For the record (no pun), I just picked up the Rega Planar 6 with Exact 2 MM cartridge … and it sounds amazing! I am very happy to have decide to go with Rega this time 'round. I appreciate this AV Nirvana review, which helped me make a decision. Happy listening, enjoy the music!
Today I auditioned the P3 50th anniversary and the P6, both come with the external power supply reference belt and Exact 2. Both were a massive improvement on my 22 year old ProJect Debut 2. The p3 50th was superb, but the p6 just edged it out in terms of better separation and texture on bass notes and vocals seemed to be projected more. These were subtle improvements, but enough for me to order the p6
I also just purchased the P3 50th at a brick and mortar store. They also had me listen to the P6 and no doubt it sounded great. But I was already pushing my budget with the 3, so I couldn’t afford the next level. But if I could have I would have.
@@cedergrenpeter How do you like the P6 and 2M black combo? I'm also trying to decide if this is the route to take...you needed shims to align the vta?
Thanks for posting this video, it’s a great story and review. Many people make the mistake of upgrading the cartridge beyond the capability of their deck. I’ve done it myself, although it was a second hand cartridge and I was doing it for an experiment. The turntable is the platform upon which your analogue playback is based. If this isn’t good enough, no amount of fancy arm or cartridge is going to make up for it. I’ve just fitted a new sub-chassis to my turntable made from machined aero grade alloy, replacing the original pressed steel version it was shipped with. The difference is nothing short of astonishing. Congratulations on finding a turntable that re-ignites your passion for vinyl. I’m sure it will be a brilliant platform you can enjoy and build upon in future. Perhaps even going back to moving coil, however, I wouldn’t go that route without budgeting for a really good quality phono stage at the same time. I look forward to more videos. Subscribed.
I just brought in a pair of Rega RS5 speakers to take for a spin with my Jolida tube amp. They’re fantastic speakers but we’ll see how they do in my room and paired with this amp…
Fantastic job on this review. I just subscribed. I'm glad you've been enjoying the P6 with an MM cart. As for myself, I've been out of the vinyl game for 30+ years, but last November, I decided to get back into it after having a great time at a vinyl listening night with the Arizona Audio/Video Club. I planned to go with the Fluance RT85 you mentioned, but everyone I talked to, including my wife, said I'd be disappointed with the sound after listening to high-performance digital for many years. More research took me in the direction of Rega as well as an obvious choice. I did not want to make a new hobby out of turntable setup, futzing with azimuth, zenith, SRA/VTA, etc. Rega's approach enables enthusiasts to get on with listening to music with minimal fuss, especially when selecting a factory-fitted cartridge, as you and I did. Although I only had two LPs at the time of purchase (one being Random Access Memories by Daft Punk), I purchased the Planar 8 with APHETA 3 cart from Glen at Arizona Hi-Fi without a demo after he patiently answered dozens of my questions. Your point is well taken: low-output MC carts can be incredibly detailed but will also be less forgiving of poor to mediocre pressings and surface noise. But, when I do put on a great pressing, the experience is delightful. I can't understand how dragging a rock through a plastic groove could possibly produce sound quality that's so close to the fidelity of good digital. In a few instances, I've found vinyl LPs with obviously superior mastering to available digital releases, and it's on these that I will focus my vinyl collecting efforts. However, I did buy a one-year subscription to Vinyl Me Please (VMP) to help me get a starter collection together. Pressing quality has been above average, for sure. Still, their main value-add is packaging the albums with additional inserts and booklets that give the listener something to hold and read during that first listen, deepening the level of engagement for that and subsequent sessions. As you said, it's that process that makes vinyl playback more engaging than lossless streaming, even though streaming often has the edge regarding absolute fidelity. Again, congrats on the P6 and thanks again for producing such an impressive video. I'm sure lots of work went into this.
Thanks for this great comment, David! A good dealer is invaluable in decisions like this, and I'm noting your recommendation of Glen for my next stay at the Hermosa Inn! My collection ranges from original purchases from my childhood to new high-quality reissues, but there's a huge chunk of albums I picked up when my old college radio station had to give up their storage space. I was able to pick up a couple hundred albums for a $0.25 donation/each...and a lot of the albums are the same copies that played on air while I was an undergrad, turning me on to the fantastic early 90s college radio genre and grunge. A lot of great music and sentimental value there. You left out one very important detail - what was the OTHER album you owned when you bought your Planar 8? :)
An excellent source for the high quality vinyl is Acoustic Sounds. As you may know, a lot of LPs these days are mastered from CD sources to cater to the vinyl fad. And then there are the companies doing exceptional work from original master tapes. Acoustic Sounds associated label Analogue Productions does some of the best work mastering and pressing available.
Nice review! I was curious to hear why you went with the Exact, but after watching the video, I totally get it … however… after buying the P6 with the Ania and matching Rega MC preamp, I was genuinely blown away. I listened to the Exact on a P3 and I was massively impressed. It was easily better than nearly every $2000 CD player I’d auditioned, yet the P6+ Ania is just another world of resolution, flow, PRaT and frequency range. All to say, I fully recommend the Ania when the upgrade bites again.
My bank account hates you for this, but I’m actually planning to probably upgrade my preamp to the Rega Aria MK3 first. I’m still happy with the sound, and for the price this Cambridge Audio Alva Duo is certainly a great preamp, but I feel like there’s still some performance I haven’t yet hit from the Exact cart. Since this review I brought in a pair of Rega RS5 speakers (same model that were in the system at the beach house that started my turntable reset) and put my Jolida BRC202 tube integrated amp back to good use and I’m really feeling like the preamp is now the weak point in this system. So that’s first!
I purchased a P6 and love it and I paired it with a nagaoka MP 500. And the trigon vanguard III phono preamp. Trigon made a big difference in my turntable playback over the phono stage on my Mac ma252.
I agree, I just purchased the Rega 6 and just love the extra detail, and smooth bass it provides. After having this turntable, I ended up buying 10 new records today. Well, several were used in very good condition. I find the streaming services sometimes have too much sparkle, and top end. The records have a more pleasant sound that is detailed and a slight smoother character. I had the Dual CS5000 and when I updated to the Planer 6, I have to say, it is now my final turntable. i am currently using a Parasound XRM phono preamp. I am very happy with the results I am getting. I may consider getting their JC3 Jr phono preamp as an upgrade at some time in the future. This Rega is well worth it.
I will definitely be purchasing a P6 in the future, I started with a P1 and I am currently using a P2 with a Bias2 cartridge. My last upgrade was going from a Rega MM phono stage to the Musical Surroundings Phenomena 2. Dramatic improvement and will be an amazing match for the P6
Suggestion, replace the Bias 2 before any other upgrades. I had a P2 with a Bias 2 and had a Nagaoka MP-110 installed. The difference wasn’t small. The Bias2 sounded dull and veiled compared to the Nagaoka. And the 110 is not an expensive unit. I’m not saying that’s the best you can do, but I am saying that replacing your cartridge will be a significant upgrade.
Thank you for this honest and realistic review. One of the best on the net. I have been a Rega owner for 30+ years and appreciate the detail and involvement that their decks provide. I have a P3 with neo, fono and shelf but am thinking that before I buy 'that deck' in my dotage that the P6 is the ideal move. I am not ready to go MC yet. Your video makes a convincing case.
@@av_nirvana It was really helpful. I have toyed with the idea of the P8 and even the LP12. A month ago I did an A-B with a P6 with Ania Pro v an LP12. Well to my ears the P6 more than held its own. Thats a 7K difference in price between the two turntables. I really like the idea that the P6 and Rega has a 'cheaper' upgrade path with no earth shattering difference in detail and soundstaging
I have a friend who went from the P3 to P6 to the P8 and he’s agreed that while he loves the P8, the P6 is really the sweet spot for price : performance ratio.
@@av_nirvana - What are some of the drawbacks for the Planar 6 turntable? I am asking because I am interested in upgrading my stereo equipment. As well, do you use a separate phono preamp with your Rega Planar 6?
Great video with honest perspective that I appreciate! The P6 is more than many people "need", but is a great buy that allows you future growth with the Ania Pro, if you decided to get even more of what you are liking now. The other thing is that the RB330 responds well to a Cardas tonearm upgrade, and you could even get a replacement phono cable with right angle DIN connector that doesn't require modifying the deck. The P6 is great just like it is, but allows you the possibility of getting more if you ever get bored. :)
“Getting more” is what got me into no man’s land on my old table. 😉 But yes, I agree. This is a great turntable and my configuration is solid, but there are easy upgrades to get more out of the platform.
Great process. I went through a similar one. Had a Roksan Radius 7 which sounded phenomenal, but in my case it was imposing to my family to use. So I worked with Hawthorne Stereo here in Seattle and ended up with the Planar 6. Id say it was probably a lateral move, but it gets used much more. And influenced my son to get the 50th anniversary Planar 3
I chose my P6/Exact based on pretty much the same criteria as you. No fuss, no temptation for tweakery other than cartridge. I too was going for the P3, after owning a Pro-ject I didn’t get on with. The difference is, I heard a P3 against a P6, and there was no contest. As good as the P3 is, I couldn’t have lived with it, having heard the P6.
What phono preamp did you use? I noticed the b roll the records were not flat. That would make make most carts create huge issues. Not being a pain but things I noticed. Enjoyed the video
Oh I noticed too. 😂 I’m not sure why I always choose to film records that don’t end up being perfectly flat. The majority of my records are flat and in great shape. The preamp is a Cambridge Audio Alva Duo.
I auditioned the Planar 6 with the Exact and with the Ania in the same session. Unfortunately (for my wallet) I could hear a difference and ended up buying the table with the Ania pre-fitted. My phono stage to begin with was a Schiit Mani 2 which I enjoyed but I knew it was a stop-gap and was a bottle neck for system performance (I'm sure it would have been a fantastic phono stage for the Exact though). After owning the table for some months I went back to the hi-fi store and auditioned a number of phono stages against my Mani 2 on their display P6 (with an Ania cart fitted to match my home setup as much as practicable). Firstly, to see if I could hear any difference and, if so, in what ways. I compared a Dynavector P75, Chord Huei, Rega Fono MC, and the Rega Aria. Unfortunately (for my wallet, again) I was able to hear differences. In the end my selection was between the Dynavector P75, Chord Huei, and Rega Aria. I felt that both the P75 and Huei had greater transient impact but the Aria seemed more full-bodied. As much as I liked the immediacy and attack of the Dynavector and Chord stages, I knew that I would prefer the full-fat presentation of the Aria in the long term, especially as it would be more forgiving on less than stellar mastered recordings. Synergy is also a thing and I feel the Aria, Ania, and Planar 6 are all fantastically matched. It is not a cheap phono stage but I have zero regrets about the purchase. The only itch remaining in the depths of my subconscious is the very slight scratching of an impulse to upgrade the cartridge to the Ania Pro. I can wait, however, until the stylus on my Ania is ready for replacement before I make that decision.
Hi! Thanks for you review video. I too have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (with a Shure V15V cart) and am looking to upgrade to a P6. In your opinion, the how much of the improvement in sound from your previous Pro-Ject Debut do you think is attributed to the turntable itself not considering the new cartridge you have? (Note: I will not be switching my cart). Thank you.
Depending on your preferences, the cart change from Hana EL to Rega Exact 2 could be viewed as a wash or even a downgrade. Similar pricing but the Hana was an MC and the Rega is MM. I feel like that cart was being held back by the table, specifically the tonearm. The table seemed to be a bottleneck for performance. Or the Hana was just not a great combo with the table. I think with turntables sometimes you just get the wrong combo and things don’t complement each other. The Project table sounded solid with the Ortofon 2M Red. I upgraded that to a 2M Blue and wasn’t all that impressed, so went to the Hana and again, not that impressed even though I enjoyed the Hana on a friend’s Music Hall Classic. The P6 is, in my opinion, a platform with much more potential for higher performance. The P6 with Exact2 cart is better than all configurations of the Project I tried, and better than my Project RM 1.3. I was trying to source a Music Hall Classic but I’m very glad I upped my budget and went with the P6.
What speakers do you recommend? I believe I heard you say you had the Beolab 8000s. I'm thinking about getting the Rega Planar 6, but I want to ensure I have quality speakers! Thanks!
Man, that's a subjective question. Really depends on what speakers you have, what type of sound profile you prefer, what type of music you like, what size your room is... would probably be the best idea to start a thread over at www.avnirvana.com and we can discuss in more depth than here.
Great review! At the 6:55 mark you have a stand/shelf for the PSU … do you mind sharing the brand? I'm considering the Planar 6 table, but am reluctant with current physical space limitations. I appreciate you taking the time to put this review together :)
That’s just a speaker stand that I placed it on for filming. The turntable was temporarily on an end table. It’s currently all living on top of my vinyl shelving until I make a decision on replacing all of the furniture.
Got it, figured that may be the case! I have a couple extra strands myself from reducing channels that I've considered repurposing. Basically, have a nice tower cabinet (table on top) with a door. The PSU would potentially be shelved inside, but I don't want to open/close the door every time to start/stop the table. Ahh, we'll see. Worse challenges out there … cheers!
The table is absolutely fanTAStic. I’ve since added the Aria MK3 preamp and RS5 speakers for an almost all Rega system except for the Jolida tube integrated amp. Looking at a new wall unit from www.rdrecordcabinets.com to house all of it and the collection.
love your detailed account of this rega turntable. have been buying and upgrading my regas since 1983. the p6 seems to be the perfect price point for quality. i had my p7 with upgraded rb1000 stolen so i think the p6 is the way to go. i would have liked to go to the p8 for even more refinement but the cost is a little out of my league
Exactly. I think the price to performance ratio on the P6 is the sweet spot in the line. There’s definite improvement further up the line but I couldn’t justify the return on investment. I can still easily swap out for the MC cart on this and improve upon this platform if I decide later on. A friend went from a P6 to the P8 and ended up not being that satisfied with the upgrade until he eventually dropped more money on a different cart.
Thank you! I agree. I’ve swapped out every other item in my 2ch system since then, with all Rega except my Jolida tube integrated, and each piece I added has opened up more and more sonic improvement. I’m now running the P6, an Aria MK3, the Jolida and a pair of Rega RS5 speakers.
Ok thanks ! I would be so interested about a comparison from you of exact/ania pro ! I’m also considering it but afraid I would lose the magic of the exact 👀 after all , the best performance is not always what is best for us ;)
I really dig the perspective of getting tired of the fuss and faff of vinyl. 2 years ago I got out of it then I recently got back into it with the purchase of a restored b&o beogram. Not only does it sound great but it's a cinch to operate and being fully automatic I don't really have to think about it, I just sit down with my records and enjoy the sound. I don't know this hobby is kind of like a gateway drug in a way, you start one tweak thinking it'll lead to something and then before you know it you spent $700 on cables and leveling platters and stuff only to come out really not much better than you started, plus it also leads to this neurosis of thinking in terms of" well if only I get that new carbon fiber tone arm bearing then my sound is going to be a whole lot better". At the end of the day all you do is spend all your time thinking about ways to improve your sound instead of actually just enjoying the sound you already have.
I had a Beogram years ago and loved it except it was completely automatic, so I wasn’t able to play newer albums cut at 45rpm because the deck would automatically cue to the 7” single starting location when you hit 45.
@@av_nirvana well this one is the RX2 and the way it works is you press start and if you have a 12 inch on there it will automatically move into position and play it 33 but all you have to do is if you're playing 12 in 45 when you press play you immediately also press 45 and it will play at 12 in 45. The same goes for 7-in 33 which is a lot less common than 12 45 but does exist.
If your amp has a phono input you don’t need a preamp, as long as you’re using a Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge like the Exact on my table. If you upgrade to the Ania (MC) cart, you’ll likely need one for MC cartridges, since most built-in preamps are MM voltages only. That being said, I recently upgraded my phono preamp to the Rega Aria and it made an enormous improvement over my previous Cambridge Audio preamp. You will very likely be limiting the performance of this turntable by using a built-in phono preamp.
If you can, wall mount the Rega P6, a dedicated wallmount is available from Rega. As the Rega has no suspension it is very sensitive to placement, avoid heavy racks or furniture as these will feed low frequency vibration straight into the turntable. Try and locate the turntable as far from the loudspeakers as possible for similar reasons. Happy listening!
Wall mount? Vertically? How does that work? I have never seen a wall mounted record player. Sounds cool but i can’t see it working due to gravity problems when spinning the record.
My P6 has the Ania MC cartridge plugged into a Vincent 701 cartridge preamp and although I enjoy it my wife is head over heels over the quality of the sound.
In October of 22 we did just that. Went with Polk Legend L800 speakers, Rotel 1590 preamp and Parasound amp. Sometime last year we added the turntable and MC preamp. We enjoy listening to music almost every day for a couple of hours in the evening.@@av_nirvana
As soon as I log out from work I’m playing vinyl for 2-3 hours through dinner, before we head downstairs to the theatre. My 2ch system is now the P6, a Rega Aria preamp, a Jolida 202BRC tube integrated amp and Rega RS5 speakers.
11:35. A true test for tracking.. that lumpy Blue Note LP. Lol I have a P6 as well but with Ania and Rega MC preamp. Dreamy. You made a good choice with P6
I’m really not sure why every record I grab to film ends up looking like that. I do like the dollar bins but I swear most of my collection is in great shape! 😂 I’m about to grab an Aria preamp, so watch for that review!
Thanks for the video. I have been toying with a Planar 6 for a while, to replace my P3-24. This has kind of reinforced my thoughts. Don't discard Hana though. The Hana SL is the most amazing cartridge I have heard in years. It's a big step up in performance from the EL which is not their main or best choice for stylus shape. The company is highly regarded for their more elongated shaped styli.
Oh I’m for sure not discounting Hana. I just think I went down a rabbit hole and came out the other end with a system that was not complementary of its components. There are bottlenecks and mismatches and I just needed to start over.
If you ever have additional funds, you should consider getting a GrooveTracer subplatter. It made a very noticeable improvement to the sound stage on my P8.
Nicely articulate video. If you do upgrade your Exact, I would skip over the Ania and go for the Ania Pro, and be sure to go for a better phono stage that will do it justice. Enjoy regardless!
@@remiwjuniski1808 The Exact is a very nice balanced cartridge, but predictably, the Ania Pro has much more refined detail, lending more evocative depth to the soundstage and tonality of instruments and voices.
I bought a planar 6 about 3 years ago, its a noticeable upgrade over my previous rp3, but needs a good system to truly show its strengths. Mine is fitted with an audio technica at33ptgmk2 cartridge, going into an icon audio ps 1 2 phono stage, and it completely trounces my arcam cds50 cd player. Ive no experience of the the CA phono stage, however this may be your bottle neck. If you can demo an icon audio phono stage, jump at the chance.
I’ve actually been eyeballing (earballing?) the Rega Aria phono stage lately but doing a few more finishing touches on the theater room before dumping more money into 2ch. (Dumped the B&O speakers last month for a pair of Rega RS5 and put my old Jolida BRC202 back into the chain and it’s glorious!)
I recently picked up the Fluance RT85N and it feels cheap to me.. sound is very nice but it has some kind of intermittent popping which is very annoying... So I'm going to upgrade to a Rega P6 hopefully tomorrow!
I've had a similar problem that you have in regards to upgrading to a moving coil cartridge. I didn't go moving coil but, I did go with a Ortofon 2m Black somewhat recently. Though it was a wildly impressive upgrade from my blue in terms of detail, separation and soundstage, it also added a lot of distortion and highlighted imperfections in my less than perfect records. My solution was to buy an ultrasonic cleaner. It has made a huge difference. I would say that anyone buying a hi end, detailed phono cartridge should not do it unless you already own or are willing to buy an ultrasonic cleaner.
I'm trying to decide between the Planar 6 and the Mofi Ultradeck. I currently have the Planar 1 with the Ortofon 2M Blue. I think it sounds good through my Schiit Freya S, Vidar 2, Mofi Studio phono preamp and Polk Reserve R700 speakers but feel at times that Tidal and Amazon Music sound better. Any thoughts? Is my system resolving enough for the Planar 6 to be an appreciable upgrade?
My opinion is that you would hear an appreciable difference, having gone from the Fluance with a 2M Blue to the P6. Since the P1 is a better foundation than the Fluance it may not be as dramatic, but you should get a lot more out of the P6 with an Exact 2 cart. That said, the MoFi is also a great table.
@@av_nirvana Thanks. I appreciate the input. Just went and listened to the Mofi Ultradeck with the UltraGold MC Cartridge. Sounded incredible... as it should on 50K in McIntosh gear.
from what i have learned you would be best to skip on the "ania" and go for the "ania pro" instead. i believe the stylus is same as exact, unlike the ania which reverts back to elliptical. im considering upgrading my modded rp3 for the newer P6, and that is the route i will be going down
I bought the 6 took it back great sounding but couldn’t live with the hum coming from the arm/cartridge. Bought a technics 1200GR instead no hum properly grounded.
The unique pivot pad design of Rega cartridges improves performance by eliminating the mechanical joint between the stylus housing and the main body. This vastly improves tracking ability and stability of the stylus. If you should damage or wear your Rega cartridge, simply return it to you Rega dealer and they will supply you with a rebuild cartridge fitted with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot pad. Each rebuild is fully tested over two days as a new cartridge would be. The rebuild is sold at a reduced price once you trade in your worn or damaged cartridge that is equivalent to a replacement stylus offered by other manufacturers.
Can’t go wrong with either but I recently heard the Technics and the P6 with Ania on the same system in a showroom and I thought the P6 was noticeably better, but that was with the MC cart, I have the MM.
Nice overview. I replaced an ageing Exact mk1 with an Apheta back in the day. Superb as the Exact was, the Apheta was better in every way. Rega's Ania Pro uses the same Vital stylus as the Exact, has great reviews and maybe worth considering when your Exact starts to run out of steam. Still using an Apheta rebuild (by Rega) on my P9. No desire to change.
The Exact cart I have on here is MM. and I’ve also upgraded to the Rega Aria MK3 phono preamp, which is also a huge upgrade over any built-in phono preamp.
Definitely pricey, yes. Music Hall tables are essentially ProJect tables, and I’ve auditioned Music Hall and owned a couple ProJects. Solid value. But to get the quality and performance of the Planar 6 you need to spend similar money on a Music Hall or ProJect. To match the P6 you have to get to at least the Music Hall 7.3 and I’d argue the cartridge options on the P6 are better than the Ortofon Bronze. If you buy a $500 Music Hall or Project table, you’re getting a similar performance, build and features to the Planar 1.
The problem with Rega is that there's no vta adjustment. Rega doesn't think that it matters. Everyone else does. When everyone else tells you something matters, maybe it really does.
If you want to swap carts/arms/platters/mats, yes, via matters. But for those like me staying completely in the Rega ecosystem, it doesn't matter because it's all made to the same spec.
No matter how well any manufacturer builds its turntables, you are still up against the wall with getting hold of good quality, flat pressings, with the hole in the middle of the disc.
It’s a front runner for that sweet spot right before the law of diminishing returns kicks in. There are better turntables but the value isn’t there like the P6.
That’s certainly the basic functionality of a turntable, yes, but that’s like saying all a car has to do is turn the wheels and allow you to steer. Sure, but there are almost infinite levels of performance, and comfort.
@@av_nirvana I realize you don’t work for them. You said you relied on their reviews to help you decide on your purchase. I’m just pointing out that their (or any retailers) “review” is a sales pitch, not an unbiased review by a third party. The 6 is an excellent product so no harm done, but people should take the videos from Audio Advice, Upscale Audio et al., with a grain of salt. And yes, Audio Advice does do a good job of comparing models within a manufacturers range , which is useful but they also uncritically regurgitate any manufacturers talking points.
No, I relied on their CONTENT that explains in great detail the differences across the line of Rega turntables. I viewed a lot of content, considered a lot of opinions, and drew upon my own experience with Rega tables. Audio Advice produces really high quality informative content and I just wanted to acknowledge their efforts and I made my purchase through them as a thank you.
@@av_nirvana yes agreed. I mentioned above they do excellent product descriptions. In my initial comment I was focusing on the fact that at about 3:18 you said that audio advice does product reviews. I was just saying one should take a “review” from a retailer with a grain of salt. But yes, they describe the products well. Unlike them, what you have posted is an actual review, and it’s a good one. I am the original owner of a 1982 P2, but I am eyeing the P6 very closely.
“Overview” may have been a better word. I tried to emphasize that it’s really difficult to make a decision without auditioning in your own system, and even my “review” doesn’t necessarily mean it will sound the same to you in your system. But based on the feature set and the brand reputation I took the leap of faith. That said, I can highly recommend the P6 based on my experience now, and I have experienced similar improvements others have expressed in other videos here, including Audio Advice’s team. You’re absolutely correct that you’re not going to find a dealer bashing products they sell, or praising products they don’t sell, and you have to be able to extract the facts from dealer-produced content and add in opinions from non-dealers to make an educated decision. But I also wouldn’t want to buy from a dealer if they weren’t convinced they were offering the best brands. 😉
Noise floor, you are talking about vinyl. Soundstage will be very poor if you are coming from cd or streaming. I do love listening to vinyl, especially my uhqr pressings, but digital absolutely destroys those.
Doesn’t matter what format you’re talking about, a noise floor is a noise floor and decreasing the floor is an improvement. Certainly digital formats will have a lower noise floor than vinyl, that doesn’t make lowering it any less important with your turntable. And a good turntable and record can absolutely compete with digitalis soundstage.
No, I’m not. Audio advice was helping me try to track down a different turntable I was looking at that we couldn’t end up getting, and were very helpful in the whole process. If you use the link in the description to purchase a Rega Planar 6, I would receive an affiliate commission, but they did not ask for any editorial review or promotion, I added that myself as a thank you for their help and for the resources they make available.
It depends on what you consider value. If you’re looking for something with a high bang for the buck, there are several solid $500 turntables that deliver very well. But this is a turntable that, for just over $2K puts you in a class of sound that competes with much more expensive turntables. The bump in sound quality and features you get going from the Planar 3 to the Planar 6 is massive for a relatively modest price increase.
For the record (no pun), I just picked up the Rega Planar 6 with Exact 2 MM cartridge … and it sounds amazing! I am very happy to have decide to go with Rega this time 'round. I appreciate this AV Nirvana review, which helped me make a decision. Happy listening, enjoy the music!
Excellent choice! I have really been enjoying it for a year+ now with no complaints.
Awesome video! Gave me all the information I need in a plain and simple way. Great shots of the Planar 6 too!
Glad to help!!!
Today I auditioned the P3 50th anniversary and the P6, both come with the external power supply reference belt and Exact 2. Both were a massive improvement on my 22 year old ProJect Debut 2.
The p3 50th was superb, but the p6 just edged it out in terms of better separation and texture on bass notes and vocals seemed to be projected more. These were subtle improvements, but enough for me to order the p6
Plus p6 looks better
I also just purchased the P3 50th at a brick and mortar store. They also had me listen to the P6 and no doubt it sounded great. But I was already pushing my budget with the 3, so I couldn’t afford the next level. But if I could have I would have.
@@madteam3parents773 I think you made the right decision. Do not underestimate that a later cartridge upgrade can bring you to another level.
I just ordered a p6 with the Ortofon 2MR black LVB 250 MM cartridge a few minutes ago!
@@cedergrenpeter How do you like the P6 and 2M black combo? I'm also trying to decide if this is the route to take...you needed shims to align the vta?
Thanks for posting this video, it’s a great story and review. Many people make the mistake of upgrading the cartridge beyond the capability of their deck. I’ve done it myself, although it was a second hand cartridge and I was doing it for an experiment.
The turntable is the platform upon which your analogue playback is based. If this isn’t good enough, no amount of fancy arm or cartridge is going to make up for it. I’ve just fitted a new sub-chassis to my turntable made from machined aero grade alloy, replacing the original pressed steel version it was shipped with. The difference is nothing short of astonishing.
Congratulations on finding a turntable that re-ignites your passion for vinyl. I’m sure it will be a brilliant platform you can enjoy and build upon in future. Perhaps even going back to moving coil, however, I wouldn’t go that route without budgeting for a really good quality phono stage at the same time.
I look forward to more videos. Subscribed.
Just got the p6 with exact 2 before your review. Nice detailed review.
I just brought in a pair of Rega RS5 speakers to take for a spin with my Jolida tube amp. They’re fantastic speakers but we’ll see how they do in my room and paired with this amp…
Fantastic job on this review. I just subscribed. I'm glad you've been enjoying the P6 with an MM cart. As for myself, I've been out of the vinyl game for 30+ years, but last November, I decided to get back into it after having a great time at a vinyl listening night with the Arizona Audio/Video Club. I planned to go with the Fluance RT85 you mentioned, but everyone I talked to, including my wife, said I'd be disappointed with the sound after listening to high-performance digital for many years.
More research took me in the direction of Rega as well as an obvious choice. I did not want to make a new hobby out of turntable setup, futzing with azimuth, zenith, SRA/VTA, etc. Rega's approach enables enthusiasts to get on with listening to music with minimal fuss, especially when selecting a factory-fitted cartridge, as you and I did. Although I only had two LPs at the time of purchase (one being Random Access Memories by Daft Punk), I purchased the Planar 8 with APHETA 3 cart from Glen at Arizona Hi-Fi without a demo after he patiently answered dozens of my questions.
Your point is well taken: low-output MC carts can be incredibly detailed but will also be less forgiving of poor to mediocre pressings and surface noise. But, when I do put on a great pressing, the experience is delightful. I can't understand how dragging a rock through a plastic groove could possibly produce sound quality that's so close to the fidelity of good digital. In a few instances, I've found vinyl LPs with obviously superior mastering to available digital releases, and it's on these that I will focus my vinyl collecting efforts.
However, I did buy a one-year subscription to Vinyl Me Please (VMP) to help me get a starter collection together. Pressing quality has been above average, for sure. Still, their main value-add is packaging the albums with additional inserts and booklets that give the listener something to hold and read during that first listen, deepening the level of engagement for that and subsequent sessions. As you said, it's that process that makes vinyl playback more engaging than lossless streaming, even though streaming often has the edge regarding absolute fidelity.
Again, congrats on the P6 and thanks again for producing such an impressive video. I'm sure lots of work went into this.
Thanks for this great comment, David! A good dealer is invaluable in decisions like this, and I'm noting your recommendation of Glen for my next stay at the Hermosa Inn!
My collection ranges from original purchases from my childhood to new high-quality reissues, but there's a huge chunk of albums I picked up when my old college radio station had to give up their storage space. I was able to pick up a couple hundred albums for a $0.25 donation/each...and a lot of the albums are the same copies that played on air while I was an undergrad, turning me on to the fantastic early 90s college radio genre and grunge. A lot of great music and sentimental value there.
You left out one very important detail - what was the OTHER album you owned when you bought your Planar 8? :)
An excellent source for the high quality vinyl is Acoustic Sounds. As you may know, a lot of LPs these days are mastered from CD sources to cater to the vinyl fad. And then there are the companies doing exceptional work from original master tapes. Acoustic Sounds associated label Analogue Productions does some of the best work mastering and pressing available.
I live an hour from Audio Advice. I’ve been known to go sit and listen for a couple hours. Wonderful store.
Agreed, and unfortunately great showrooms where you can actually hear all this equipment first hand are becoming more and more rare…
Nice review! I was curious to hear why you went with the Exact, but after watching the video, I totally get it … however… after buying the P6 with the Ania and matching Rega MC preamp, I was genuinely blown away. I listened to the Exact on a P3 and I was massively impressed. It was easily better than nearly every $2000 CD player I’d auditioned, yet the P6+ Ania is just another world of resolution, flow, PRaT and frequency range. All to say, I fully recommend the Ania when the upgrade bites again.
My bank account hates you for this, but I’m actually planning to probably upgrade my preamp to the Rega Aria MK3 first. I’m still happy with the sound, and for the price this Cambridge Audio Alva Duo is certainly a great preamp, but I feel like there’s still some performance I haven’t yet hit from the Exact cart. Since this review I brought in a pair of Rega RS5 speakers (same model that were in the system at the beach house that started my turntable reset) and put my Jolida BRC202 tube integrated amp back to good use and I’m really feeling like the preamp is now the weak point in this system. So that’s first!
I purchased a P6 and love it and I paired it with a nagaoka MP 500. And the trigon vanguard III phono preamp. Trigon made a big difference in my turntable playback over the phono stage on my Mac ma252.
I agree, I just purchased the Rega 6 and just love the extra detail, and smooth bass it provides. After having this turntable, I ended up buying 10 new records today. Well, several were used in very good condition. I find the streaming services sometimes have too much sparkle, and top end. The records have a more pleasant sound that is detailed and a slight smoother character. I had the Dual CS5000 and when I updated to the Planer 6, I have to say, it is now my final turntable. i am currently using a Parasound XRM phono preamp. I am very happy with the results I am getting. I may consider getting their JC3 Jr phono preamp as an upgrade at some time in the future. This Rega is well worth it.
That Parasound is fantastic. The Rega integrated amp is also a really nice unit, I can’t imagine the phono preamp would be any different.
I will definitely be purchasing a P6 in the future, I started with a P1 and I am currently using a P2 with a Bias2 cartridge. My last upgrade was going from a Rega MM phono stage to the Musical Surroundings Phenomena 2. Dramatic improvement and will be an amazing match for the P6
Suggestion, replace the Bias 2 before any other upgrades. I had a P2 with a Bias 2 and had a Nagaoka MP-110 installed. The difference wasn’t small. The Bias2 sounded dull and veiled compared to the Nagaoka. And the 110 is not an expensive unit. I’m not saying that’s the best you can do, but I am saying that replacing your cartridge will be a significant upgrade.
Thank you for this honest and realistic review. One of the best on the net. I have been a Rega owner for 30+ years and appreciate the detail and involvement that their decks provide. I have a P3 with neo, fono and shelf but am thinking that before I buy 'that deck' in my dotage that the P6 is the ideal move. I am not ready to go MC yet. Your video makes a convincing case.
Glad it was helpful! Let us know what you decide!!!
@@av_nirvana It was really helpful. I have toyed with the idea of the P8 and even the LP12. A month ago I did an A-B with a P6 with Ania Pro v an LP12. Well to my ears the P6 more than held its own. Thats a 7K difference in price between the two turntables. I really like the idea that the P6 and Rega has a 'cheaper' upgrade path with no earth shattering difference in detail and soundstaging
I have a friend who went from the P3 to P6 to the P8 and he’s agreed that while he loves the P8, the P6 is really the sweet spot for price : performance ratio.
@@av_nirvana - What are some of the drawbacks for the Planar 6 turntable? I am asking because I am interested in upgrading my stereo equipment. As well, do you use a separate phono preamp with your Rega Planar 6?
Great video with honest perspective that I appreciate! The P6 is more than many people "need", but is a great buy that allows you future growth with the Ania Pro, if you decided to get even more of what you are liking now. The other thing is that the RB330 responds well to a Cardas tonearm upgrade, and you could even get a replacement phono cable with right angle DIN connector that doesn't require modifying the deck. The P6 is great just like it is, but allows you the possibility of getting more if you ever get bored. :)
“Getting more” is what got me into no man’s land on my old table. 😉 But yes, I agree. This is a great turntable and my configuration is solid, but there are easy upgrades to get more out of the platform.
Considering you are limited by the format, you are correct. You maybe if lucky get 72dB dynamic range.
Great process. I went through a similar one. Had a Roksan Radius 7 which sounded phenomenal, but in my case it was imposing to my family to use. So I worked with Hawthorne Stereo here in Seattle and ended up with the Planar 6. Id say it was probably a lateral move, but it gets used much more. And influenced my son to get the 50th anniversary Planar 3
I found my Rega RS5 speakers at Hawthorne earlier this year. Great shop.
Well I have a Pro-ject Classic Evo fitted with an Ortofon Quintet Blue MC. About the same cost as the Rega and sounds sublime.
I chose my P6/Exact based on pretty much the same criteria as you. No fuss, no temptation for tweakery other than cartridge. I too was going for the P3, after owning a Pro-ject I didn’t get on with. The difference is, I heard a P3 against a P6, and there was no contest. As good as the P3 is, I couldn’t have lived with it, having heard the P6.
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
I bought P6/Exact2 last year. This year I got P10/Apheta3.
Great review . I have just had a p7/rb1000 combo stolen so need to upgrade . This maybe the choice
Sorry for your loss! Ouch!
What phono preamp did you use? I noticed the b roll the records were not flat. That would make make most carts create huge issues. Not being a pain but things I noticed. Enjoyed the video
Oh I noticed too. 😂 I’m not sure why I always choose to film records that don’t end up being perfectly flat. The majority of my records are flat and in great shape. The preamp is a Cambridge Audio Alva Duo.
I auditioned the Planar 6 with the Exact and with the Ania in the same session. Unfortunately (for my wallet) I could hear a difference and ended up buying the table with the Ania pre-fitted. My phono stage to begin with was a Schiit Mani 2 which I enjoyed but I knew it was a stop-gap and was a bottle neck for system performance (I'm sure it would have been a fantastic phono stage for the Exact though).
After owning the table for some months I went back to the hi-fi store and auditioned a number of phono stages against my Mani 2 on their display P6 (with an Ania cart fitted to match my home setup as much as practicable). Firstly, to see if I could hear any difference and, if so, in what ways. I compared a Dynavector P75, Chord Huei, Rega Fono MC, and the Rega Aria. Unfortunately (for my wallet, again) I was able to hear differences. In the end my selection was between the Dynavector P75, Chord Huei, and Rega Aria. I felt that both the P75 and Huei had greater transient impact but the Aria seemed more full-bodied. As much as I liked the immediacy and attack of the Dynavector and Chord stages, I knew that I would prefer the full-fat presentation of the Aria in the long term, especially as it would be more forgiving on less than stellar mastered recordings. Synergy is also a thing and I feel the Aria, Ania, and Planar 6 are all fantastically matched.
It is not a cheap phono stage but I have zero regrets about the purchase. The only itch remaining in the depths of my subconscious is the very slight scratching of an impulse to upgrade the cartridge to the Ania Pro. I can wait, however, until the stylus on my Ania is ready for replacement before I make that decision.
Great info thanks for sharing!
Hey, great video... subscribed ! Do you mind me asking what amplifier you use? Thank you
No amplifier. I have Bang & Olufsen BeoLab 8000s, which are powered. Between the phono preamp and speakers is a B&K PT5 preamp.
Hi! Thanks for you review video. I too have a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (with a Shure V15V cart) and am looking to upgrade to a P6. In your opinion, the how much of the improvement in sound from your previous Pro-Ject Debut do you think is attributed to the turntable itself not considering the new cartridge you have? (Note: I will not be switching my cart). Thank you.
Depending on your preferences, the cart change from Hana EL to Rega Exact 2 could be viewed as a wash or even a downgrade. Similar pricing but the Hana was an MC and the Rega is MM. I feel like that cart was being held back by the table, specifically the tonearm. The table seemed to be a bottleneck for performance. Or the Hana was just not a great combo with the table. I think with turntables sometimes you just get the wrong combo and things don’t complement each other. The Project table sounded solid with the Ortofon 2M Red. I upgraded that to a 2M Blue and wasn’t all that impressed, so went to the Hana and again, not that impressed even though I enjoyed the Hana on a friend’s Music Hall Classic. The P6 is, in my opinion, a platform with much more potential for higher performance. The P6 with Exact2 cart is better than all configurations of the Project I tried, and better than my Project RM 1.3. I was trying to source a Music Hall Classic but I’m very glad I upped my budget and went with the P6.
Thanks for the additional insight to your system. Fingers crossed since I just ordered my P6. 🤞🏻
What speakers do you recommend? I believe I heard you say you had the Beolab 8000s. I'm thinking about getting the Rega Planar 6, but I want to ensure I have quality speakers! Thanks!
Man, that's a subjective question. Really depends on what speakers you have, what type of sound profile you prefer, what type of music you like, what size your room is... would probably be the best idea to start a thread over at www.avnirvana.com and we can discuss in more depth than here.
Great review! At the 6:55 mark you have a stand/shelf for the PSU … do you mind sharing the brand? I'm considering the Planar 6 table, but am reluctant with current physical space limitations. I appreciate you taking the time to put this review together :)
That’s just a speaker stand that I placed it on for filming. The turntable was temporarily on an end table. It’s currently all living on top of my vinyl shelving until I make a decision on replacing all of the furniture.
Got it, figured that may be the case! I have a couple extra strands myself from reducing channels that I've considered repurposing. Basically, have a nice tower cabinet (table on top) with a door. The PSU would potentially be shelved inside, but I don't want to open/close the door every time to start/stop the table. Ahh, we'll see. Worse challenges out there … cheers!
The table is absolutely fanTAStic. I’ve since added the Aria MK3 preamp and RS5 speakers for an almost all Rega system except for the Jolida tube integrated amp. Looking at a new wall unit from www.rdrecordcabinets.com to house all of it and the collection.
Is the aria mk3 Review Coming ? 👀
Nice review. Considering a substantial turntable upgrade in the future. I'm torn between the P6 and the MoFi Ultradeck.
Both are fantastic choices.
@@av_nirvana I know! Haha, that's the problem.
I love rega table's
There just vary musical
At all price points
I just bought a p2 from audio advice this last
Week
Enjoy your new table!
love your detailed account of this rega turntable. have been buying and upgrading my regas since 1983. the p6 seems to be the perfect price point for quality. i had my p7 with upgraded rb1000 stolen so i think the p6 is the way to go. i would have liked to go to the p8 for even more refinement but the cost is a little out of my league
Exactly. I think the price to performance ratio on the P6 is the sweet spot in the line. There’s definite improvement further up the line but I couldn’t justify the return on investment. I can still easily swap out for the MC cart on this and improve upon this platform if I decide later on. A friend went from a P6 to the P8 and ended up not being that satisfied with the upgrade until he eventually dropped more money on a different cart.
I think the p6 with exact 2 at 2k works for me and I make cdr with it that sound darn good too the exact 2 does well
Love your honest views. Have been buying regas since 1983. Is there a better more consistent range . I doubt it
Thank you! I agree. I’ve swapped out every other item in my 2ch system since then, with all Rega except my Jolida tube integrated, and each piece I added has opened up more and more sonic improvement. I’m now running the P6, an Aria MK3, the Jolida and a pair of Rega RS5 speakers.
Is the aria mk3 review coming ? Curious to know what do you think about it and how does it compare to fono mm !
Is the aria mk3 review coming ? Curious to know what do you think about it and how does it compare to fono mm !
I have at least one more review before that comes up. Have been too busy listening to film!!!
Ok thanks !
I would be so interested about a comparison from you of exact/ania pro !
I’m also considering it but afraid I would lose the magic of the exact 👀 after all , the best performance is not always what is best for us ;)
I really dig the perspective of getting tired of the fuss and faff of vinyl. 2 years ago I got out of it then I recently got back into it with the purchase of a restored b&o beogram. Not only does it sound great but it's a cinch to operate and being fully automatic I don't really have to think about it, I just sit down with my records and enjoy the sound.
I don't know this hobby is kind of like a gateway drug in a way, you start one tweak thinking it'll lead to something and then before you know it you spent $700 on cables and leveling platters and stuff only to come out really not much better than you started, plus it also leads to this neurosis of thinking in terms of" well if only I get that new carbon fiber tone arm bearing then my sound is going to be a whole lot better". At the end of the day all you do is spend all your time thinking about ways to improve your sound instead of actually just enjoying the sound you already have.
I had a Beogram years ago and loved it except it was completely automatic, so I wasn’t able to play newer albums cut at 45rpm because the deck would automatically cue to the 7” single starting location when you hit 45.
@@av_nirvana well this one is the RX2 and the way it works is you press start and if you have a 12 inch on there it will automatically move into position and play it 33 but all you have to do is if you're playing 12 in 45 when you press play you immediately also press 45 and it will play at 12 in 45. The same goes for 7-in 33 which is a lot less common than 12 45 but does exist.
Great video! Thanks! Question, do i need a preamp if i have a neo psu and phono output on my amp? thanks.
If your amp has a phono input you don’t need a preamp, as long as you’re using a Moving Magnet (MM) cartridge like the Exact on my table. If you upgrade to the Ania (MC) cart, you’ll likely need one for MC cartridges, since most built-in preamps are MM voltages only.
That being said, I recently upgraded my phono preamp to the Rega Aria and it made an enormous improvement over my previous Cambridge Audio preamp. You will very likely be limiting the performance of this turntable by using a built-in phono preamp.
@@av_nirvana Hey, Thank you for the reply, really appreciate it. Great videos too btw.
Thank you much!
If you can, wall mount the Rega P6, a dedicated wallmount is available from Rega. As the Rega has no suspension it is very sensitive to placement, avoid heavy racks or furniture as these will feed low frequency vibration straight into the turntable. Try and locate the turntable as far from the loudspeakers as possible for similar reasons. Happy listening!
I’ve been going back and forth between the wall mount and an IsoAcoustics base and can’t decide which route to go.
Wall mount? Vertically? How does that work? I have never seen a wall mounted record player. Sounds cool but i can’t see it working due to gravity problems when spinning the record.
I’m more than happy with my Linn Basic turntable which I’ve had for thirty plus years. So won’t be making a change anytime soon.
My P6 has the Ania MC cartridge plugged into a Vincent 701 cartridge preamp and although I enjoy it my wife is head over heels over the quality of the sound.
Since this video was filmed I’ve swapped out every other piece in my 2ch. Need to do a follow-up.
In October of 22 we did just that. Went with Polk Legend L800 speakers, Rotel 1590 preamp and Parasound amp. Sometime last year we added the turntable and MC preamp. We enjoy listening to music almost every day for a couple of hours in the evening.@@av_nirvana
As soon as I log out from work I’m playing vinyl for 2-3 hours through dinner, before we head downstairs to the theatre. My 2ch system is now the P6, a Rega Aria preamp, a Jolida 202BRC tube integrated amp and Rega RS5 speakers.
Great video..!! Try the Audio Technica 540 ml Rig by cartridge. Its fantastic. I have it on my Rega Rp8.
Thanks for the tip!
11:35. A true test for tracking.. that lumpy Blue Note LP. Lol
I have a P6 as well but with Ania and Rega MC preamp. Dreamy. You made a good choice with P6
I’m really not sure why every record I grab to film ends up looking like that. I do like the dollar bins but I swear most of my collection is in great shape! 😂
I’m about to grab an Aria preamp, so watch for that review!
Thanks for the video. I have been toying with a Planar 6 for a while, to replace my P3-24. This has kind of reinforced my thoughts. Don't discard Hana though. The Hana SL is the most amazing cartridge I have heard in years. It's a big step up in performance from the EL which is not their main or best choice for stylus shape. The company is highly regarded for their more elongated shaped styli.
Oh I’m for sure not discounting Hana. I just think I went down a rabbit hole and came out the other end with a system that was not complementary of its components. There are bottlenecks and mismatches and I just needed to start over.
If you ever have additional funds, you should consider getting a GrooveTracer subplatter. It made a very noticeable improvement to the sound stage on my P8.
Interesting - thanks for sharing. What does the installation process entail?
Not really a good idea as the p6 has a great sub platter.
You're a BELLEND
Nicely articulate video. If you do upgrade your Exact, I would skip over the Ania and go for the Ania Pro, and be sure to go for a better phono stage that will do it justice. Enjoy regardless!
I’ve already upgraded the phono stage to an Aria, and the speakers to Rega RS5s.
I would be very much looking for your ania pro Review !
@@remiwjuniski1808 The Exact is a very nice balanced cartridge, but predictably, the Ania Pro has much more refined detail, lending more evocative depth to the soundstage and tonality of instruments and voices.
I bought a planar 6 about 3 years ago, its a noticeable upgrade over my previous rp3, but needs a good system to truly show its strengths.
Mine is fitted with an audio technica at33ptgmk2 cartridge, going into an icon audio ps 1 2 phono stage, and it completely trounces my arcam cds50 cd player.
Ive no experience of the the CA phono stage, however this may be your bottle neck. If you can demo an icon audio phono stage, jump at the chance.
I’ve actually been eyeballing (earballing?) the Rega Aria phono stage lately but doing a few more finishing touches on the theater room before dumping more money into 2ch. (Dumped the B&O speakers last month for a pair of Rega RS5 and put my old Jolida BRC202 back into the chain and it’s glorious!)
I recently picked up the Fluance RT85N and it feels cheap to me.. sound is very nice but it has some kind of intermittent popping which is very annoying... So I'm going to upgrade to a Rega P6 hopefully tomorrow!
The Fluance is what I had in for review right before I bought the Rega. You will not be disappointed!
I've had a similar problem that you have in regards to upgrading to a moving coil cartridge. I didn't go moving coil but, I did go with a Ortofon 2m Black somewhat recently. Though it was a wildly impressive upgrade from my blue in terms of detail, separation and soundstage, it also added a lot of distortion and highlighted imperfections in my less than perfect records. My solution was to buy an ultrasonic cleaner. It has made a huge difference. I would say that anyone buying a hi end, detailed phono cartridge should not do it unless you already own or are willing to buy an ultrasonic cleaner.
I have an auto-cleaner, but not ultrasonic. Been on the fence about it.
I went from a Ortofon 2M black LVB and went to MC and it’s been everything I could ask for and more
I'm trying to decide between the Planar 6 and the Mofi Ultradeck.
I currently have the Planar 1 with the Ortofon 2M Blue. I think it sounds good through my Schiit Freya S, Vidar 2, Mofi Studio phono preamp and Polk Reserve R700 speakers but feel at times that Tidal and Amazon Music sound better.
Any thoughts? Is my system resolving enough for the Planar 6 to be an appreciable upgrade?
My opinion is that you would hear an appreciable difference, having gone from the Fluance with a 2M Blue to the P6. Since the P1 is a better foundation than the Fluance it may not be as dramatic, but you should get a lot more out of the P6 with an Exact 2 cart. That said, the MoFi is also a great table.
@@av_nirvana Thanks. I appreciate the input. Just went and listened to the Mofi Ultradeck with the UltraGold MC Cartridge. Sounded incredible... as it should on 50K in McIntosh gear.
It’s so difficult to tell in some of these systems, what component is having the real impact, or is it everything combined.
Get the trigon vanguard III phono preamplifier
from what i have learned you would be best to skip on the "ania" and go for the "ania pro" instead. i believe the stylus is same as exact, unlike the ania which reverts back to elliptical.
im considering upgrading my modded rp3 for the newer P6, and that is the route i will be going down
I have yet to even think about changing anything out on this turntable. Its performance is outstanding thus far.
I bought the 6 took it back great sounding but couldn’t live with the hum coming from the arm/cartridge. Bought a technics 1200GR instead no hum properly grounded.
Sorry to hear that…we have no problem with hum at all. Newer construction and clean power.
I just wonder if the exact cartridge have a replaceable stylus?
The unique pivot pad design of Rega cartridges improves performance by eliminating the mechanical joint between the stylus housing and the main body. This vastly improves tracking ability and stability of the stylus. If you should damage or wear your Rega cartridge, simply return it to you Rega dealer and they will supply you with a rebuild cartridge fitted with a new cantilever, stylus and pivot pad. Each rebuild is fully tested over two days as a new cartridge would be. The rebuild is sold at a reduced price once you trade in your worn or damaged cartridge that is equivalent to a replacement stylus offered by other manufacturers.
I'm still torn between the P6 and the Technics SL12GR
Can’t go wrong with either but I recently heard the Technics and the P6 with Ania on the same system in a showroom and I thought the P6 was noticeably better, but that was with the MC cart, I have the MM.
Nice overview. I replaced an ageing Exact mk1 with an Apheta back in the day. Superb as the Exact was, the Apheta was better in every way. Rega's Ania Pro uses the same Vital stylus as the Exact, has great reviews and maybe worth considering when your Exact starts to run out of steam. Still using an Apheta rebuild (by Rega) on my P9. No desire to change.
Thanks for the real-world feedback and experience. I’ll have some time before I need to replace but it’s good to know all the Rega carts perform well!
unfortunately, my denon ceol n-12 is not compatible with MC cells, only with MMs!
The Exact cart I have on here is MM. and I’ve also upgraded to the Rega Aria MK3 phono preamp, which is also a huge upgrade over any built-in phono preamp.
Oh man, I'd love to hear Spilt Milk on my P6.
It’s such an incredibly well-produced gem, on top of the music and performance.
Pricey, though, at $2k+. People shouldn’t overlook the Music Hall turntables. Excellent build and features and much less expensive.
Definitely pricey, yes. Music Hall tables are essentially ProJect tables, and I’ve auditioned Music Hall and owned a couple ProJects. Solid value. But to get the quality and performance of the Planar 6 you need to spend similar money on a Music Hall or ProJect. To match the P6 you have to get to at least the Music Hall 7.3 and I’d argue the cartridge options on the P6 are better than the Ortofon Bronze.
If you buy a $500 Music Hall or Project table, you’re getting a similar performance, build and features to the Planar 1.
@@av_nirvana I opted for the MoFi StudioDeck with UltraTracker cart instead. Not disappointed
That’s a great choice.
I have. Music Hall 5.1se originally came with a Mojo cart (an Ortofon 540 equivalent). It outperforms any Pro-Ject TT I’ve ever heard.
As a 67 year old, you look relatively young compared to me. That itch will never be satisfied. 😈
The problem with Rega is that there's no vta adjustment. Rega doesn't think that it matters. Everyone else does. When everyone else tells you something matters, maybe it really does.
If you want to swap carts/arms/platters/mats, yes, via matters. But for those like me staying completely in the Rega ecosystem, it doesn't matter because it's all made to the same spec.
No matter how well any manufacturer builds its turntables, you are still up against the wall with getting hold of good quality, flat pressings, with the hole in the middle of the disc.
No lies detected.
it's certainly not the best turntable but the P6 is fun and a really good one
It’s a front runner for that sweet spot right before the law of diminishing returns kicks in. There are better turntables but the value isn’t there like the P6.
All it has to do is spin accurately without adding any vibrations. That's about it.
That’s certainly the basic functionality of a turntable, yes, but that’s like saying all a car has to do is turn the wheels and allow you to steer. Sure, but there are almost infinite levels of performance, and comfort.
Audio advice is great but no retailer’s “review” can really be considered a review.
I bought from Audio Advice but I don’t work for them.
@@av_nirvana I realize you don’t work for them. You said you relied on their reviews to help you decide on your purchase. I’m just pointing out that their (or any retailers) “review” is a sales pitch, not an unbiased review by a third party. The 6 is an excellent product so no harm done, but people should take the videos from Audio Advice, Upscale Audio et al., with a grain of salt. And yes, Audio Advice does do a good job of comparing models within a manufacturers range , which is useful but they also uncritically regurgitate any manufacturers talking points.
No, I relied on their CONTENT that explains in great detail the differences across the line of Rega turntables. I viewed a lot of content, considered a lot of opinions, and drew upon my own experience with Rega tables. Audio Advice produces really high quality informative content and I just wanted to acknowledge their efforts and I made my purchase through them as a thank you.
@@av_nirvana yes agreed. I mentioned above they do excellent product descriptions. In my initial comment I was focusing on the fact that at about 3:18 you said that audio advice does product reviews. I was just saying one should take a “review” from a retailer with a grain of salt. But yes, they describe the products well. Unlike them, what you have posted is an actual review, and it’s a good one. I am the original owner of a 1982 P2, but I am eyeing the P6 very closely.
“Overview” may have been a better word. I tried to emphasize that it’s really difficult to make a decision without auditioning in your own system, and even my “review” doesn’t necessarily mean it will sound the same to you in your system. But based on the feature set and the brand reputation I took the leap of faith. That said, I can highly recommend the P6 based on my experience now, and I have experienced similar improvements others have expressed in other videos here, including Audio Advice’s team. You’re absolutely correct that you’re not going to find a dealer bashing products they sell, or praising products they don’t sell, and you have to be able to extract the facts from dealer-produced content and add in opinions from non-dealers to make an educated decision. But I also wouldn’t want to buy from a dealer if they weren’t convinced they were offering the best brands. 😉
Noise floor, you are talking about vinyl. Soundstage will be very poor if you are coming from cd or streaming. I do love listening to vinyl, especially my uhqr pressings, but digital absolutely destroys those.
Doesn’t matter what format you’re talking about, a noise floor is a noise floor and decreasing the floor is an improvement. Certainly digital formats will have a lower noise floor than vinyl, that doesn’t make lowering it any less important with your turntable. And a good turntable and record can absolutely compete with digitalis soundstage.
Are You paid by Audio Advice?
No, I’m not. Audio advice was helping me try to track down a different turntable I was looking at that we couldn’t end up getting, and were very helpful in the whole process. If you use the link in the description to purchase a Rega Planar 6, I would receive an affiliate commission, but they did not ask for any editorial review or promotion, I added that myself as a thank you for their help and for the resources they make available.
WATCHING THIS IN 2024: THIS WAS NOT HIS FINAL TURNTABLE :)
Ha ha. Typical audiophile
I will never buy a turntable without the pitch adjustment thing
The included Neo Mk2 power supply has a speed adjustment, I've tested it with several apps and it's running at 33.39rpm straight out of the box.
Lovely review. BUT value for money….well in my opinion is very low !
It depends on what you consider value. If you’re looking for something with a high bang for the buck, there are several solid $500 turntables that deliver very well. But this is a turntable that, for just over $2K puts you in a class of sound that competes with much more expensive turntables. The bump in sound quality and features you get going from the Planar 3 to the Planar 6 is massive for a relatively modest price increase.
I bought one for my boyfriend. And I had set up in ten minutes. Otherwise you talk too much. About nothing
Thanks for watching!
Is This An End-Game Turntable? Hell no!
Did you watch the video? Not likely!