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REVIEW: Rega P3 2000 Turntables

Model:	P3 2000
Category:	Turntables
Suggested Retail Price:	$750
Description:	New version of the classic Rega Planar 3, with RB300 tonearm
Manufacturer URL:	Rega
Manufacturer URL:	Rega

Review by Don T (A) on April 29, 2007 at 23:07:38 IP Address: 72.208.129.48

Add Your Review for the P3 2000

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I've owned two Rega Planar 3s and one P3. This review is on the P3 that I currently own. No I haven't compared a P3 directly with a Planar 3. I did own and use a Planar 3 for almost 10 years and have a P3 for the last two years. I consider my comments applicable to either the Planar 3 or the P3. If someone wants to differentiate between the two in a response that would be great.

I've used these decks in a variety of different rooms and different systems. I'm going to attempt to comment on the sound of this deck below but right up front I admit it's one of the best turntables I've ever owned regardless of price.

It's not so much about how the P3 sounds, it mostly about thow the P3 and the Planar 3 portray music. In all my experiences with this table the table allow music to flow with purpose. I'm not sure I can verbalize this quality but in a nutshell, music, at least how I expect it to be, is reproduced with drive, swagger and propulsion. I've never heard another TT do this better than the Rega, not even my much more expensive Roksan Xerxes DX2 combination. The Roksan, like many other TT even those at the P3 price, is much more articulate and detailed than the P3. The Roksan however, is the only TT that I'm familiar that arranges/organizes it's articulation and detail in such a way to that puts propulsion, drive, artistic intent and conviction at the forefront. The P3s ability to convey the drive and propulsion of music, from instant to instant is not only better than every TT I've heard it's also better than every CD player I've heard. I think in general most CDPs do this better than most TTs, the Roksan and the Rega are in my experiences exceptions to the rule. I'm sure there's other exceptions - I just haven't heard them. Maybe the LP12 but IMO it, at least the pre-cirkus model I owned, achieves a similar effect through a crafted frequency response. I don't know for sure that the Rega and Roksan aren't doing a similar thing but with a less obvious and more effective frequency balance. I really can't explain this quality but I know I hear it.

Compared to more expensive, and some similarly priced decks the Rega might sound somewhat harmonically threadbare, and thin with a soft bass. Don't get me wrong the P3 is harmonically colorful but not at the expense of musical drive and propulsion - a tradeoff I think many TTs make, even some very expensive one. It's also not as rich or as full bodied as some TTs though the first time I heard one I thought it was all midrange. The bass is relatively deep and articulated though not as extended or powerful as I've heard from other players at it's price. Then again everything is relative and based on one's experiences. These are mine.

Someone in another review thinks it does soundstage well. I don't think so. I think, compared to better decks, images are somewhat diffuse. Yea there's a reasonable attempt at side to side placement but not up to the standards I've heard on other decks. I'm not even going to comment on front to back depth. These things hardly matters to me at all - and I admit it's possible that deck could be a champion at these things but the rest of my gear isn't up to it's standard. Maybe? Like said I don't really care.

The P3 sounds like whatever it's resting on. It's a suspensionless design and not isolated from its perch. If you put it on a big wooden entertainment center then that's what it will sound like. Over the years I've had it on some pretty poor supports. It rewards the owner who gives it a nice support. This isn't expensive, the best, IMO again, is the dedicated Rega wall mount.

My favorite cartridges on this table were a Grado Signature 8, a Dynavector 10x4 and my current Denon 103. The Elys also worked well but was more system dependent than the other 3. There was a plethora of other cartridges I tried that aren't worth mentioning. The RB300 is a great cost effective arm and I'm going to be mounting a Dynavector 20L on it in a couple of months. I wouldn't take it much beyond. If I wanted to invest in more expensive cartridges I'd do a table upgrade - the Roksan Xerxes DX2 or a full out Orbe for example with arms in the 2K+ range. This is just me - a dealer I know thinks all one needs to enjoy expensive carts is a P3 on a wall mount. Me, I think you'll be selling your high dollar cartridges short.

All and all a great product for the money. An affordable TT that can hold it's own in systems consisting of components far more expensive than itself.

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Product Weakness:	Needs dedicated stand. As great as it the RB300 is somewhat overrated. Way too many "upgrades" available that more than likely screw up the TT than help it out.
Product Strengths:	Great music for the money. If someone likes it's take on music it might be all someone ever needs. If it works for you like it works for me, there is never going to be a real need to replace it and good luck maintaining it's virtues when you go to try to "upgrade" it.

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Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Melody i2A3, NAD 352, Exposure XV, Exposure DR4 and XVII
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	Exposure 6/7, Exposure 21
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	HK T20, Sota Sapphire, Linn LP12, Roksan Xerxes
Speakers:	Living Voice Avatars, Spendor SP100s, PSB Stratus Golds, Polk Monitor 10B
Cables/Interconnects:	lots
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	pop/rock
Room Size (LxWxH):	1 x 1 x 1
Room Comments/Treatments:	none
Time Period/Length of Audition:	12 years
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	none
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner
Your System (if other than home audition):	see my profile

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