several 2's and 3's most weeks.
Sells several 2's and 3's most weeks.
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by Mark Dunn
...if my memory is working.
The Acos Lustre was OK but nothing to go bonkers about and was often seen as a SME 3009 wannabe.
The 3 'planets' of the platter were supposed to support the record better than the usual rubber mat with raised ribs and may well have done so, although it's interesting to note that the original Planar 2, which came later, had a rubber mat with ribs.
Also of 'historical significance' ;-) is that our dear audiophile friend Mr. Alan Sugar of Amstrad fame did a knock-off of the P lanet called the Amstrad TP12D. His 'Marketing Dept.' (see Hitch Hikers Guide) was given a particularly long leash on the ad copy and described the platter as, and I quote: "a tri-lateral equiponderate counterbalancing system".
What I want to know is how, after 25 years, I still have that piece of drivelsome information scurrying across my synapses.
Best Regards,
Mark Dunnêê
The Acos Lustre was OK but nothing to go bonkers about and was often seen as a SME 3009 wannabe.
The 3 'planets' of the platter were supposed to support the record better than the usual rubber mat with raised ribs and may well have done so, although it's interesting to note that the original Planar 2, which came later, had a rubber mat with ribs.
Also of 'historical significance' ;-) is that our dear audiophile friend Mr. Alan Sugar of Amstrad fame did a knock-off of the P lanet called the Amstrad TP12D. His 'Marketing Dept.' (see Hitch Hikers Guide) was given a particularly long leash on the ad copy and described the platter as, and I quote: "a tri-lateral equiponderate counterbalancing system".
What I want to know is how, after 25 years, I still have that piece of drivelsome information scurrying across my synapses.
Best Regards,
Mark Dunnêê
Posted on: 13 May 2002 by Ron The Mon
quote:
[the turntable] looks fantastic, but how does it sound? What was the idea behind the platter?
This turntable is the first by Rega and was called the Planet. On later versions the tonearm had a Rega sticker over "ACOS" and "Lustre" and the deck was stenciled as "REGA PLANET". How it actually sounds will be determined by how loose the tonearm bearings have become. The last two I installed cartridges on the tonearm bearings were very loose and one was missing a locking screw. The best I could do was to set them finger tight and check for excess drag by listening. If you got a good deal on it used, it would be cool to have just for kicks. It was not a serious or "high end" table even when new. (and FWIW, Roy Gandy says he can't believe anyone ever would have bought one after listening to it!!!)
There is a blurb about this table on the Rega website if you're interested in its history.
As to its looks, here is Rega's motto on their literature from 1977;
"The Best Looking Turntables You've Ever Set Ears On!".
FYI, the first "real" turntable that Rega made is the original Planar2 which had a wood plinth and custom "S"-shaped R200 tonearm. This is still a great sounding turntable (and best looking, IMO) by todays standards and would look and sound fantastic with a Nait and teak Kans.
Oh yeah, about the Planet's platter design; it was supposed to reduce compliance (lowering feedback) without becoming overly bright. Unfortunately this was at the expense of speed stability.
Ron The Mon,
Arch Kan defender and wall driller.