Vinyl Asylum: REVIEW: Rega P25 Turntables by TimB5881

Model:	P25
Category:	Turntables
Suggested Retail Price:	$ unknown
Description:	turntable
Manufacturer URL:	Rega
Manufacturer URL:	Rega

Review by TimB5881 ( A ) on May 04, 2003 at 17:29:23
IP Address: 172.155.138.233

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for the P25

Well it has been a couple of months since I purchased a used Rega Planar 25 table with RB600 arm. My other table is a Linn LP12 Valhalla/Ittok VII set up, which also occasionally sports a Bluenote Audio U3 Unipivot tone arm (review to come soon).
To answere every one first, I purchased the P25 as a second table to use in conjunction with the Linn, not replace it. Second, the Linn as set up is better, but lets get to the review, and comparison.
The Rega was set up side by side with the Linn, both feed a Musical Fidelity LP^2 (three can mono phono amp), which is feed's my Audio Research LS7, which inturn go's to a Musical Fidelity A3cr Amp, and finnally reaches my Infinity Interlude 50 speakers. Cables used include Monster cable 950 and 1000 interconnects, AudioQuest Ruby interconects, and Sonic Horizon speaker cables. Associtaed digital gear includes a Phillips CDR950 cd recorder, a Sony SCD-CE775 SACD player. Cartridges used on both tables include Denon DL110 MC, Shure V15VMr, Ortofon OM20, and Koetsu Black.
The table is finished in Black, and the first cartridge used was Shure V15 series MM. The sound came out with a real nice PRAT, which from other reviews, is what I expected. The sound stage was nice, often very large, but not bloated big. The bass was very extended and tuneful. The Shure is a bit of a dark cartridge to begin with, and the table did not accent this, or make it brighter than what I have heard it do on the Linn. Next I tried the Koetsu Black on it. This cartridge is very nice with the Rega, if you are in the romantic side of the listening chair. Again, nice detail (better than what the Shure could muster up), with good bass extension and airy treble. I should mention that my Black is getting on in years, and it does not do the bias tracks so well on the HiFI News and Record Report test lp. But still, it is my only real Hi end cartridge in some regardes. What the Black would not do, was play EmmyLou Harris or Neil Young lp's with out distorting, so on to the next cartridge, the Denon DL110 ( I reviewed but by mistake, listed it as a DL140).
The Denon DL110 seemed to be a match made in heaven for the Rega. Here the Rega really strutted it's stuff. It could track clean through the 3rd bias track on the HFaRR test lp with no buzzing or tracking problems. This cartridge had sit in my spare bin for way to long, and finnally was broken in and ready to roar. This cartridge showed how dynamic the P25 could be, which on my pop and rock recordings, seemed to jump out. The detail is also very good, with a clean treble. The P25/RB600 combo knocks at the Linn combo's door, but with the exception of PRAT, never equaled or exceded the Linn. Then again the Linn is about 4-5 times more expensive. What I really like more about the P25 than the Linn is the simplicity. The P25 is truly a set and forget table. The only tweeking I have done is 2 things, first I used the thirsty stone coaster's (buy at almost any store for less than $10 for 4) asfooters under the 3 P25 feet. This tightened and some what extended the bass, also doing a touch of clean up in the mid and hi frequency ranges. The second was to put some yellow tack (same thing as Blue Tack, but from WalMart) around the counter weight, with extra weight on the under side. I installed all of the tacj so it would interface with the end stub and the counter weight, kind of a decouple of the counter weight and some what lowering the center of gravity, like a home made Heavy Wight (Expresimo's version of a Rega counter weight), and even more so helped beef up the bass, not a lot, but noticable.
The big difference between the Linn and the Rega is the Linn is just a little bit better at every thing (except the mid bass hump that the Linn has, and the Rega does not), more detail, a bit better dynamics, a touch more extension. To be honest, they are more alike than different. My friend has a SOTA Saphire with a SME 309 on it, and it has a bigger difference and sound when compared to the Linn or the Rega (not better or worse, but it has it's own flavour).
If I was only going to have one table, I would keep the Linn, but if money was an issue, the Rega P25 is a a better deal, and will give you more than enough to justify the price.

Product Weakness: Not the last word in any one area (except PRAT maybe), but a great balancing act as to what is delivered.
Product Strengths: Great PRAT, authorative bass and control, Very good dynaimics, very good detail, at it's price range it is a very good deal.

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	Musical Fidelity A3cr
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	ARC LS7
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	Linn LP12,Sony SCD-CE775
Speakers:	Infinity Interlude 50 and Intermezzo 2.6
Cables/Interconnects:	Monster, AudioQuest and Sonic Horizon
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	Pop,Rock and Blues
Room Size (LxWxH):	14 x 18 x 9
Time Period/Length of Audition:	3 months
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	Not the last word in any one area (except PRAT maybe), but a great balancing act as to what is delivered.
Product Strengths:	Great PRAT, authorative bass and control, Very good dynaimics, very good detail, at it's price range it is a very good deal.