Rega 3 vs Sota Comet vs Sumiko 6 vs HW-19Jr

[Scythebill]

I'm planning on buying a new turntable. As no decent ones are for
sale where I live, I was planning to purchase one from Audio Adviser.
I'm considering the Rega Planar 3, Sota Comet and Sumiko 6 (price
around $700-$800) with Blue Point Special cartridge. Or should I save
a little longer (another $400)for the VPI HW-19 Jr.? The turntable
will sit on a Target isolation shelf bolted to a concrete wall. I
would appreciate any comments about relative performance of these
turntables. The size and depth of the sound stage is a very important
consideration.

Thanks from someone who still likes LPs in this digital age.

[vanv...@cgsvax.cgs.edu]

I have a Rega Planar 3, and am quite happy with it. I think it sounds
better, when properly set up, than the Comet or the Sumiko 6.
However, setting up a Rega properly is a bitch. First and foremost,
you need to have the right cartridge. I don't think a Blue Point or
Special will cut it. A better choice is the Rega Elys or Bias, or
some of the better Goldring cartridges. Next, getting the turntable
level is very important--get yourself a cheap bubble level and stick
it on the plinth. Thirdly, the feet that the plinth sits upon are a
joke (sorry Rega)--get yourself a set of ToneCones and some BluTak,
and attach the cones, point down, to the bottom of the plinth using
blobs of Blu- Tak. This will clean up the sound to no end. Finally,
it is a good idea to get a better mat (although this is not
essential--I don't have one currently) such as the Ringmat, as well as
wrapping the tonearm with the elastopolymer band that comes with the
Sumiko Analogue Survival Kit. As a final point, whichever turntable
you choose, they will all benefit from a good, clean power supply and
a clean waveform for their 60 Hz AC-synchronous (sp?) motors, so it
may behoove you to buy or build a filter to clean up your mains power.

Good luck!

-Derek van Veen
The Claremont Graduate School
The Center for Politics and Economics
vanv...@cgs.edu

[bu...@ibm.net]

In <3uor3k$g...@agate.berkeley.edu>, scyth...@aol.com (Scythebill) writes:
>I'm planning on buying a new turntable. As no decent ones are for
>sale where I live, I was planning to purchase one from Audio Adviser.
>I'm considering the Rega Planar 3, Sota Comet and Sumiko 6 (price
>around $700-$800) with Blue Point Special cartridge. Or should I save
>a little longer (another $400)for the VPI HW-19 Jr.?

[quoted text deleted by RD}

Tough questions. I listened to the Rega and Sota Comet and bought the
Comet. I have not listened to the Sumiko.

As to saving up for the HW-19Jr, that was the question I asked myself
before buying the Comet. Personally, I decided to spend the
difference on albums. But it would be just as valid to go for the
HW-19 (VPI products are real nice).

I was just afraid that it was going to get harder to find old vinyl,
but looking at what's happening with reissues & audiophile pressings,
I may have been wrong.

[Nathan Freedenberg]

I to suffered from the same delemia. I had listened to the Sota and
the HW-19Jr. I prefered the HW-19Jr but the initial cost was a factor
that was about to scare me away. My dealer (whom is very good(write
me for his name as I don't want to advertise)) told me about a
customer that had just upgraded to a TNT model and was privately
selling his Jr. The dealer volenteered to let me bring in the Jr for
him to check over. He gave it a faily clean bill of health. There were
some cosmetic problems and the hinges needed new springs. My dealer
replaced the springs at no charge, he helped me in negotiating a fair
price and I am glad that I went this route.

I would look for a clean used HW-19Jr. The upgrade path is clear. The
support from VPI is unbelivable, and I am not the original owner. I
would also reccomend that you save for a Record Cleaning machine. I
got the VPI 16.5 after some time and I found that all of my old albums
sounded much better after being cleaned. It's worth the price.

[Don Melton]

vanv...@CGSVAX.CGS.Edu wrote:

: However, setting up a Rega properly is a bitch. First and foremost,

: you need to have the right cartridge. I don't think a Blue Point or
: Special will cut it. A better choice is the Rega Elys or Bias, or
: some of the better Goldring cartridges. Next, getting the turntable

I have a Rega Planar 3 and recently switched *from* the Elys *to* a
Blue Point Special. The Special gives me much better definition and a
clearer high end.

be seeing you ... Don Don Melton <bn...@freenet.toronto.on.ca>