Trinity of Turntables

[jcooze]

There are/were three intriguing turntables on Trademe of today, two at least have had mention on our forum. I guess I'd like others thoughts on the relative values of them.

 

1. REGA 25 RB600 arm, Koetsu Black cart, "several years old", reserve (and starting bid) of $1,750.00. Buy Now for $1,950.00, Closes tomorrow

 

2. From AE despatches: Rega P5 Turntable, with significent extras, Rega Power supply, Phono stage, Exact cartridge. 10 months old, reserve price was: $2,200.00

 

3. DUAL Luxury Series CS-455 Turntable. Includes original DUAL DMS 251 E cartridge and 2 stylii one is new Start price (and reserve) was $250.00

 

If we could assume, for the sake of discussion, that these were all functioning well enough to run well, aesthetics were up to WAF standards, we'd all acknowledged what a difference a room makes, my style of music was eclectic enough to not pin me down to one or two genres etc. Compare & contrast these three.

 

I'd estimate you were saving $1k - $1200 off the list price from a new P5, the Rega 25 I know next to nothing about, the Dual I've heard described as "competent".

 

Are the Regas really worth ~10 times the coin of that Dual? Would one realistically expect to get 9.5 times the pleasure out of the Rega models in cointrast to the Dual. I meant contrast but cointrast seemed apt.

 

Is the Dual a piece of boring detritus?

 

I'd acknowledge there are so many variables in these equations that you could say this in an unanswerable question. But I think you know what I mean.

[Guest]

1. Love the look of the 25 but it always sounded more like a souped-up P3 than a detuned P9.

 

3. Dual, the poor man's Thorens ?

Boring yes; detritus, not quite but there are much better Duals (eg, early 1200s, 700s, 600s).

 

2. My pick.

Looks great, sounds great, easy to use and easy to upgrade (IIRC the P25 can't be upgraded with the PSU) plus the P5 has a nicer plinth and arm.

 

Worth 10x the Dual ?

Yes.

 

9.5x the pleasure ?

YMMV but generally, yes.

[NeilNZ]

Definitely number 2... modern, with all relevant accessories and even some upgrades.

[joe90]

i would try to get an early planer 3 and put an Audiomods arm on

then you would get some serious bang for your buck

but number 2 for me if i was in the market