The tactile art of needle-on-vinyl
music reproduction is alive and kicking. And these three proponents are right
in the groove
Product of the year
Best turntable $750-$1,125
Rega RP3/Elys2: $825
For the best part of a decade Rega has
dominated the mid-priced turntable category. The RP3’s predecessor, the P3-24,
won no fewer than four awards in this price band, and this is the RP3’s second
win, the first also being a Product of the Year title. That’s an impressive
track record.
Rega
RP3/Elys2, the best turntable $750-$1,125
Like every Rega deck we’ve ever reviewed,
the RP3 is a simple design. It has little in the way of suspension, bar a trio
of rubber feet, and is as manual as these things get. Want to change speed?
You’ll have to move the drive belt from one step of the motor pulley to the
next by hand.
That simplicity is half the charm of this
product, but it’s not the reason Rega decks tend to do well in our reviews.
That’s all down to the excellent engineering. These are carefully conceived,
immaculately engineered decks that have evolved over decades. There are no
rough edges in the design.
The RP3 may look just like previous
offerings, but look closely and you’ll see the plinth features bracing between
the arm-base and main bearing, and the long-running RB300 arm has been given a
gentle makeover.
While it’s possible to buy this turntable
without a cartridge saving around $112.5 on the price we’ve quoted – we would
recommend going for the complete package. That package includes Rega’s
excellent Elys2 moving magnet cartridge, which is a capable design that – as
you would expect – works seamlessly with arm and deck.
Careful installation brings rewards
The lack of suspension means the RP3 is a
little fussy about its positioning and support, but get it right and this
record player shines.
It’s doesn’t matter if it’s the rock of
REM, or the jazz of Coltrane, this Rega has the insight, sure-footed timing and
dynamic discrimination to impress.
This is the kind of product that concentrates
the listener’s attention on the music and nothing else. Yes, if you want to
analyze the recording the RP3 will oblige, but we suspect it won’t be long
before you just sit back and enjoy the music. It’s what Rega’s decks have
managed for years.
Best turntable up to $750
Pro-ject Debut Carbon: $450
It’s a shame that Pro-ject decided to use
the well-established Debut name for this record player. As good as the
company’s Debut models have been over the years, this is a far more ambitious
design than those that have gone before. That design ambition translates into a
brilliant sound for the money.
Pro-ject
Debut Carbon
The major technical highlight is the use of
a carbon-fiber arm. Such things are normally reserved for far more exotic
offerings, usually involving four-figure price tags. Remember, the Debut Carbon
retails for just $450 and comes pre-fitted with a cartridge.
There have been other upgrades over earlier
models too. The Carbon has a heavier platter, revised motor mountings and a
better cartridge in the form of Ortofon’s hugely capable 2M Red, which usually
retails for around $120 on its own. That represents serious value when included
in a package of this price.
As with any turntable, care in set-up is
rewarded richly. The debut doesn’t have any isolating suspension bar a set of
compliant feet, so make sure its support is as rigid and vibration-free as
possible. Keeping the deck perfectly level and well away from the speakers is
always a good idea too.
Get it all right and this is a deck to
savor. Play The xx’s debut set and it’s the insight and sure-footed portrayal
of rhythms that impress. The groups’ understated vocals are presented with
subtlety, and the high frequencies are clean without being bright. Most of all,
it’s the Pro-ject’s ability to reveal the emotional core of the music that
appeals.
This is a far more ambitious design
than those that have gone before, and that ambition translates into a brilliant
sound
Unfazed by musical complexity
Shift musical genres to the likes of
Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and this package’s confidence with huge dynamic
swings and complex instrumentation comes to the fore. For a deck at this price
level, the Carbon delivers a surprisingly polished performance.
Pro-ject has been producing call-leading
budget turntables for many years now, but we think this is one of the company’s
finest achievements and more than deserving of Best Buy status.
Best turntable $1,125+
Rega RP6/Exact: $1,500
If Rega’s RP6 has a problem it’s the visual
similarity to its little brother, the RP3, winner of this year’s Product of the
Year. If the cheaper deck is so good, and looks pretty much the same, why spend
the extra money?
Rega
RP6/Exact, the best turntable $1,125+
A casual glance won’t reveal much, but take
a closer look and there are many engineering differences between the two. The
RP6’s glass platter has a greater concentration of mass towards its rim, which
increases inertia (so helping speed stability) without adding too much to the
overall weight. Rega engineers have long felt excessive mass spoils sound
quality.
Other upgrades see the inclusion of an
outboard power supply, which gives the RP6 an electronic speed change –
something we’re always happy to see on a turntable.
We’ve heard rivals that deliver
similar amounts of information but none that does it in such an attractive
manner
Keep the Exact specification
The plinth and arm designs are much the
same as on the cheaper model, and none the worse for that. Both are
well-proven.
You can buy the turntable without Rega’s
Exact cartridge for $1200, but we wouldn’t. The complete package works so well
that there’s little to gain from a mix-and-match approach.
Once the listening starts the RP6 outpoints
its little brother as much as the price difference suggests. This is fast and
agile-sounding package that delivers loads of detail without emphasizing the
fact. There are clear gains in transparency and definition over the cheaper
RP3, though the sonic character of the two decks remains consistent.
In full flow the RP6 is a magnificently
engaging turntable that’s as happy charging along to Nirvana’s Never mind as it
is delivering large-scale symphonic pieces such as Holst’s Mars. This package’s
wide-ranging dynamics and sure sense of rhythm make it a real treat to listen
to, while the sound staging is suitably precise.
Most importantly, this Rega organizes the
mass of information it digs up into a musically entertaining whole. We’ve heard
rivals that deliver similar amounts of insight but none that does it in such an
attractive manner. We think this is the finest turntable package at this price.
