The Article
REGA PLANAR 1: The Best Budget Turntable…In The World…Ever?
30th July 2017
The Rega Planar 1 has been out and about for a little while and so Paul Rigby has been able to have a good long look at the thing before giving it a thorough review. He does more than that, though. He asks if potential buyers should bother buying one at all or hunt around for a second hand P1?
One of the legends of the budget turntable genre, Rega’s introductory turntable design, the P1, was first introduced in 2005 with a MDF platter. The P1 was upgraded in 2010 with a Phenolic resin platter. Finally, the design was the subject of a major design revamp with a host of changes – which will be listed below – along with a name tweak to become the Planar 1.
The large list of design changes promises an improvement in sound. I was and still am a fan of the earlier P1 but I wanted to see how the new changes have been implemented in practical and in sound terms. Hence, I decided to review the new Planar 1 while also comparing it to the older P1 model, in this case the 2010 release.
As the Planar 1 is sold in greater and greater numbers, the quantity of older P1 decks available for second hand purchase will increase too. This factor is important, especially for the budget-conscious user. Saying that, though, actually scouting around eBay, I noticed that the original P1 is still being sold at the full price of £248 via ‘Buy it Now’ deals while auctioned decks include a recent model for just under £200. Other sites, such as Gumtree, have models available for between £170 and £200. As you can see, the Rega kit tends to hold its price pretty well which is a good thing for buyers, in the long run, who might want to offer their turntable for sale as second hand items.
So, should you look at buying second hand and so save a few pounds? Is it worth the savings? And just how good is the new Planar 1? Does the new turntable enhance sound quality at all? If so, by how much? Enough to shell out for the full retail value?
One of the more appealing aspects of Rega’s design policy is the lack of fuss. The new Planar 1 – like the RP1 – is minimalistic in terms of general design. Actually, the new Planar 1 takes that notion to the extreme because it moves the power switch from the upper front left of the platter. The new switch is still around the front left area but you can locate it underneath the platter instead to enhance the clean lines of the Planar 1’s piano black finish: it’s far more stylish than the textured vinyl of the original P1.
Both turntables include a built-in tonearm and cartridge. Both are set up correctly from the factory. Rega’s P1/Planar 1 are both very easy to set up and both score over the immediate competition in terms of the amount of steps and parts you have to play with. This is a ‘good thing’. Firstly, it reduces set-up time but also frustration. The latter is minor but definitely there on some competing designs. It irritates the hell out of me whenever I have to review a piece of hi-fi and, before I can power up, I have to attach the right set of prongs to the plug. And I’m given three sets to choose from too. If you’re not used to this sort of thing, this one simple and relatively minor task can cause some tension as the prongs often do not easily fit the first time or require an odd orientation. It’s a silly thing in the grand scheme of this turntable but I still applaud Rega for giving me a ready-made plug!
Another speedy set up point is the tonearm’s rear-mounted weight. There to assist you in setting up the cartridge downforce. Competing decks ask you to push the weight onto the rear of the arm and then, using an appropriate tool, set the correct downforce. Although I can do this task in my sleep, many beginners have never done such a thing in their entire lives and the prospect can be scary, never mind that they might even have to spend more cash on the required tool. Rega cuts this step out. You push the tonearm weight onto the rear of the arm and push it until it reaches a ‘stop’ point ridge. When the weight cannot move any further, you’re done. That’s it. The weight is at the correct point and you can move on. A blessing for any beginner.
To get you up and running, Rega also places a brief step-by-step set of instructions actually on the platter. You don’t have to open plastic bags to locate the manual, find the page and the instructions you need. Rega has them right in front of you, in plain view. Removing the manual from the packaging is a genius idea. Manuals, for beginners, are scary and should be shot at birth. They trigger uneasy memories in the user of receiving manuals spanning 4,000 pages over seven hard-backed, leather-bound volumes…the last time they bought a DVD player (I exaggerate, yes, but that’s how it can feel). The Planar 1 gets you up and running in nine bullet points spanning three square inches of white card plus two tiny inset diagrams.
Yes you could have extra detail showing alternative views of the turntable, more blow-up diagrams and more hand-holding text. There’s a balance to these things, though and I believe that assuming the user has basic intelligence is one of those things. Not talking to the user as if they are five years old is a nice attitude to take. There is enough information on this Quick Start card to get you going.
Changes have been made to the tonearm itself which has been designed specifically for this turntable and will only ever be seen on this turntable. The new RB110 includes a brand new security latch to keep a tight hold of the arm when it’s ‘in dock’, as it where. This latch is superior to the original. The new arm also does away with anti-skate requirements, using an opposing magnet system instead, built into the turntable. This just adds to the saving of time but also any demands for ugly bits of sticky-out wiring supporting ugly lengths of fishing wire dangling unsightly bobbly bits of lead weight. The P1 had a simple anti-skate setting arrangement but removing anti-skate totally also removes yet more worries from the beginner. Talk to any turntable beginner about anti-skate and most will think it involves lots of ice somewhere or other. I did talk to Rega about this change and they were concerned that a lot of users were not setting the anti-skate on their new decks because they either didn’t read the original manual properly, didn’t understand anti-skate or were afraid that, by altering this area, they might “break the turntable”. Rega’s new system removes the headache while automatically applying a correct setting for the arm and cartridge.
The Rega does have one contentious element and I’ve scratched the ol’chin on this one point. It related to speed changing.
To move from 33 ⅓ to 45rpm and back again, both the newer Planar 1 and older P1 ask you to lift the platter to expose the motor and belt and then you have to gently transfer the belt that ultimately rotates the platter onto a different groove of the pulley. It takes a few seconds, is painless and you quickly get used to it but it’s not as convenient as flipping a switch on to of the platter. This, I grant you, might concern a few beginners and might irritate a few others.
Finishing my chin scratching, I decided that Rega is correct to relegate speed changes to belt moving. Why? Because changing the speed has nothing to do with the final sound quality. That is, adding a convenient switch will not enhance sound quality. The other changes to the Planar 1 either add convenience and do not affect sound quality or just enhance sound quality without compromising convenience.
Adding a speed switch to the plinth of the Planar 1 would actually compromise sound quality.
Think about it, this is a £248-priced turntable. That, in the grand scheme of things, is not a lot when you consider that Rega has to push out the door an easy to use, audiophile, non-Crosley-type, design that sounds great. Of the set build budget, therefore, every penny counts. An automatic speed changer will eat up a chunk of the build budget meaning that sound quality will suffer. Why? Well, because something else would have to go. Or the quality if something else would have to be reduced to free up the extra cash required. Also, such speed changes can introduce noise into the system, degrading sound quality.
Other improvements over the older P1 include a brand new 24V, low noise, synchronous motor (the first budget design from Rega to include one). It arrives with a new motor PCB and aluminium pulley offering low noise and better speed stability too. The plinth is also new…as is the 23mm, higher mass, phenolic platter. The bearing it sits on has been re-designed. It’s based on brass but includes a better fit, removing stress on the bearing itself whilst minimising the transfer of potential energy. Rega even has a patent pending on this one. Even the feet have been enhanced and changed, designed originally for the Rega Planar 3 and brought over for the Planar 1. The turntable arrives with an excellent Rega Carbon cartridge.
SOUND QUALITY
I decided to use Connie Francis’ original pressing Sings Bacharach and David (MGM) from 1968 in which she fronts a large orchestra. From the off, I could tell that the Planar 1 offered a reduced noise environment. Noise masks musical information. Remove it and more music comes though. That’s what I was hearing here.
Secondly was the lead vocal which was far more focused than the P1. The P1 suffered from a touch more noise which meant that mids on the vocal smeared a little producing a touch of stridency on crescendos. I say this as a comparison to the Planar 1 only. In comparison to many other budgets turntables the P1 is sonically superior. Nevertheless, the Planar 1 provided a clearer and very stable lead vocal performance that not only helped clarity but Francis’ diction.
Midrange, in general terms, provided a smooth output with both trumpet and the string section flowing with a sense of elegance and ease. Piano was both rich and full with a new air of lightness about the notes which now seemed to dance politely across the wide and broad soundstage.
The stereo image was a busy area. Behind the Francis vocal was a tight guitar strum, thought most of the song that sat alongside a series of cymbal taps. Both the guitar and cymbals provided new information and detail with, for the cymbals, open and delicate treble response with a characterful guitar sound. Character was also what the bass provided in terms of the bowed double bass and the firm yet detailed lower frequencies.
Next was a more contemporary pressing and the high energy sounds of Die Werkpiloten via Germany’s Vinyl on Demand label from 2012.
This drum heavy LP offered gloriously tight, punchy but not dry percussive bass. It’s all very well having a strong bass but if it lacks any sense of the organic then it tends to lose emotion (unless that’s the artist’s intention, of course). If there’s one thing that annoys me is when a piece of hi-fi makes the decision for you. The Planar 1 offered strength and a bass impact that was potent and convincing but always with a sense of the emotional.
Vocals also provided emotion, giving texture to the lyrics with midrange subtlety and nuance that, added to vocal emphasis, provided a sense of performance to the song. Again, the music provided a humanistic feel. Budget gear can often strip this important element from its design. The Planar, for the price, had it in spades.
The low noise aspect of the turntable meant that manic electric guitar sequences provided more detail and precision while, on the other end of the scale, rather shy synth runs were ‘visible’ to the ear and where never masked by any threats of blooming bass or smearing mids. This also occurred with the bass guitar which, on this LP, could be rather recessed into the depth of the mix. The low noise allowed the ear to follow the bass guitar throughout the songs without any trouble.
CONCLUSION
If you can find one cheap enough, grab a RP1, it sounds excellent and will serve you well. That said, if you can save up for a new Planar 1, go for that instead. The more I used the turntable, the more I realised that this is not just a budget turntable, it’s the ultimate budget turntable. It does everything that a budget turntable can do and should do in terms of its consideration towards the customer but also its respect for the ears of the same in its search for top quality sound for the asking price.
In those terms, the Planar 1 sets itself up as the standard which every other budget turntable seeks to emulate. From the installation to the final play, the Rega Planar 1 is not just outstanding, it has actually changed the nature of the market at this level. On this basis, I have no choice but to award it the highest rating I have in my armoury, the ultra-rare Golden Groovy. I have details of almost 250 products reviewed on this site. This is only the fourth time that I’ve awarded such a rating. That’s how good this turntable is…
REGA PLANAR 1 TURNTABLE
Price: £248
Website: www.rega.co.uk
TO BUY CLICK BELOW:
USA – https://amzn.to/34OXcP2
EUROPE – https://amzn.to/3kQiMIs
GOOD: general design, aesthetics, set-up, overall sound quality, price
BAD: nothing
SCORE: 10
REFERENCE
Rega RP1 turntable
Trichord Dino phono amplifier
Rega Brio-R amplifier
Spendor S3/5R2 speakers
Tellurium Q cables
Harmonic Resolution Systems Noise Reduction Components
All vinyl was cleaned using Audio Desk’s Ultrasonic Pro Vinyl Cleaner
Hi Paul,
Thanks for help on this and actually putting me onto Rega & Q Acoustics for that matter : ) all down to your review.
Ive now ordered everything it was an unplanned expenditure but excited to receive tomorrow .
So went with the Rega Brio Rega P1,Rega Fono, Concept 20s & Stands,QED interconnect, QED 4M Terminated Ruby. I also got QED Optical for the muso to TV and working great!
As this is my first real system, what is the breaking in ? How many hours would you say ? does it vary between components, do all need breaking in ?
Cheers
Hi Marc – it does vary – yes – 50 hours perhaps? Some of the items may be less.
Hej Paul,
Great site and it’s fantastic to see such an interactive comments section, you should be very proud. I have a technical question that I hope you can help with.
I have a Yamaha RX-V779 receiver serving all my current audio and video needs. The receiver sits in my home office with digital media such as an Apple TV, PS4 and AirPlay delivering the goods. It outputs via a very long HDMI cable (hidden in the walls) to the TV in the lounge. Plus two separate or combined speaker zones all using various Monitor Audio passive speakers. It works very well indeed and I’m very happy.
Now the question. My home office does not enjoy the benefits of the receiver or monitor audio speakers (the speaker zones are the 5.1 setup in the lounge and the stereo speakers in the kitchen. I wish to setup a Rega P1 turntable in the home office and add a pair of stereo speakers to enjoy the product. But I also wish to use the turntable as a source to the receiver so I can output the audio to the lounge or kitchen or both. Meaning I want to hookup the turntable so I can use it on the receiver speaker zones or just a pair of passive speakers. To complicate things more I also wish to use the same passive speakers as outputs from the iMac also in the office. Maybe I am asking too much?
Budget wise, lets say cheap enough to get the job done whilst not compromising the quality.
Thanks in advance!
Neil
Thanks for your kind comments, Neil – one quick pedantic point which might prevent possibly purchase issues in the future. The RP1 is different from the Planar 1. Both are superb but the newer latter deck sounds better than the older former turntable.
As to your solution? One obvious solution is Bluetooth which the Yamaha features – correct me if I’m wrong on that one? The easiest way is for your turntable to talk to your Yamaha in such a way. Hence, I’d leave the Rega and go to Pro-Ject instead.
The Pro-Ject Essential III BT (https://www.henleyaudio.co.uk/products/Essential-III-BT?DepartmentIds=1&BrandIds=2) includes a built-in phono amp that should be able to stream to the Yamaha at a distance up to around 10m. It’s a bit more expensive than the Rega but it will do the job.
If you have any concerns – have a chat with your dealer. Try and ask for a home demo to see if the system works without any issues. If there are problems with some unforeseen elements relating to your house, the system, etc, then you should be able to return it and we can try something else.
PS: One late thought, there’s also an option, with the Essential III Digital turntable to connect via the optical output to the AV receiver.
Hi. Paul.
Congratulations for Your articles and comments. All of them are awesome. As a new one on the stage I went back to vinyl finally after 30 years. Mainly due to Your review of Rega Planar 1 I purchased one /thanks God my wife was also happy as it is white and later brought back nice memories/. Than I bought new speakers: Quadral Argentum 590, and than came the amplifier: Vincent SV-500 with Vincent PHO 8, with HiDiamond HD Real and Pangea cables.
Now I enjoy the music 4 hours every day. Why I write this long letter because I would like to upgrade my player. The budget is over for a new Planar 3 so I thought to improve the cartridge. I read Your review about Goldring E3 but thinking maybe Goldring 2100 could be also fine. Which one do U suggest? Besides I do not want to destroy the arm of my Rega with putting some spacer. As the player is Rega I know the size of the original carbon is the same as Elys 2M, but that do not have enough deep bass or wide spectrum if I am right.
Thanks For Your answer: Julius
Hi Julius РI tried the E3 on the Rega and used spacers during my review because the E3 spans around 18mm in height to the stylus tip (as does the Ortofon 2M Red which I also used) whereas the Rega cart is about 13mm. If you’re able, I’d be interested to hear what you think of the E3 without spacers on the Rega. I have heard, more recently, that the Rega with a taller cart works fine without spacers and, for a turntable at that price, all of this spacer malarky is not what it’s cracked up to be. Haven’t tested the theory myself, though…
In addition to the above, Rega does say this, “Arm height or V.T.A adjustment can be a controversial subject. Rega believes that the integrity of the arm fixing onto the arm mounting board is much more important than the questionable facility of arm adjustment. The arm should be reasonably parallel to the record surface or slightly lower at the mounting. The only time a spacer is necessary to raise the arm height is if the rear of a cartridge is hitting the record whilst playing.”
Hence, Rega is saying that spacers don’t really matter. Or that spacers are not as important in their arms as many users think they are.
I’m 99% sure that the E3 does *not* hit the record so, if you follow Rega’s advice, buy an E3 and forget all about the spacers. If the spacer is important to you, check out this link: http://www.rega.co.uk/arm-height-adjustment-spacer.html.
I must add that, in sonic terms, I haven‚Äôt compared the E3 with the 2100, I‚Äôm afraid. Both are excellent on their own, I know that. I would go for the best deal if you’re looking at choosing between the two.
Hi Paul, 2 QUESTIONS:
1) Can I plug this into a pair of bookshelf speakers straight out the box, or do I need to separately purchase a pre-amp? The Audio Technica LP120 and Pro-Ject Carbon Fiber come ready to go.
2) Can you rec a pair of speakers in the $300-400US range? Ive been looking at AudioEngine A2 , A5 and the Kanto Yu4. I prefer quality over size/volume.
Thank you!
Michael
Thanks for your questions Michael.
1: You can only plug the Rega into speakers if those speakers are powered. These are speakers with an amp built in. You’d also need a phono amp to sit in between the two. I can help you with recommended products if you want to go in this direction. Pro-Ject and Audio Technica do sell turntables with the phono amp built in which saves cash (although the sound quality is reduced compared to an external model). Even with these turntables, though, you still need powered speakers or an external amplifier plus speakers.
2: Having read the above, how do you want to play the speaker recommendation? Powered speakers for your budget or amp and separate speakers?
MR. Rigby,
Im new to the LP world but I did a little research and I recently purchased the P1 and paired it with the Pluto phono preamp.
I was able to hook everything up to a speaker system I had to here what it sounds like but when I played a record it was either to slow or to fast. This was done with two different records. Im in Europe and I’m not sure if it is 220 or 110. I have everything connected to a 110 power converter and I’m afraid of burning it up by plugging it into the 220 outlet. I’m not sure if that is causing the problem. I’m lost on what to do!! It frustrating me severely!! Haha
Hi Jacob – 220 should be fine. Let me know if you have any problems.
Paul – thank you for taking such time to review what sounds like a ‘best value’ turntable situation. I am in the US and the MSRP of $475 (presently, 338.96 GBP) is holding strong. Would you still recommend this knowing the ‘buying power’ of the two? I will be pairing them with Klipsch “The Sixes” (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-pSQKbjdghGX/p_714SIXES/Klipsch-The-Sixes-Walnut.html).
I keep going back and forth between this, the Pro-Ject Carbon DC, stepping up to the Rega 2 and wincing in cost, and considering the U-Turn Orbit Special with Walnut Plinth.
Is your advice to still go with the Rega Planar 1? This will be my first “serious” turn table.
Regas are quite expensive in the US, I see, relative to their price in the UK. Because of that, I’d go for the Debut Carbon. Offering better value for money for a first time turntable.
Hey Paul
Thank you for your honest and sensible review and answers here. I found it to be one of the only few really helpful sources in the net. Maybe you could help me as well.
TL/DR: does it make sense to go vinyl in sub-$1000 category at all?
Recently i started looking for a vinyl record player to add to my system. After some investigation i’ve excluded Audio-Technica from my selection and narrowed it down to Pro-ject and Rega. I really really favor Rega, but unfortunately there are no Rega dealers with an auditioning room here, so i would have to order it blindly. I only have one shot, if you will.
Couple of days ago i’ve bought a Massive Attack Protection LP and went to a Pro-ject dealer to listen to their player. It was a Debut Carbon with 2M Red cartridge connected to some Marantz amp and Dali Opticon speakers.
The result was surpisingly underwhelming. There was a lot of hum (which i believe can be fixed), the highs were almost too bright and there wasn’t any special ‘liveliness’ which i read about and sought for so much. Also another player with an Ortofon 10M cart had so much sibilance in my headphones that i had to turn it off just after a minute of listening.
Now i am acutely aware of the fact that personal impression is a very subjective feeling and it can depend on all the circumstances around you and even your mood at that particular moment. I still hope that i didn’t give it enough chance and in fact i’m still considering getting that Pro-ject. It wasn’t bad, it just seemed to sound worse than my home system. Also i’m under impression that a Rega Planar sounds objectively better.
So my question to you is: is it even worth getting a beginner-level (sub $1000 from what i’ve heard) turntable if what i want most is improved sound quality over digital? I don’t care for CD-like cleanliness, but i need an engaging, live performance, if you know what i mean. If it’s not, i’d rather hold on for a while.
If it matters, at home i listen to digital music through a battery-powered m2tech HiFace 2 digital interface connected to Arcam rDac (powered by a linear PSU) and a NAD C356 amp. I’m only using the power-amp part of the NAD, so its preamp plays no part at all. Speakers are HECO Music Style 500 as well as Beyerdynamic T1 headphones via a custom tube amp. Contrary to what a lot of people say, the headphones are not too bright with a proper setup. Couldn’t say that i’m quite happy with the amp and speakers, maybe i’m going to replace them later, but that’s another story.
I don’t have a phono stage at the moment, so that would be an additional purchase. I really don’t want to go on that road with infinite upgrades and stuff, ideally i’d be buying a decent turntable and forgetting about it for a couple of years, just enjoying the music (of course i know it wouldn’t happen).
I’m really looking forward to your view on the matter. I’d rather not tell you my exact budget, otherwise you’d just recommend the most expensive Planar that could fit (and you would be right, of course). I’m just trying to figure out if it’s worth it at the moment or should i just focus on new speakers first, for example.
Sincerely from Kiev, Ukraine,
Sergey
Thanks for your kind words, Sergey. Answering your general question, yes, it is worth it. Vinyl provides great value for money. You can obtain a quality sound for not too much.
Re your earlier demo – the rest of that hi-fi system may have had a bearing on your conclusions here. The signature you heard may have been influenced by the amp and even the speakers (depending on which Opticons they were). The Debut is actually a quality turntable.
A budget would be useful because, yes, I would recommend you maximise it to buy the best turntable that you can afford or are willing to pay for. That said, are you looking at purchasing only the turntable for now or would you really want to upgrade other components too? A budget would then be useful to try to advise you in terms of splitting the budget over other suitable purchases.
What is your digital source, by the way? Why do you use the M2TECH?
An external low cost phono amp would sound superior than a built-in model, as I’m sure you know. Rega has a good value model, the Fono.
Hi Paul, thanks for all the info in the review and comments below. I’ve decided from this that I want to get the Planar 1. I have a couple more questions if you don’t mind, since this is my first time buying a record player! I am looking at amps and see this deal on the Denon PMA720AE Integrated Amplifier for ¬£190 instead of ¬£350, do you think this would be better than the Topaz AM10 Integrated Amplifier which is the same price but not on offer? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007Y3OBIS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_7?smid=A16D1Q3U7G1XSE&psc=1
Am also buying the Rega Fono Mini A2D Phono Pre-Amplifier, and Q Acoustics 3020 Speakers as you recommended, is there anything else I would need? Also I’m not sure what cables I would need so if you could recommend that would a big help too, since I am a bit clueless!
all best
* & sorry but actually another question, I see the Riga 2 is available for not a huge amount more second hand (like new for £345), https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01GS9UJAM/sr=1-4/qid=1520905823/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1520905823&sr=1-4
Would you recommend sticking with a new Riga 1 with the aforementioned set up or upgrade the turntable to the Riga 2?
Would really appreciate any advice you may have
If you can afford to go for the Planar 2, Ben, then go for that one, yes.
The Topaz is more audiophile than the Denon in sound quality terms, all of those unnecessary tone controls, etc doesn’t aid sound quality at all. The Denon sound can be quite hard in tone too, be aware of that.
Apart from the phono amp and speakers, you’ll need speaker cables (from the amp to the speakers) plus a pair of interconnect cables from the phono amp to the amplifier. I’d advise to grab the best QED cables (you can buy them on Amazon too) that you can afford.
thanks so much for your advice! I went for the Planar 2 and the Topaz. Thinking it’s better to just spend a little extra & get the 2 now rather than wanting to upgrade in a couple of years. I’m seeing so many options for the cables, (if you have time) is there a couple you could recommend, or alternatively would these be alright? Apart from small / big differences in price I have to confess I have no idea what I’m looking at! https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004XKHGYQ/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ANNASRW22SIOH
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007RE2WAS/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ALYIPOUNEJ1HZ
Thanks again for replying to my earlier message, it’s really appreciated 🙂
Hi Ben
No problem. These would be useful as speaker cables: https://theaudiophileman.com/xt25/. The interconnect examples you linked to are excellent. Give yourself a bit more elbow room and extend the size to 1m, though: https://www.amazon.co.uk/QED-Performance-Graphite-Audio-Cable/dp/B00KXZR3D4/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1521025821&sr=1-4-fkmr0&keywords=QED Performance Graphite Stereo Interconnect
Thanks so much Paul! I got the interconnect cables. There are lots of xt25 cables on amazon at really varied prices, finding it hard to work out the difference apart from lengthwise, would these be suitable? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078NFSNDJ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2JWOEULHV3YGJ&psc=1
Just read your Fall review btw that will be one of the first records I play, albeit an old copy
Hi Ben
The length really depends on your circumstances and requirements. What length do you require in practical terms? I have mine spanning 3m but that’s because that’s the length I need in my room.
Cheers Paul, I’m setting it up close to a plug / extension lead so doubt it needs to be very long, was just confused that some xt25’s are listed as spades and some as bananas. was thinking these seem good value compared to the others which are around ¬£50, but not sure if there’s a catch i’m missing!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B078NFSNDJ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2JWOEULHV3YGJ&psc=1
thanks for your advice
Hi Ben – Spades and Bananas are a preference choice in attaching the cables to the speakers.They’re the actual plug bits of the cables. Most speakers will handle both types. Bananas are the straight plugs, spades are the flat, fork-shaped things. My preference is bananas (illustrated on your link), I find them quicker to plug in.
Hi Paul it’s Ben again, I’m just setting up the phono amp to the amplifier, using the QED Performance Graphite Audio Cable you recommended. Possibly a stupid question but do I need to buy 2 of these since there are 4 sockets at the back of the phono amp? Also does it matter which way round they are inserted, since they seem the same at either end. & should I set the level / earth dials a particular way? The instructions are pretty brief but also quite technical for me to follow so I’m just a bit worried I might do something wrong!
Hi Ben – the turntable’s own cables [supplied] will go into one set and your QEDs will attach to the other two. In high end systems, cable direction can matter, don’t worry about that here. The turntable has an earth cable, that attaches to the earth connector on the phono amp. The Earth’s screw secures it.
Ah that makes sense now, thanks!
No problem, Ben.