Rega Planar 3 Upgrades

[MaryWhitehouse]

Good point. Before I order, can they all be fitted out of the box, or will I need to mess about with shims and spacers?

Out of the box. Ignore thoughts of VTA just print a protractor to align.

 

[mcooling]

Out of the box. Ignore thoughts of VTA just print a protractor to align.

Excellent. I’ve just ordered, should be with me tomorrow

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

Excellent. I’ve just ordered, should be with me tomorrow

The website Vinyl Engine has protractors just make sure to print at 100%. The carts should have a screw driver and various lengths of screw to get the best result. It’s not difficult just have good light and patience.

 

[mcooling]

Oh goodie, there’s about 20 different types and techniques to choose from!! This is part of why I feared changing cart...so which one should I be using???

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

It says

I'd use the Rega Stevenson as it has a bit wider range of fit

But the Rega Baerwald is good too.

 

[bogart99]

They don’t care. Really they don’t. They sell the easy returns as part of their offer. And yes they eventually go into their warehouse items.

They do seem to have a fairly relaxed attitude. I bough a circular saw blade off them only last week. Was not as described so I wanted a refund. Usual thing return label etc take to Post Office so I contacted them saying due to Covid could not go to P.O. told okay no problem just keep it. I wonder at what price point they insist on return?

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

They do seem to have a fairly relaxed attitude. I bough a circular saw blade off them only last week. Was not as described so I wanted a refund. Usual thing return label etc take to Post Office so I contacted them saying due to Covid could not go to P.O. told okay no problem just keep it. I wonder at what price point they insist on return?

Nearly everything has to go back, but it's very easily done and often refunded within hours of posting. Yes they can mess up but 99% if you chat with them they sort it out. I know we should be supporting small business but I'm sorry to say that most times I try I end up with rubbish and bad service.

 

[bogart99]

I am not a fan of Mr Bezos at all, far from it, but I do not think you can fault Amazon on the customer service front. Also as you mentioned items have a return window until end of Jan 2021 why not avail oneself of a good audition period.

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

I am not a fan of Mr Bezos at all, far from it, but I do not think you can fault Amazon on the customer service front. Also as you mentioned items have a return window until end of Jan 2021 why not avail oneself of a good audition period.

Couldn’t agree more about Mr Bezos. A slight upside is if you use the Amazon Smile website (exact same content slightly different address) you get the same price and benefits but a small portion goes to a charity of your choice.

 

[bogart99]

Yes I do that and give to Yorkshire Cats! I also have Giveasyoulive on my system which if a company offers a discount will flag it up and donate a % also. Even Ebay is listed. If everybody had this on their pc etc would help ones choosen charity at no expense to oneself.

 

[matthewpiano78]

I'd prefer to support a local independent hi-fi specialist than put more money into Amazon's coffers. Amazon may offer good customer service in one sense, but you can never build a relationship with them, and they are unable to offer the friendly and expert advice that the best dealers can.

 

[oscroft]

Couldn’t agree more about Mr Bezos. A slight upside is if you use the Amazon Smile website (exact same content slightly different address) you get the same price and benefits but a small portion goes to a charity of your choice.

Hmm, now if only they had a site where a small portion of the price went towards treating their employees better...

 

[mcooling]

I'd prefer to support a local independent hi-fi specialist than put more money into Amazon's coffers. Amazon may offer good customer service in one sense, but you can never build a relationship with them, and they are unable to offer the friendly and expert advice that the best dealers can.

Totally agree. I’ll be sending them all back after the test, then buying the one I choose from an indie

 

[bogart99]

I'd prefer to support a local independent hi-fi specialist than put more money into Amazon's coffers. Amazon may offer good customer service in one sense, but you can never build a relationship with them, and they are unable to offer the friendly and expert advice that the best dealers can.

Not disagreeing with that at all. Think you must admit is good to use them as a reference platform and then as mcooling says try out your local guy.

 

[bogart99]

Hmm, now if only they had a site where a small portion of the price went towards treating their employees better...

Do you live in Cloud Cuckoo land? The guy only earns, using that term very liberally, the average person's, whoever he/she is, wage every 5 seconds. Who cannot deny the world is ****ed? Will probably getting a bollocking of the AV politically correct police for this statement. Much like I did years ago about a comment I made about Steve Jobs, well not so much him but Apple's ethos if it has one. I think brilliantly summed up by latest review of Apple phone here. £1k plus for a phone!!!

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

I'd prefer to support a local independent hi-fi specialist than put more money into Amazon's coffers. Amazon may offer good customer service in one sense, but you can never build a relationship with them, and they are unable to offer the friendly and expert advice that the best dealers can.

If there was one within 100 miles that didn’t model themselves on a chocolate fire guard I’d agree but here it’s too far with too little choice or seevice

Hmm, now if only they had a site where a small portion of the price went towards treating their employees better...

Never get a pizza or an eBay parcel delivered?

Totally agree. I’ll be sending them all back after the test, then buying the one I choose from an indie

Now I disagree with that. If you’ve used them to audition you should buy from them if you enjoy the product.

 

[matthewpiano78]

Totally agree. I’ll be sending them all back after the test, then buying the one I choose from an indie

I agree with @MaryWhitehouse on this one. Doing what you propose is abusing Amazon.

If you have a decent dealer within reach they will be able to demonstrate different options to you so that you can choose and buy from them. If you haven't got that option where you live and you decide to trial carts using Amazon, then it is only right that you should purchase from them.

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

I’ve had great dealers in the past. One in particular when I was young was fabulous, long gone of course. I tried to buy used from the ‘local’ one at the weekend. Rang up to ask about some speakers listed on their website. Didn’t know which shop they were in, didn’t try and find out and couldn’t have been less interested when I asked about new budget speakers. Sorry but I won’t spend money for that. I’d rather take more risk and buy used, preferably here, which I did and I’m listening too now.

 

[mcooling]

I agree with @MaryWhitehouse on this one. Doing what you propose is abusing Amazon.

If you have a decent dealer within reach they will be able to demonstrate different options to you so that you can choose and buy from them. If you haven't got that option where you live and you decide to trial carts using Amazon, then it is only right that you should purchase from them.

Can’t do right for doing wrong now That said, ‘abusing Amazon’ sounds like a world first.

 

[mcooling]

In other news, I think my life’s just been turned upside down. Among all this upgrade chatter, I managed to get my hands on a Cyrus CDi CD player to try out. OH. MY. GOODNESS!

I’ve got to say in all honesty, the sound quality is from another planet. Absolutely astounding.

 

[MaryWhitehouse]

In other news, I think my life’s just been turned upside down. Among all this upgrade chatter, I managed to get my hands on a Cyrus CDi CD player to try out. OH. MY. GOODNESS!

I’ve got to say in all honesty, the sound quality is from another planet. Absolutely astounding.

Hah that’s great. Hopefully points to a tt setup problem too which should be easily resolved. Good news!

 

[bogart99]

I doubt you’ll hear much difference. I’d spend money on a new cart and lots of records.

And a lot more fun. I am still amazed at what bargains on the secondhand market can be found.

 

[mcooling]

Hah that’s great. Hopefully points to a tt setup problem too which should be easily resolved. Good news!

Yep. Pinning my hopes on the cart upgrade now. The adjustable cones arrived today from Iceni, so I’ll get them fitted and levelled up. They look smashing.

 

[bogart99]

I agree with @MaryWhitehouse on this one. Doing what you propose is abusing Amazon.

If you have a decent dealer within reach they will be able to demonstrate different options to you so that you can choose and buy from them. If you haven't got that option where you live and you decide to trial carts using Amazon, then it is only right that you should purchase from them.

That is the problem in a lot of cases such as 'decent' and 'within reach' both can be awkward if for example you are like me in Norfolk where good HiFi shops are a bit thin on the ground. If I sampled cartridges from Amazon I think I would end up buying from them as only sort of fair.
Today I visited Patrick at Iceni Audio here in Norwich. What a splendid chap talks utter sense and makes a good range of sensibly thought out items. Is not on any hard selling programme. We talked for ages about this that and the other, all hifi related of course, lots of it down memory lane. Considering he has designed his own turntable from the ground up good on him. I bough a record weight and platter mat, mix of cork/felt from him. Like the platter mat as the colour, red/pink matches the plinth on my Rega.

 

[ben38]

Can’t do right for doing wrong now That said, ‘abusing Amazon’ sounds like a world first.

Isn't abusing Amazon a good thing?