[mikeliao]

I've been looking to get into vinyl for a long time. In my area, the only budget TT I can get my hands on are the Rega P3 and the Pro-ject Expression. I know there are other choices out there but I don't want to purchase a TT by mail or deal with importing stuff. Support your local hi-fi dealer.

The simplicity of the Rega tonearm is really attractive; however, the power at my place sometimes is not very clean. How much will this influence the sound?

The Pro-ject Expression can utilize the accessory speedbox to eliminate power/speed problems but what's with the 8.6" arm and can it compare with the RB300?

It just happens that I can get either one for roughly $600.

Any thoughts on which TT to get? Thanks.

 

[tennisets]

Can you listen to both of them? That would be the best course of action.

I personally really like the Rega tables, and I have a P5, but I've never heard the Pro-ject, so I can't give you a very useful opinion.

 

[mikeliao]

No, I can't listen to them. Vinyl users are very rare here so I don't know anyone with these tables. And the dealers won't even open the box much less set one up and give it a spin. Guess I could wait until I return home to the US and go listen to my brother-in-law's setup.

Oh, that P3 is $600 and new because its been sitting in that dealers's store for the last year and a half. $600 for a new P3 is good deal isn't it?

 

[memepool]

600USD should be about average. It's 274UKP RRP in the UK so it doesn't seem like a particularly amazing deal. The Project even less so as its 249UKP RRP but usually discounted. Of these two most people would rate the Rega.

What about Technics, Vestax or Denon direct drives? I would have thought these would be more of a bargain in the far east as they havn't had so far to travel?
There is a cool Denon deck which isn't imported into Europe I think called a DP-800M.

Are you planning to lug it back with you?

 

[mikeliao]

Not many vinyl users or dealers here. But the great part is lots of used vinyl...cheap too.

Not lugging it from China back to the US. If I was in a lugging mood, I'd purchase something in the US or online and bring it back to China. That 220/110 voltage thing is a pain though.

Technics, Vestax, and Denon huh? I'll have to look around. Haven't seen Vestax around but lots of Technics and Denon general audio stuff; home theater, amplifiers, etc. Wonder if the dealers can special order something for me.

Or... any Hong Kong head-fi users here? Is there a TT specialist in HK? Or a particulary nice store that's nice to newbies? P3 and Expression prices cheaper there?

 

[memepool]

http://audiotools.com/dist_hk.html

this is a great site with a wealth of info on turntables ancient and modern, and a list of dealers in China. The Denon DP-1300M was the one I was thinking of. this is not sold anywhere outside of the far east and would definitely be worth checking.

I would have thought Hong Kong would be a great place for Hi-Fi being closer to all the eastern factories and having had a wealthy population for a long time. There may even be some vintage hi-end stuff to be had. Look out for 2nd hand top of the range Japanese turntables from the late 70's, early 80's from Marantz, Denon, Nakamichi, Trio and Sony. These would be worth lugging.

More luggable still are high-end moving coil cartridges from Supex, Koetsu, Kiseki and Lyra.

Not forgetting of course some Stax headphones...

That said the Chinese and Japanese also seem to be well into European Hi-Fi. I have sold things like a Linn Valhalla power supply and Uher Report Monitor to buyers in Hong Kong and Tokyo....

 

[quoteunquote]

not to highjack this thread..but what turntable should i look for if i'm on a really low budget? as in..sub $200.

 

[memepool]

For this kind of money i think you are limited to the 2nd hand market. If you are familiar with turntables then look for something like a Thorens TD146/150/160/166 which offer great upgrade potential when funds allow and are very good as they are.

If you are a vinyl newbie and want something more plug and play look for Dual CS505 or any of their older decks, NAD 5120, Sansui SR222, Pioneer PL12D or pretty much anything by Technics. These were all budget stallwarts in the 70's and 80's. Bang And Olufsen also made some fine budget decks but the needles are very expensive to replace (150USD) so if you see one of these make sure you check it thoroughly.

You might even get lucky and find a 2nd hand Rega Planar 2 which is the budget deck pretty much every other budget deck has been based on for the last 25 years.

 

[daycart1]

YOu can't go wrong with either of those TT, so don't sweat it too much! I prefer the looks of the P3--that could make a difference in a close call! What will you put the turntable on? The P3 is not terribly fussy about its platform--can't remember about the Project on that score.....