Rega Planet v's Arcam Alpha 7
Robert Harrowfield
Has anyone done a comparison between these two CD Players. They are
the two I am most closely looking at but unfortunately I am unable to
demo them side by side and this makes it a little difficult. The amp
is a Rega Elex and speakers are Ruark Talisman IIs.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Jason Quigley
On 23 Jan 1997 12:26:55 -0500, har...@airnz.co.nz (Robert Harrowfield)
wrote:
>Has anyone done a comparison between these two CD Players. They are
>the two I am most closely looking at but unfortunately I am unable to
>demo them side by side and this makes it a little difficult. The amp
>is a Rega Elex and speakers are Ruark Talisman IIs.
I've compared the Planet and the Alpha 7 on a Rega Elex (Elix?) with
Totem Mite speakers, and the Planet vs the discontinued Alpha 5+ on a
couple of systems (Rega Brio + Totem Mites [very bad combo for bass]
and Linn Waconda + some Celeste monster amp + ProAc Resp. 2.5's).
The Planet is smoother and more laid back than both Arcams. Detail,
bass extention and soundstaging are pretty similar to the Alpha 5+. On
a Rega amp with Mites I wasn't really able to judge bass extention
with the Alpha 7, but the 7 is outclassed by both other players
detail-wise. One thing I noticed on the higher end system was that
whatever was the dominant sound (lead singer or lead instrument)
sounded like it was being generated farther away on the Planet. This
is probably proof of it setting up a deeper soundstage, but I didn't
like Jennifer Warens sounding like she was sitting on the drummer's
lap.
I ended up buying a discounted Alpha 5+ recently, despite liking the
Planet more, simply because the dealer couldn't get a Planet to sell
me. Under current supply circumstances I can't see dealers selling
their demo units either.
I'll have to think long and hard about upgrading when Planets are
finally abundant. It's nicer than the 5+, but the 5+ is a worthy
competitor. The 5+ might be worth a look if you can get one for the
right money... and if you're hoping to own a nice CD player before
pigs learn to fly.
--
Jason Quigley
qu...@rogers.wave.ca
Devout Amiga, 3DO, Star Wars, Star Control,
Twin Peaks and Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
Mike Lowndes
In article <5caoi7$7...@canyon.sr.hp.com>, qu...@mail.on.rogers.wave.ca
(Jason Quigley) wrote:
> I'll have to think long and hard about upgrading when Planets are
> finally abundant. It's nicer than the 5+, but the 5+ is a worthy
> competitor. The 5+ might be worth a look if you can get one for the
> right money... and if you're hoping to own a nice CD player before
> pigs learn to fly.
Hmm. I've heard the Planet vs. my Alpha 5 ->Naim Nait 3 -> Naim Intros and
Ruark Sabre IIs. The Planet is 'nicer' only because its so 'smooth' and
laid back- I certainly wouldn't swop my A5 for it.
Really, the original poster should try the Alpha 8 (rebadged Aplha 6)
or find a second hand/ex demo 5 or 5+. If you like small scale stuff
then you may still prefer the Rega but otherwise for Rock/dynamic
stuff the Arcam is better IMO. You'd have to more than double your
money to improve the source.
Anyone heard ProAc Tablettes/Responses in similar setups? Opinions?
Mike
IDerby
I've talked to several dealerships who stock both the Arcam Alpha 7/8
and the Rega Planet. They claim the Planet is clearly a step above
both Arcams. (Remember, the Planet is US $155 cheaper than the Alpha
8, so it's not like they're trying to get one to buy the more
expensive machine). One described the Arcam as "dull and lifeless" in
comparison. Another dealer went so far to say that it's very close to
the Cal Icon Mk II Power Boss, a player almost twice it's price. A
reviewer in Listener magazine said it sounds very close to the Naim
CD-3. Personally I've only heard the Alpha 7, and I liked what I
heard. I should be getting the Planet shortly and then I can make my
own opinions.
Jason Quigley
On 30 Jan 1997 22:47:56 GMT, ide...@aol.com (IDerby) wrote:
>I've talked to several dealerships who stock both the Arcam Alpha 7/8
>and the Rega Planet. They claim the Planet is clearly a step above
>both Arcams.
OK, I can go along with this just fine...
>One described the Arcam as "dull and lifeless" in
>comparison.
... but this makes me cringe. Granted, this is probably true of the
Alpha 7 (I was never a huge One fan either), but if you're running a
Planet against a 5+ or an 8 then this just ain't so. The dealer must
have been overcompensating on the volume knob (the Arcams have a much
higher output level than the Planet).
Normally I think people are entitled to their opinions on subjective
things, but a person who calls an Arcam "lifeless" has definitely done
something wrong to the system during the audition.
Robert Harrowfield
On 31 Jan 1997 15:33:35 -0500, qu...@mail.on.rogers.wave.ca (Jason
Quigley) wrote:
>On 30 Jan 1997 22:47:56 GMT, ide...@aol.com (IDerby) wrote:
>>I've talked to several dealerships who stock both the Arcam Alpha 7/8
>>and the Rega Planet. They claim the Planet is clearly a step above
>>both Arcams.
>OK, I can go along with this just fine...
>>One described the Arcam as "dull and lifeless" in
>>comparison.
>... but this makes me cringe. Granted, this is probably true of the
>Alpha 7 (I was never a huge One fan either), but if you're running a
>Planet against a 5+ or an 8 then this just ain't so. The dealer must
>have been overcompensating on the volume knob (the Arcams have a much
>higher output level than the Planet).
>Normally I think people are entitled to their opinions on subjective
>things, but a person who calls an Arcam "lifeless" has definitely done
>something wrong to the system during the audition.
That I would definately also agree with, the Arcams are ANYTHING but
lifeless... I just found the Rega to have quite a lumpy bass, and it
seemed to have a very sudden leading edge to the notes, and was
wondering if anyone else (in the original post I wrote) may have heard
some things that they found disconcerting about it... apart from the
styling...
Anthony Kershaw
mike.l...@human-anatomy.oxford.ac.uk (Mike Lowndes) wrote:
I have Tablette 50's connected to an Arcam Alpha 9 integrated and the
recently discontinued Alpha 6 cd player. I chose the 6 after a lengthy
home audition. The price was great and the sound just kept getting
better. I can succinctly describe the sound as civilised. It certainly
gets me closer to my analog ideal. The Tablette 50's, a great speaker
for the price IMO, are sounding mighty detailed and warm, with punchy
bass (what their is) and a mid-range to die for.
I did listen at home to the Audiolab and Planet cd players. Both were
fine players, with the Audiolab retailing for twice the price of the
Rega. But as I said in a previous thread in another group, the Arcam
never congested on the chest tones of female singers the way the
Audiolab and the Rega did. The Rega and the Audiolab may not have
been quite broken in, where the Arcam certainly was. This is a very
minor caveat, to what I feel are very good players.
My other cd torture tests, female head tones and thickly scored string
quartets, were successful on both the Audiolab and Rega. Price did
come into my final decision, with the Arcam coming in at a Cdn$600.00
discount! 'Nuff said.
--
Anthony Kershaw
Toronto, ON
AM Randle
IDerby (ide...@aol.com) wrote:
: I've talked to several dealerships who stock both the Arcam Alpha 7/8
: and the Rega Planet. They claim the Planet is clearly a step above
: 8, so it's not like they're trying to get one to buy the more
: comparison. Another dealer went so far to say that it's very close to
Last November I listed to the Rega Planet along with the Naim CD3 and
Linn Mimik. My opinion of the player was that it was very harsh and
had a hollow (and unmusical) midrange. Rythmically it was good and it
did have a superbly deep bass (better than the Linn). I ended up
buying the Linn because it was a great all rounder, superbly musical
in every sense with great presence from bass to treble (with little
treble distortion).
I have no regrets buying it although recently I did hear the Arcam
Alpha 8 cd player (with Alpha 9 biamping driving Mission 752 Freedom
'speakers) and thought it offered amazing value for money. The sound
was so lifelike and musical for what amounts to a 2000 pound system.
It was actually much better than the active 17000 pound Naim SBL
system in the other room (at the Manchester Hi-Fi Show last week).
This was a real surprise because I am a Naim owner and do respect the
SBLs - maybe it was badly set-up or because they were playing it at
quiet levels.
Well, they say that the Alpha 9 cd player is going to be even better
(when it is finally released). This I'll have to hear (or maybe I
shouldn't!!).
AndyR