Clearaudio Ovation

I'm somewhat equivocal about the TE stages.  I loved the original Michell ISO, saw the Hera upgrade as an overall upgrade (some loss of fun, but gains overall), but was rather shocked at the ISO HR, which to me lost all the fun of the original.  When Naim were looking at designing a top flight phono stage above the existing Prefix, we had someone bring in the TOTL TE Groove stage so we could all take a listen.  I was very excited at the prospect, really hoping that it did exactly what it said on the tin (fascia).  We compared it to a Prefix K with Supercap.  Deck was an Armageddon LP12 with a variety of carts. They were like chalk and cheese.  The "Reblochon" was the Prefix/Supercap.  To borrow a phrase from the Who's excellent compilation album of '71, it was "Meaty, Beaty Big and Bouncy".  It perhaps obscured a bit of fine detail but it was  just great fun to listen to.  As to the "Groove", it just was excellent in its way - superbly detailed but, almost to a fault, forensically so; cerebral rather than physical; It just didn't let its hair down. It was better than the ISO HR (possibly one of my worst blind buys - I took it for granted that it would better my ISO) and perhaps the ideal phono stage for someone wanting to extract every little sound off an LP, but it just lacked something crucial for me.  

personally i use now an all tube phono....but i have a positive remember of the microgroove. 

With the lyra delos, the synergy was good.  I can’t say for rega aphelion and TE groove...

Bob the Builder posted:

I had my used LP12 looked at and serviced when I first bought it and had the first two carts changed professionally but the last two I have changed myself. The LP12 is a suspended record deck that benefits from a service every 10 years or so,  it isn't a highly calibrated scientific instrument that needs re calibrating before each use.

Thank you - you saved me making the same point - though I don't know why we bother the "service every year" seems to have become established as an urban myth! 

People aren't really addressing the Ovation....

It's going to be discontinued so you're going to want to move quickly if you go that way. 

IME the Ovation is very precise, with a super low noise floor and yet it makes fantastic bass. 

The RP10 may be a bit softer, and leaner. But musical. 

the clearaudio ovation without arm is more expensive than rega ro10. with clarify arm , it costs around 6,3 k GBP.  But seems tempting too.

mcjt posted:

People aren't really addressing the Ovation....

It's going to be discontinued so you're going to want to move quickly if you go that way. 

IME the Ovation is very precise, with a super low noise floor and yet it makes fantastic bass. 

The RP10 may be a bit softer, and leaner. But musical. 

I had not heard it was going away.   That makes it less appealing to me.   If I do go with the rp10 I’m trying to decide between somewhat economical (1) rp10 with Apheta 2 cartridge and Rega aria, or super expensive (2) rp 10 with apehlion cartridge, naim superline and superCap.  2nd option with all other bs is 4times more (have to add 2 shelves to naim Fraim).  

You won’t be disappointed with option 1

Zackwater ... unless you have 4 times the money to burn and can justify the cost (listening to vinyl almost exclusively), why spend more than you need to?

By all means listen to the difference between each option, but I doubt that option 2 will sound four times better (law of diminishing returns!)

Option 1 should suffice nicely, but still check out the VPI Prime before going for the Rega RP10/Apheta2/Aria

I have the Rega (as does the site moderator!) and I'm well happy with its performance 

I would be nuts to spend the extra money at this point in my vinyl journey.  If I become total absorbed in vinyl, I could always give this set up to my music crazy daughter in law,to go with her Naim 272/250dr/sopra 3’s, and go all out IF I REALLY LIKE VINYL.  Option 1 just makes too much sense.   But if common sense was the rule/guide I wouldn’t have purchased any of this stuff to begin with.  

You definitely need to listen to the RP10 first ... you may even be happy with the RP8 (Apheta 2) and save funds for something else - so listen and compare the two.

If you can, compare the Rega's to the VPI Prime - which is what I think you were considering originally in your other post.

Don't buy anything simply based on someones recommendation ... it's your cash and your system, so you need to be happy that it's the right decision and choice for YOU.

Just because I like the RP10, doesn't mean that you won't prefer something else instead.

Happy listening

Zackwater posted:

I would be nuts to spend the extra money at this point in my vinyl journey.  If I become total absorbed in vinyl, I could always give this set up to my music crazy daughter in law,to go with her Naim 272/250dr/sopra 3’s, and go all out IF I REALLY LIKE VINYL.  Option 1 just makes too much sense.   But if common sense was the rule/guide I wouldn’t have purchased any of this stuff to begin with.  

i would just add that the aria and apheta 2 are not completely on the level of the rp10.  Without spending so much for an aphelion/ superline/ supercap,  a bare superline with lyra kleos for example would give you better performance for no so much more money.

Some found the superline powered by the 552 not far from superline/ supercap.

But i don’t say that aria and apheta 2 are not good, but more on a strict minimum side for the rp10.

Would I be better running the rp10 through the 552 and forget about the Rega aria?

You need to have a listen ... then YOU can decide, as opposed to others making the decision for you.

You simply cannot come to a proper informed decision by just seeking opinions and without an actual audition.

What they like may not be in your best interests and not to your personal taste ... but it's your money and your choice. 

Zackwater posted:

Would I be better running the rp10 through the 552 and forget about the Rega aria?

Mr Frog is right, only your ears will decide.  I find that the superline on your 552 would be a better choice than the aria, but it is better to listen and decide by yourself.

Sometimes “buying local” is its own reward.  Owning an ultimate-thing on the Moon incurs a real discount, as you suggest.

I think reconcilliation of the benefits of your remoteness with the delights of an ultimate-performance object, supportable at some distance from a major city, must conclude with a practical compromise. 

The compromise you accept will be of interest.  Fear not any judgement from “the city”.

If I was taking a record player to e.g. Antarctica, it would be a Rega, FWIW.

Sincerely, from my own outpost,

Nick

Zackwater posted:

Mr Frog posted:

You need to have a listen ... then YOU can decide, as opposed to others making the decision for you.

You simply cannot come to a proper informed decision by just seeking opinions and without an actual audition.

So I do this how?  There is no Naim/Rega dealer within 7 hours of my house.  

You may be in an unfortunate position that leaves you without many dealer options. Most spending your level of budget have a history with various decks, carts and stages; some personal experience to go with (i.e., upgrading). Correct me if wrong but I get the sense you're jumping into vinyl as a relative novice, or maybe after a long hiatus? Do you have a LP library?

If jumping in cold, it might be worthwhile to lower your sights and begin with lesser gear bought s/h. Cut your losses/regrets through experimentation while gaining direct knowledge. Build from there over time to a vinyl source commensurate with the rest of your gear.

Otherwise, if looking for some sort of magical or no-brainer answer on how to blindly spend up to $20K on your vinyl side, it's chancy you'll find a definitive fit here for your room and ears. Time to do your homework by reading professional reviews, scouring the TT/vinyl forums, and make your own best informed decision on how to best spend your money. Parts of your answer may lie on the Naim forum, but certainly not the entirety.

Now those two posts are why I stay on this forum.  Thank you both.  As for “local” I have one option-McIntosh.  There is a mt5 I have listened to, But it has the cheap factory installed cartridge and no separate phonostage. The tonearm feels cheap.  I’m leaning toward just buying the ro10 and hooking it up to my 552.  I have been out of vinyl for 25 years and I may hate it.  One of the reasons I want a second source is due to my nds dropping songs at the worst possible times.  Such as after a very hard, stressful day at work and I want to listen to my music in my chair in my man cave.  I have about 50 albums and my kids always want to know what to buy Dad, within a year with my obsessive personality I’m sure I will own 200 if I enjoy playing them.  If I take this route the worse thing that could happen is I trade the rp10 to my dealer next year when I upgrade from the 300dr to the 500dr.  I just love the hunt!

As part of your hunt, I have a suggestion for you; you're considering the Rega RP10, and why not, it's a phenomenal deck, up there with the very best, but at a price that makes it look quite reasonable against some of the 5 or even 6 figure decks out there. Oh yes, and I own one and have used it pretty much every day that I've been home since the day I bought it...

However, before making any decision, I would advise you having a read of the Rega book - A Vibration measuring Machine. That way you will have a better appreciation of Rega the company and of a founder, Roy Gandy, who really does seem to know what he's talking about.

Zack,

I got my SN2 from Germany - 10 hours flying time.

I understand your point regarding the difficulty of auditions and especially when folks say - YOU AUDITION.... YOU DECIDE...

:-))

Richard Dane offers some nice and safe advise and if your funds permit you might choose to start with an RP10 with the onboard cart and maybe a year down the line play with another cart

I use a Lehmann Audio SE2 PWX phono and its quite good though not in the high priced league.

If i were you - far away from the dealer - i would go for the brand with the best sound and a good resale value and i think Rega fits the bill

But i must tell you - i run an old Akai AP D30 with a Nagaoka MP30 cart and the lehmann audio phono and i am mighty happy with the sound. ( see system pics 2018 page 26 )

To my mind - the TT is just a record spinner ( with reliable speed and low vibrations ) and its the cart and phono combo that takes over..

The Planar 6 is a fine TT as well and you may choose this as a start point till you build up a good vinyl collection to justify the extra dollars on the deck.

regards

I bought a second hand Planar3 15 years ago.  I took it directly to my Rega dealer for freshening with the prescribed motor upgrade and a new Elys cartridge.  Other than to have an Exact swapped in a few years ago (driven only by curiosity, the Elys was not tired) I never needed to have it serviced again.  Just sold it, as I found a used RP10 — lucky!

Both of these decks have the power to amaze.  The decks I was used to in the 70s and 80s were not even close.  The rumble and resonance we accepted seems so quaint from today’s vantage point.

The RP10 is a marvelous thing, but I always mourn the departure of a cracker like the 3 with its VFM.

Nick

[@mention:69426746128827266] I’m not sure what dealer you use, but the US distributor for Rega is in Dallas, which is a little over 4 hours by car from Little Rock.  There is also a good Rega (& Linn) dealer in Dallas; Audio Concepts.  I’m sure the two separately, or together, can arrange for you to audition any piece of Rega kit.

Another option you should consider in the price range you’ve mentioned is Peter Swain at [@mention:1566878603906177] and the Linn LP12.  Even though Peter is located in the UK, he travels around the globe and could do the setup in your home and possibly even save you costs over a US dealer.  

I’m located in Houston and have had positive experiences with both dealers I’ve mentioned, as well as The Sound Org (Rega distributor).

MarkMcK79 posted:

Another option you should consider in the price range you’ve mentioned is Peter Swain at [@mention:1566878603906177] and the Linn LP12.  Even though Peter is located in the UK, he travels around the globe and could do the setup in your home and possibly even save you costs over a US dealer.  

this New Yorker agrees 100%. 

A 552/300 amp deserves an exceptional record player no point connecting up an RP1 great budget deck though it is and because of the set up issues of the LP12 especially after a long journey it has to be an RP10 or perhaps an RP8.

Personally I wouldnt spend rp10 money just to get a record deck, unless I had a stack of vinyl that I wanted to start playing again. I might go for rp6/ania/aria; its half the price.

Plus I understand practicalities make it difficult to hear these things. However a good friend has just bought an rp10/apheta/aria, and I have just bought avid diva ii sp/rb808/benz ace plus cyrus phono signature/psxr2. Including the phono stage, I think I paid £1k more. My cyrus combo is twice the price of his aria, and the avid is £3k without arm. His rb2000 is twice my rb808, and the apheta costs more than my benz. Anyway, while we both appreciate each others systems, I couldnt live with his rega and he couldnt live with my avid. The rp10 might be a world class turntable, but that doesnt mean youd love it.