The best turntable $500 or less is easily the Fluance RT85. I realize you guys don't sell it, so you don't plug it, but it's hands down the best turntable for the money. I have a Rega Planar 2, and it's now my secondary unit to the Fluance RT85.
Right you are, as they’re not supplied to brick-and-mortar retailers. Still a glaring omission, in my opinion. And yes it sounds amazing, to put it mildly. I’m running mine with a ML stylus
@@vitalieBu Hello, Vitalie. My Studiodeck is equipped with the Hana EH high output moving coil cartridge. The combination is very neutral, so well suited to all kinds of music, and reproduces acoustic instruments with very natural sound. It was set up by the dealer, and it has been completely without any problems. It should last indefinitely. I have also been using a record cleaning machine since the 1980s (a Nitty Gritty), and recommend a RCM to anyone playing LPs. But you probably already know about those. 😀 Good luck with whatever you decide, and thanks for asking about my experience. I would definitely buy the same turntable and cartridge again, and from the same dealer, if they happen to be reasonably close to you. Note: I have no relationship with any of these companies or brands, nor with any other company. I’m a retired music lover who has been enjoying the hobby since the 1950s. Still going strong. AMA 😂
@@davidgoodman6538 thanks a lot for the information! There is a store near me where they sell new MoFi turntables.... and they happened to have 1 Studiodeck and 1 UltraDeck both return/display items .... with around $300-$400 discount... and... since I saw them I can't sleep well 🙄. I'm thinking what should I get a "used" MoFi or a brand new Pro-Ject Debut Pro ...or maybe Rega P2 or P3. I really want the best sounding one ... MoFi also happens to look good as well. Unfortunately I couldn't find any proper reviews for this turntable on UA-cam. Again thank for your time. By the way...what speakers and amplifier, phono preamplifier do you use?
@@vitalieBu Hello, Vitalie. Glad to be of help. Assuming the open box MoFis are mint (not damaged or defective), I'm sure either one would be fine. I was temporarily without a turntable and was looking for something under $2k. I was considering the same three brands you named. My trusted salesperson, with whom I have worked for decades and who knows my musical tastes as well as my equipment, suggested what I bought. He specifically recommended the cartridge instead of either of the MoFi cartridges because of my musical tastes and the kind of sound I tailor my system for. Specifically, I have a background in band and orchestral playing, and have played or attended more concerts than I could count. I have also attended quite a few operas and ballets, and participated in numerous choral performances. So my goal for my stereo system is to reproduce those kinds of unamplified music, from small groups to large-scale performances involving perhaps two hundred or more people, and to have it sound as natural as possible, allowing for the fact that many or even most recordings are less than we would wish for them to be. My reasoning is that, if a system can do those things well, it can handle most anything else, assuming I'm playing it back at levels that are safe for my hearing. In keeping with those goals, I try to use equipment that is nearly as flat as possible to begin with, and then EQ it so the treble rolls off in such a way that one can listen for hours without fatigue. In addition to the turntable, my electronic equipment includes a couple of CD players (Pioneer Elite and OPPO) that will also play SACDs and HDCDs; a QUAD 99Pre preamp; a dBx 231s 1/3-octave equalizer; and a Denon POA-2800 200 Wpc power amplifier. Interconnects are just regular Dayton Audio and Monoprice cables. Notice that none of this is "bright" or "dark" in tonality. I don't really want to hear my equipment, and I don't want to upgrade anything, ever, unless it stops working and can't be repaired. Money is for recordings and concert tickets. And the rest of life, of course. I have three pair of speakers, all of which are either pretty flat, or can be easily EQed flat. My primary speakers are QUAD ESL-63s, and are really the only ones I listen to. In my room, and for my preferences, they need very little EQing. In fact, a Treble control that could be turned down a couple of notches would probably serve just fine. That's the big advantage of using speakers that already have a relatively flat response curve to begin with. My other speakers are from Infinity (the P363 floorstanders) and Polk Audio (the T50 floorstanders). Neither was very expensive. Oh, and my speaker cables are Dayton Audio speaker cable bought as a 50-foot spool. I use dual banana plugs because they're simple and convenient. Oh, and I do have a subwoofer, but never use it. It isn't needed in my room and for my music. And I don't do Home Theater. The most important piece of equipment you will ever have is the room, and the things in it, and how it's all arranged. As you probably know, moving your speakers can work wonders, and it's free! If this information helps you (or if it helps anyone else who may happen to read it), then I'm glad. All that's really important is that we treat each other well and enjoy our hobby.
I had the same Dual and bought a Rega P1 Plus (for a killer price) and I couldn't agree more. The P2 is an awesome TT! IMO Rega makes some of the best sounding turntables on the planet. If you haven't already you should look into their upgraded drive belt.
@@Diatonic5th I'm considering upgrading my turntable from Audio-Technica LP120XUSB to something closer to HI-End stuff . I'm thinking something around $1000. ( MoFi Studiodeck, Pro-Ject Debut Pro, Pro-Ject X1, Rega P2 or P3). Can you tell me what made you choose MoFi? Did you have any issues all this years...what the best about it? Thank you!
Nice overall review of these tables. They are all winners. I grabbed Project -The Classic and have been thrilled with it overall, having upgraded from the RPM-1 Carbon.
I got the Mofi Studiodeck last week and it is Amazing! Set the Anti skate and it is dialed in! Upgraded from a 7 year old Audio technica LP120usb (I did upgrade it with a Acrylic patter mat and got a AT540ML cartridge/stylus). The anti skate never worked on the 120 and I hated the integrated RCA cables and built in pre amp. The sound out of the Mofi is jaw dropping compared to the AT120.
Love this video. My (twin) brother and I are in a proverbial arms race with (on my part) a Rega P2, and on his part a Debut carbon Evo. I will argue in my favor that I'd never considered a "glass" platter upgrade on my Rega (that came with great one) but I do also appreciate that my brother threw on the pro-ject equivalent "glass" platter for about the same total cost. My deck (entire set-up)wins tho on account my Goldring E3. Vs his AT VMN740ML, and my Cambridge AXA35 vs his 1980s (but still spectacular) Yamaha CA600
Hi mate. for $1099 you can get the Pro-Ject 6 Perspex magnetic suspension turntable,with the 9cc Evolution tonearm fitted with the Sumico Blackbird cartridge.
Just ordered the Project Carbon I love the Ortofon Cartridge I cannot wait to hear the difference!!! I’m going from a cheap red needle to this! And purchased a pink Kanto speaker 🔈🤧💞💫😭
The Planar three is a big seller for a reason, its a really great table. I have a Blue Point #2 on mine, and it is dead quiet when playing, but you need the optional speed box to go with it, as they run a tad fast
@@AudioAdvice I just mounted it, no problem. Used the alignment tool I got with my OM2 .The front of my om2 matched the end of headshell portion of the arm like it was made for it, BTW. MC cartridge seems a bit better.
@@musicman8270 Great, we meant spacers under the arm. The BP2 is a bit taller than the Rega cartridges which means the back of the tonearm might have needed to come up. If you put the stylus down on the record and look at it from the side, if the arm is parallel to the record, you are good to go though. If it's low in the back, that is where spacers come in. And yes, the BP2 is a great sounding cartridge for eh $$
@@AudioAdvice Actually the tonearm is angled down slightly from the back. But the sound is great. This is a demo table, but everything looks stock. I'm really old school, my first serious table was a Pioneer snakearm with a Shure cartridge. Before that you wouldn't believe what my gear was. If it sounds great don't mess with it is my philosophy.
Michael, both of those are great tables. You might want to head to www.audioadvice.com and chat with one of our experts to help you pick the best turntable for your system. Also, if you are pushing $900 for the NAD, the Planar 3, for just a bit more is a great turntable, see our review here ua-cam.com/video/pAQZuX9TGRI/v-deo.html
You missed both the Fluance RT85 that comes with an Ortofon Blue Cart and an acrylic platter (hands down best deal at $500) and the Cambridge Alva TT, which is just over 1k, but with bluetooth apex hd and a nice MC Cart. Also, people are quick to dismiss Audio-Technica but they have some great affordable turntables and good sounding cartridges at decent prices.
Indeed... I have the RT84 (RT85 without acrylic platter) and love it. Also have my eye on the Cambridge Alva TT w/ AptxHD and LDAC for another room. Would be cool to stream it instead of hard wired.. I remember they dropped the price of this by around $500 a few months ago. So tempting.. When does this stop ???
Another excellent value is the Marantz TT-15S1 @ $1500 but no cover !!!!. I THINK this is a Clearaudio with a super fancy cartridge that if this were a Clearaudio branded turntable would be way north of $2K. I would love to see Audio Advise do best values in the $1K to $2.5K price points someday...
@@FelixtheMetalcat I recall Steve Gutenberg and Andrew Robinson sang Fluance’s praises on its more entry level models. I could never understand turntables that are priced in the stratosphere ($ 25K to way over $300K) other than more of a status symbol..... But that’s capitalism at its best !
the P2 is letdown by its included cartridge... I put the Sumiko Rainier on mine and it really improved it. If you look on the internet you will see Chinese knockoffs of the Audiotechnica cartridge that comes with the P2. Some of these sell for 15 bucks and they measure as well as the originals. So, I think Rega could have and should have done better with their choice of the cartridge that went on the P2.
While I should agree with you, I don't, the Rega Carbon (AT 3600L), while cheap, sounds fantastic and measures extremely well. The cheap tables it's normally mounted on can't keep up with its potential. I have upgraded mine as well but I still put on the Carbon and am astounded by how good it sounds, better to my ears than the Ortofon OM-5, and Red.
I somewhat agree, but instead of fitting a better cartridge, I wish that Rega did with the P2 like they did with the 3 and offered a no cartridge option. It's impressive what Rega managed to coax out of an AT3600, but at the end of the day it's a tuned AT3600. I should also add that I prefer overpaying 60 or so dollars for the fitted carbon than 90 dollars for a 2M Red or worse yet a 2M Blue or Nagaoka 110 that are both more up to the quality of the deck, but that I'd have ended up replacing all the same. For my money any turntable over $500 should have the option of no cartridge so that you can save a few bucks on the front end and chose your own.
The P2 with the Carbon cart is a bit of a puzzle for me. Stepping up from the P1 to the P2 but still getting the bottom of the market cartridge seems hard to justify to me. I don't know why they wouldn't have the Bias on the P2 instead of the Carbon, even if it meant adding a little bit more to the cost. In my local shop, the P2 and the Evo cost the same, however a Carbon cart costs €32 while the Ortofon Red on the Evo costs €109. So ostensibly better value considering the Evo doesn't seem to have any major drawbacks compared to the P2. Just not sure what niche the P2 is targeting, the cart seems to be a big downside.
Hmmmm. I had the Rega P2 with the Elyse II cartridge and I hated it. It was incredibly ordinary in my view. I found the difference between the original and the upgraded cartridge to be so small I felt like a fool for having done it! I sold the turntable and bought the MMF (I think it iOS a rebadged Project product) Granted, there is a reasonable price difference, but they are chalk and cheese.
Upgraded rb220 arm has bias adjustment now. Evo is still probably better value. What should happen though is both manufacturers should give you a no cartridge option. I ended up with the Rega, but if Pro Ject had offered $160 off and no 2M red I might have changed my mind. I guess the question was Dini care about a fitted cartridge that's twice as good when I'm going to almost immediately upgrade it anyway?
Thanks for the video - great advice. I have the MMF 7.1 (Music Hall which I think is Project rebadged) and I like everything about it except the 2 piece plinth and the fact that you can't play an album with the lid closed - a definite design flaw. I have the Quintet Blue on it and I love it. I have a second turntable and I need to get a new stylus - which is going to be hard as love the brightness of the Quintet. I have a Luxman PD277 and its s time for a new cartridge (or a hand me down from the MMF 7.1) Would you recommend the old Quintet for the Luxman and if so - What to put on the MMF?
Thank you! Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for more info, however you cannot beat the Quintet for the money. The Bronze version is even better, the Black is very finnicky for setup, Bronze is probably the better value. We did a comparison of the Quintet models, here is the link www.audioadvice.com/videos-reviews/ortofon-quintet-cartridges-series-overview/ We appreciate your comments!
i need to choose one, and the deciding factor for me is what country it’s made in. I don’t want any “designed in _______ manufactured in china, thailand, mexico, bangladesh, india, etcetera” and no parts sourced from those places either. You should mention where each turntable is made and if parts are all in house or sourced elsewhere. That’s very important to some people.
Thank you for your suggestion. We will include that next time in the written article that goes along with the video, although it is difficult to discern where all parts are obtained from.
Please reach out to our team to discuss the improvements. You might be better off just upgrading your phono cartridge as the Esprit is a good table. Thanks for watching
The turntable choice is incrising quickly today, but what about the " sound difference " from entry level ,medium or high end range except marketing issues. ? I own some classical turntable desined within the eighties and it is needed to spend 3 times of money to reach similar sound qality... The choice of the cartridge is also limited..
Please tell me which one of your recommended model has the capability for Tone Arm Height adjustment which is such an important feature to set up the cartridge properly. Thanks.
@@AudioAdvice Thanks for the reply. Is it true that for all Rega turntables, if they are installed with a Rega cartridge, the VTA will be exactly correct and no need to worry about tone arm height adjustment ????
Not sure if it's because of the poor state of the market or popular demand, but almost none of these products are available for under $1000 anymore. I've seen some Rega Planar 2 and Carbon Evo out there for around $600-800 depending on quality but every other one of these to buy new or slightly used is > $1000.
I want to go back to vinyl. I can almost ** myself for throwing away all my cd's :( Anyway, I am looking at the Pro-Ject X1 or Rega Planar 3. I have a Denon AVR-X4500H with a phono input for MM cardridges. So which one would you recommend ? And will they perfom nicely with a Ortofon 2M red ? And what is the difference between the Ortofon 2M Red Verso and the Ortofon 2M red? Thanks !
Vinyl is a ton of fun. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for the best advice. On the Red versions those are just different mounting options, for those two tables, the normal Red is the one you want. Thanks for watching
There are a few options, we would suggest you go to www.audioadvice.com and chat with one of our experts who can help you pick the best option based on your other system components
I’m about to upgrade very soon and looking at the Rega P2, and Pro-Ject Evo, what to do??!! I heard the Pro-Ject was comparable with the Rega P3, so was leaning toward the Pro-Ject, any opinions would help a lot!!
No Technics? No AudioTechnica? None on this list has strobe lights and fine speed adjust. Those very popular turntables that do have these features are basically implying to you that their turntables don't always, consistently, turn at the right speed so you need the strobe to manually check it, and the pitch adjust to correct it.
This is more of a sales pitch than a review. P2 with its very basic can’t compete with the Evo. Customers should be told that the anti-skate setting is not adjustable on the P2 so you are locked into a non-elliptical stylus (very basic cartridge). What about sound quality? P2 isn’t in the same ball park as the evo. People need to be informed about these things - Big oversights in this review
The Planar 2 does have anti-skate, it is a little slider on the arm that ranges from 0-2 grams. The tracking force has no scale and can be set using a standard stylus pressure gauge. We have put hundreds of better cartridges on P2's with great results. The EVO does offer a lot of features too with many more upgrade options, which is nice, but many people love the simplicity of the P2. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Fair enough . In the Uk where I'm from its £899. I auditioned one a month ago & I bought it. Had the chance to compare to a Rega P3 but I was happy with what I heard. I previously owned expensive belt drive decks that had problems & wanted the simplicity of the Technics.
This is odd. I have Project Debut Carbon EVO but it was shipped with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge by default I didn’t know having Sumiko cartridge even is an option.
I like the Project arm, and their cartridge choice. I just can't get beyond their finicky anti skate string, and weight combination, horrible idea. They have to redesign that.
There are 3 only: Thorens 402, Magnat 990, and Technics MK7. Everything else are coffee tables and good looking fashion furnitures. PS Mofi is more expensive than $1k.
Its all relative, if you only have a handful of records, yes, its a lot but many people have thousands of $$ into their collection and want to get all the sound they paid for
The Project X1 listed for $899.00 EVERYWHERE until last week. All of a sudden AUDIO ADVICE, and other sellers JACKED THE PRICE TO $999.00. You can bet NONE of these sellers have a legitimate explanation for the huge increase. What you will hear is BULLSHIT.
You should actually try one of these to see how much better it would sound than what you currently have. These are all great turntables and as far as where they are made, the Pro-Ject models are made in Europe, Rega in the UK and MoFi in the USA. Thanks for watching
Great video. Vinyl is still red hot with no signs of fading in popularity.
The best turntable $500 or less is easily the Fluance RT85. I realize you guys don't sell it, so you don't plug it, but it's hands down the best turntable for the money. I have a Rega Planar 2, and it's now my secondary unit to the Fluance RT85.
Right you are, as they’re not supplied to brick-and-mortar retailers. Still a glaring omission, in my opinion. And yes it sounds amazing, to put it mildly. I’m running mine with a ML stylus
It's impossible to buy in Europe for $500, is it still a good buy at $600? It sits right between the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO and Debut PRO for us.
I went with the Pro Ject X1 and upgraded with a Ortofon Bronze cartridge. Incredible
i realize it is pretty randomly asking but does anyone know a good site to watch newly released movies online ?
@Omari Walter lately I have been using flixzone. Just search on google for it :)
@Emilio Langston yea, been using Flixzone for since march myself :)
@Emilio Langston Thanks, I went there and it seems to work :D I really appreciate it !
@Omari Walter Happy to help :D
Absolutely love my MoFi Studiodeck! And I’m always glad to support Audio Advice, my go-to dealer since the 1970s.
Thank you David. We appreciate your support!
I'm considering MoFi Studiodeck...what do you like the most about it and did you have any issues with it? Thank you!
@@vitalieBu Hello, Vitalie. My Studiodeck is equipped with the Hana EH high output moving coil cartridge. The combination is very neutral, so well suited to all kinds of music, and reproduces acoustic instruments with very natural sound. It was set up by the dealer, and it has been completely without any problems. It should last indefinitely. I have also been using a record cleaning machine since the 1980s (a Nitty Gritty), and recommend a RCM to anyone playing LPs. But you probably already know about those. 😀 Good luck with whatever you decide, and thanks for asking about my experience. I would definitely buy the same turntable and cartridge again, and from the same dealer, if they happen to be reasonably close to you.
Note: I have no relationship with any of these companies or brands, nor with any other company. I’m a retired music lover who has been enjoying the hobby since the 1950s. Still going strong. AMA 😂
@@davidgoodman6538 thanks a lot for the information! There is a store near me where they sell new MoFi turntables.... and they happened to have 1 Studiodeck and 1 UltraDeck both return/display items .... with around $300-$400 discount... and... since I saw them I can't sleep well 🙄. I'm thinking what should I get a "used" MoFi or a brand new Pro-Ject Debut Pro ...or maybe Rega P2 or P3. I really want the best sounding one ... MoFi also happens to look good as well. Unfortunately I couldn't find any proper reviews for this turntable on UA-cam.
Again thank for your time. By the way...what speakers and amplifier, phono preamplifier do you use?
@@vitalieBu Hello, Vitalie. Glad to be of help. Assuming the open box MoFis are mint (not damaged or defective), I'm sure either one would be fine. I was temporarily without a turntable and was looking for something under $2k. I was considering the same three brands you named. My trusted salesperson, with whom I have worked for decades and who knows my musical tastes as well as my equipment, suggested what I bought. He specifically recommended the cartridge instead of either of the MoFi cartridges because of my musical tastes and the kind of sound I tailor my system for.
Specifically, I have a background in band and orchestral playing, and have played or attended more concerts than I could count. I have also attended quite a few operas and ballets, and participated in numerous choral performances. So my goal for my stereo system is to reproduce those kinds of unamplified music, from small groups to large-scale performances involving perhaps two hundred or more people, and to have it sound as natural as possible, allowing for the fact that many or even most recordings are less than we would wish for them to be. My reasoning is that, if a system can do those things well, it can handle most anything else, assuming I'm playing it back at levels that are safe for my hearing.
In keeping with those goals, I try to use equipment that is nearly as flat as possible to begin with, and then EQ it so the treble rolls off in such a way that one can listen for hours without fatigue.
In addition to the turntable, my electronic equipment includes a couple of CD players (Pioneer Elite and OPPO) that will also play SACDs and HDCDs; a QUAD 99Pre preamp; a dBx 231s 1/3-octave equalizer; and a Denon POA-2800 200 Wpc power amplifier. Interconnects are just regular Dayton Audio and Monoprice cables. Notice that none of this is "bright" or "dark" in tonality. I don't really want to hear my equipment, and I don't want to upgrade anything, ever, unless it stops working and can't be repaired. Money is for recordings and concert tickets. And the rest of life, of course.
I have three pair of speakers, all of which are either pretty flat, or can be easily EQed flat. My primary speakers are QUAD ESL-63s, and are really the only ones I listen to. In my room, and for my preferences, they need very little EQing. In fact, a Treble control that could be turned down a couple of notches would probably serve just fine. That's the big advantage of using speakers that already have a relatively flat response curve to begin with.
My other speakers are from Infinity (the P363 floorstanders) and Polk Audio (the T50 floorstanders). Neither was very expensive. Oh, and my speaker cables are Dayton Audio speaker cable bought as a 50-foot spool. I use dual banana plugs because they're simple and convenient.
Oh, and I do have a subwoofer, but never use it. It isn't needed in my room and for my music. And I don't do Home Theater.
The most important piece of equipment you will ever have is the room, and the things in it, and how it's all arranged. As you probably know, moving your speakers can work wonders, and it's free!
If this information helps you (or if it helps anyone else who may happen to read it), then I'm glad. All that's really important is that we treat each other well and enjoy our hobby.
I just picked up a P2 Rega. Blows my Dual CS 5000 away.
I had the same Dual and bought a Rega P1 Plus (for a killer price) and I couldn't agree more. The P2 is an awesome TT! IMO Rega makes some of the best sounding turntables on the planet. If you haven't already you should look into their upgraded drive belt.
upgrade that Audio Technica 3600 cartridge and you'll be laughing......great turntable.
@@earlyetman5588 just got the P3 with the Exact cartridge. Ordered the power supply as well, which is on the way.
Very pleased with my MoFi-Studiodeck. Try it with a Nagaoka-cartridge ;)
Thanks for your work on the channel - very informative!
The MoFi decks are outstanding for the price. I've had my UltraDeck for about 3 years now and love it.
@@Diatonic5th I'm considering upgrading my turntable from Audio-Technica LP120XUSB to something closer to HI-End stuff . I'm thinking something around $1000. ( MoFi Studiodeck, Pro-Ject Debut Pro, Pro-Ject X1, Rega P2 or P3). Can you tell me what made you choose MoFi? Did you have any issues all this years...what the best about it? Thank you!
Nice overall review of these tables. They are all winners. I grabbed Project -The Classic and have been thrilled with it overall, having upgraded from the RPM-1 Carbon.
I've been using a Rega P3 for a long time and agee wholeheartedly with your opinion on Rega turntables. Good Job
Yes, one of the best values out there in turntables, thanks for sharing and we are glad you enjoyed the video
I got the Mofi Studiodeck last week and it is Amazing! Set the Anti skate and it is dialed in! Upgraded from a 7 year old Audio technica LP120usb (I did upgrade it with a Acrylic patter mat and got a AT540ML cartridge/stylus). The anti skate never worked on the 120 and I hated the integrated RCA cables and built in pre amp. The sound out of the Mofi is jaw dropping compared to the AT120.
Great to hear! Enjoy!!
Still rocking with my Pioneer 518 from dorm. Ok, bought another 518 that was rehabilitated for another room.
Great choices. Thanks for watching
Is his shirt-tucked-in-without-a-belt look a subtle way of suggesting a direct drive table?
ahhh. I posted similar "He must be a direct drive....because he doesn't have a belt." before I saw your comment.
Love this video. My (twin) brother and I are in a proverbial arms race with (on my part) a Rega P2, and on his part a Debut carbon Evo.
I will argue in my favor that I'd never considered a "glass" platter upgrade on my Rega (that came with great one) but I do also appreciate that my brother threw on the pro-ject equivalent "glass" platter for about the same total cost.
My deck (entire set-up)wins tho on account my Goldring E3. Vs his AT VMN740ML, and my Cambridge AXA35 vs his 1980s (but still spectacular) Yamaha CA600
Speakers might matter a but too, so he's running AE 100s and I'm running Dali O1s
That is a cool battle! Have fun with the comparisons and enjoy the music!
Which one you prefer in between Rega Planar3 & Mofi Studiodeck & Project X1?
Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for thoughts on these models. Thanks for watching
Elegant, neat and great looking! Either one will do it for me!
Hi mate. for $1099 you can get the Pro-Ject 6 Perspex magnetic suspension turntable,with the 9cc Evolution tonearm fitted with the Sumico Blackbird cartridge.
Just ordered the Project Carbon I love the Ortofon Cartridge I cannot wait to hear the difference!!! I’m going from a cheap red needle to this! And purchased a pink Kanto speaker 🔈🤧💞💫😭
Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for watching!
Did you get your setup yet? How's it sound?
The Planar three is a big seller for a reason, its a really great table. I have a Blue Point #2 on mine, and it is dead quiet when playing, but you need the optional speed box to go with it, as they run a tad fast
Sounds like you have a nice rig. Yes, the optional TTPSU makes a big difference. Did you have to use spacers for your BP#2? Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice I just mounted it, no problem. Used the alignment tool I got with my OM2 .The front of my om2 matched the end of headshell portion of the arm like it was made for it, BTW. MC cartridge seems a bit better.
@@musicman8270 Great, we meant spacers under the arm. The BP2 is a bit taller than the Rega cartridges which means the back of the tonearm might have needed to come up. If you put the stylus down on the record and look at it from the side, if the arm is parallel to the record, you are good to go though. If it's low in the back, that is where spacers come in. And yes, the BP2 is a great sounding cartridge for eh $$
@@AudioAdvice Actually the tonearm is angled down slightly from the back.
But the sound is great. This is a demo table, but everything looks stock. I'm really old school, my first serious table was a Pioneer snakearm with a Shure cartridge.
Before that you wouldn't believe what my gear was. If it sounds great don't mess with it is my philosophy.
@@musicman8270 Some of those old Pioneers were beautiful! Shure M91ED or V15?
I'm looking at the rega planar 2 but how does that compare to the NAD - C 588?
Michael, both of those are great tables. You might want to head to www.audioadvice.com and chat with one of our experts to help you pick the best turntable for your system. Also, if you are pushing $900 for the NAD, the Planar 3, for just a bit more is a great turntable, see our review here ua-cam.com/video/pAQZuX9TGRI/v-deo.html
1:33 [no particular order, but we do start from the lowest price to the highest.]
That IS a particular order.
You missed both the Fluance RT85 that comes with an Ortofon Blue Cart and an acrylic platter (hands down best deal at $500) and the Cambridge Alva TT, which is just over 1k, but with bluetooth apex hd and a nice MC Cart. Also, people are quick to dismiss Audio-Technica but they have some great affordable turntables and good sounding cartridges at decent prices.
I like the Music Hall turntables as well. They could’ve included the Classic which is just in between prices.
Indeed... I have the RT84 (RT85 without acrylic platter) and love it. Also have my eye on the Cambridge Alva TT w/ AptxHD and LDAC for another room. Would be cool to stream it instead of hard wired.. I remember they dropped the price of this by around $500 a few months ago. So tempting.. When does this stop ???
Another excellent value is the Marantz TT-15S1 @ $1500 but no cover !!!!. I THINK this is a Clearaudio with a super fancy cartridge that if this were a Clearaudio branded turntable would be way north of $2K. I would love to see Audio Advise do best values in the $1K to $2.5K price points someday...
I agree that the Fluance RT 85 is a terrific value and should be on everyone's short list at its price point.
@@FelixtheMetalcat I recall Steve Gutenberg and Andrew Robinson sang Fluance’s praises on its more entry level models. I could never understand turntables that are priced in the stratosphere ($ 25K to way over $300K) other than more of a status symbol..... But that’s capitalism at its best !
Great video!
Very informative!
Had project for 20 yrs going for evo with MC cartridge best combination !
Awesome, thanks for sharing!!
My studiodeck is great! But I'll be moving up to the Ultradeck towards the end of the year.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing '
the P2 is letdown by its included cartridge... I put the Sumiko Rainier on mine and it really improved it. If you look on the internet you will see Chinese knockoffs of the Audiotechnica cartridge that comes with the P2. Some of these sell for 15 bucks and they measure as well as the originals. So, I think Rega could have and should have done better with their choice of the cartridge that went on the P2.
While I should agree with you, I don't, the Rega Carbon (AT 3600L), while cheap, sounds fantastic and measures extremely well. The cheap tables it's normally mounted on can't keep up with its potential. I have upgraded mine as well but I still put on the Carbon and am astounded by how good it sounds, better to my ears than the Ortofon OM-5, and Red.
I somewhat agree, but instead of fitting a better cartridge, I wish that Rega did with the P2 like they did with the 3 and offered a no cartridge option. It's impressive what Rega managed to coax out of an AT3600, but at the end of the day it's a tuned AT3600. I should also add that I prefer overpaying 60 or so dollars for the fitted carbon than 90 dollars for a 2M Red or worse yet a 2M Blue or Nagaoka 110 that are both more up to the quality of the deck, but that I'd have ended up replacing all the same.
For my money any turntable over $500 should have the option of no cartridge so that you can save a few bucks on the front end and chose your own.
@@briang530 which cartridge would you choose to replace the Nagaoka MP-110? It sounds great and it's made in Japan 🤔
Your a big help purchasing 😊
Glad we could be helpful.
@@AudioAdvice thanks what's a good cheap decent preamp for a rega
@@fctryoffetsh39 We like this one for the $$ www.audioadvice.com/turntables/phono-preamps/pro-ject-phono-box-mm-mc-phono-preamp
@@AudioAdvice do you have any low priced preamp for the rega?
The P2 with the Carbon cart is a bit of a puzzle for me. Stepping up from the P1 to the P2 but still getting the bottom of the market cartridge seems hard to justify to me. I don't know why they wouldn't have the Bias on the P2 instead of the Carbon, even if it meant adding a little bit more to the cost.
In my local shop, the P2 and the Evo cost the same, however a Carbon cart costs €32 while the Ortofon Red on the Evo costs €109. So ostensibly better value considering the Evo doesn't seem to have any major drawbacks compared to the P2. Just not sure what niche the P2 is targeting, the cart seems to be a big downside.
Hmmmm. I had the Rega P2 with the Elyse II cartridge and I hated it. It was incredibly ordinary in my view. I found the difference between the original and the upgraded cartridge to be so small I felt like a fool for having done it! I sold the turntable and bought the MMF (I think it iOS a rebadged Project product) Granted, there is a reasonable price difference, but they are chalk and cheese.
Upgraded rb220 arm has bias adjustment now. Evo is still probably better value. What should happen though is both manufacturers should give you a no cartridge option. I ended up with the Rega, but if Pro Ject had offered $160 off and no 2M red I might have changed my mind.
I guess the question was Dini care about a fitted cartridge that's twice as good when I'm going to almost immediately upgrade it anyway?
I don’t understand the use of the carbon cartridge, it’s just an AT - 3600L which you can pickup for £11.
@@stevenclarke5606 which is actually a very good cartridge. Once in a while cheap things can be great
Rega planar 1 plus is very hard to beat
We agree. Thanks for watching!
How about great turntables between $2K and $4K including cartridge and tonearm ???
It is on the agenda! Thanks for watching.
@@AudioAdvice Still patiently waiting ! :) Amazing how Pro-Ject and Rega dominates value driven turntables.
Good info.
Projects are notorious for motor rumble...
the evo fixed that
Thanks for the video - great advice. I have the MMF 7.1 (Music Hall which I think is Project rebadged) and I like everything about it except the 2 piece plinth and the fact that you can't play an album with the lid closed - a definite design flaw. I have the Quintet Blue on it and I love it. I have a second turntable and I need to get a new stylus - which is going to be hard as love the brightness of the Quintet. I have a Luxman PD277 and its s time for a new cartridge (or a hand me down from the MMF 7.1) Would you recommend the old Quintet for the Luxman and if so - What to put on the MMF?
Thank you! Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for more info, however you cannot beat the Quintet for the money. The Bronze version is even better, the Black is very finnicky for setup, Bronze is probably the better value. We did a comparison of the Quintet models, here is the link www.audioadvice.com/videos-reviews/ortofon-quintet-cartridges-series-overview/ We appreciate your comments!
i need to choose one, and the deciding factor for me is what country it’s made in. I don’t want any “designed in _______ manufactured in china, thailand, mexico, bangladesh, india, etcetera”
and no parts sourced from those places either.
You should mention where each turntable is made and if parts are all in house or sourced elsewhere. That’s very important to some people.
Thank you for your suggestion. We will include that next time in the written article that goes along with the video, although it is difficult to discern where all parts are obtained from.
For now, you can also reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to get your answers. The Regas are made in the UK and the EVO is made in the EU.
I’ve the Pro-ject Debut Carbon Esprit SB if I’ve made a switch for the X1 will be the same or what’s the difference?
Please reach out to our team to discuss the improvements. You might be better off just upgrading your phono cartridge as the Esprit is a good table. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Thank you so much
The turntable choice is incrising quickly today, but what about the " sound difference " from entry level ,medium or high end range except marketing issues. ?
I own some classical turntable desined within the eighties and it is needed to spend 3 times of money to reach similar sound qality...
The choice of the cartridge is also limited..
Raymond- please hop over to www.audioadvice.com and chat with one of our turntable experts. Thanks for watching
Please tell me which one of your recommended model has the capability for Tone Arm Height adjustment which is such an important feature
to set up the cartridge properly. Thanks.
All of them do except the two Rega's, which can still be adjusted but you need to purchase spacers. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Thanks for the reply. Is it true that for all Rega turntables, if they are installed with a Rega cartridge, the VTA will be exactly correct and no need to worry about tone arm height adjustment ????
@@CTP8585 Exactly, plus the upper-end models use a 3 point mounting system which assures perfect alignment as well.
Not sure if it's because of the poor state of the market or popular demand, but almost none of these products are available for under $1000 anymore. I've seen some Rega Planar 2 and Carbon Evo out there for around $600-800 depending on quality but every other one of these to buy new or slightly used is > $1000.
Things have changed a bit price wise, here is our 2023 overview www.audioadvice.com/videos-reviews/best-turntables-under-1000
I want to go back to vinyl. I can almost ** myself for throwing away all my cd's :( Anyway, I am looking at the Pro-Ject X1 or Rega Planar 3. I have a Denon AVR-X4500H with a phono input for MM cardridges. So which one would you recommend ? And will they perfom nicely with a Ortofon 2M red ? And what is the difference between the Ortofon 2M Red Verso and the Ortofon 2M red? Thanks !
Vinyl is a ton of fun. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for the best advice. On the Red versions those are just different mounting options, for those two tables, the normal Red is the one you want. Thanks for watching
what cart would be the logical upgrade from the pre-installed carbon on the P2?
There are a few options, we would suggest you go to www.audioadvice.com and chat with one of our experts who can help you pick the best option based on your other system components
I really liked the Nagaoka MP 200, its pricey for the planar but worth every penny!
I’m about to upgrade very soon and looking at the Rega P2, and Pro-Ject Evo, what to do??!! I heard the Pro-Ject was comparable with the Rega P3, so was leaning toward the Pro-Ject, any opinions would help a lot!!
Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for more information. Thanks for watching!
No Technics? No AudioTechnica? None on this list has strobe lights and fine speed adjust. Those very popular turntables that do have these features are basically implying to you that their turntables don't always, consistently, turn at the right speed so you need the strobe to manually check it, and the pitch adjust to correct it.
This is more of a sales pitch than a review.
P2 with its very basic can’t compete with the Evo.
Customers should be told that the anti-skate setting is not adjustable on the P2 so you are locked into a non-elliptical stylus (very basic cartridge).
What about sound quality? P2 isn’t in the same ball park as the evo.
People need to be informed about these things - Big oversights in this review
The Planar 2 does have anti-skate, it is a little slider on the arm that ranges from 0-2 grams. The tracking force has no scale and can be set using a standard stylus pressure gauge. We have put hundreds of better cartridges on P2's with great results. The EVO does offer a lot of features too with many more upgrade options, which is nice, but many people love the simplicity of the P2. Thanks for watching
Mofi Studiodeck is over $1000 (I'm seeing $1800CAD on some sites), what even is this list
Yes prices have gone up since we did this video. Thanks for watching
Justin Long is doing a/v reviews and selling gear. I guess acting has been tough the last few years
Technics 1500c is the best Turntable for under a grand .
It is a great table but its $1200, thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Fair enough . In the Uk where I'm from its £899. I auditioned one a month ago & I bought it. Had the chance to compare to a Rega P3 but I was happy with what I heard. I previously owned expensive belt drive decks that had problems & wanted the simplicity of the Technics.
Never like direct drive for best audio !
i havent seen a dealer sell a planar 3 for less than 1125
Yes, unfortunately, like many things, the P3 went up in price after we did the video. Thanks for watching
Come to Europe! Less than 900€ over here in Holland.
But this Brexit thing did ugly things with UK prices :-((
@@paulb.3227 HAHA! my friend i sure enjoy holland.
He must be a direct drive....because he doesn't have a belt.
Both Rega and Pro-Ject have increased their prices significantly in the past year or so : (
Unfortunately that is true. Although so has almost everything else in consumer electronics too. Thanks for watching
P3 but with EXACT Cartridge
Yes, that is a great choice
This is odd. I have Project Debut Carbon EVO but it was shipped with Ortofon 2M Red cartridge by default I didn’t know having Sumiko cartridge even is an option.
It depends on the country you bought it in. US gets the Rainer but many other places get an Ortofon. Thanks for watching
No direct drive automatic options?
No, we do not feel any of the options available are as good as these tables. Thanks for watching
I like the Project arm, and their cartridge choice. I just can't get beyond their finicky anti skate string, and weight combination, horrible idea. They have to redesign that.
It is tricky to set up, but it is super effective for the cost.
@@AudioAdvice I have the same anti-skate setup on my 1970s Sansui SR 2050-C and it's still going strong 50 years later...
@@bradd3840 Yes, gravity is pretty consistent :)
Pro-Ject Evo is a three speed, its most i.posting fezture...not mentioned. Stop ignoring 78 collectors.
Thanks for pointing that out, you are correct it is 3 speed.
There are 3 only: Thorens 402, Magnat 990, and Technics MK7. Everything else are coffee tables and good looking fashion furnitures.
PS Mofi is more expensive than $1k.
Prices have changed a bit since we filmed this video. We'll take a look at those 3. Thanks for sharing!
It looks like they all have the motor attached to their plinths...
They all do but with different types of isolation. Thanks for watching
that rega cartridge is awful
A list of sub 1000 turntables and no technics, 🤔
If they had one under 1k in the US in their HiFi series it would have been on the list. Thanks for watching
Skip first 3 minutes
Anybody that was spend that much money to spinner a record are out of the Fucking mind !!!
Its all relative, if you only have a handful of records, yes, its a lot but many people have thousands of $$ into their collection and want to get all the sound they paid for
Rega P2 or P3 is not playing with Ortofon Black! The best Sound is only with Rega! This Turntable is not HIGH END!!
The Project X1 listed for $899.00 EVERYWHERE until last week. All of a sudden AUDIO ADVICE, and other sellers JACKED THE PRICE TO $999.00. You can bet NONE of these sellers have a legitimate explanation for the huge increase. What you will hear is BULLSHIT.
All theses turntables look Chineses cheap!
I’d be sticking with my classic 1980’s Pioneer PL L800
You should actually try one of these to see how much better it would sound than what you currently have. These are all great turntables and as far as where they are made, the Pro-Ject models are made in Europe, Rega in the UK and MoFi in the USA. Thanks for watching
Great video!
Thanks for watching!