Rega Planar 3 - Turntable Setup

[UltimateZo]

Hi all,

First post here, so I'll get right to the point! I am looking for advice on purchasing some gear to set up my turntable again.

I have a Rega Planar 3 that I was running with an Onkyo A-9010 mated to a pair of SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers. About a two years ago I moved across states, and decided to sell the Onkyo A-9010. Sadly the turntable has been packed up since... but now it breaths again!

I've got $1000 (give or take a couple hundred) to spend on integrated amp or separates. I've done a fair bit of searching on both sides of the field and have been leaning towards separates. That way I can get a feel for how it sounds and start to form some preferences/have the ability to swap out specific parts.

The current setup that I am thinking: Schiit Mani + Schiit Vali + March Audio P252. These would be mated to the Rega Planar 3 and SVS Ultra Bookshelf speakers.

Does this work? I know that phono preamps don't tend to have volume control so that's why I added the Vali in there (also the option for headphones now). Believe it or not, I don't want to run the speakers at 100% volume all the time !

Cheers!

 

[digitalfrost]

In my opinion, a proper phono preamp not only needs to offer multiple types of gain, but also allow cartridge loading via selectable resistance and capacitance.

 

[JeffS7444]

Schitt Magni Heresy (opamp) looks like a better buy than Vali (tube) and it's cheaper too.

 

[Midwest Blade]

Just something to ponder especially with your $1000 budget. There are some very good integrated amplifiers on the market with very decent phono amps already built in...Yamaha as801 as well as units from Marantz and Denon.

 

[DonH56]

The Emotiva XPS-1 for $199 offers better specs and selectable MC input resistance (but still no capacitance tweak).

I would probably start with a decent integrated amplifier as @Midwest Blade said. The March P252, whilst a great amp, is likely overkill for your system and eats up most of your budget. I'd spend more on the front end.

 

[UltimateZo]

@JeffS7444 - I'll take a look into the Magni. Kind of liked the idea of having the tube and being able to play around with different sounds.

@Midwest Blade - Yeah I've seen the Yamaha A-S801 recommended in a few places. Also potential for the Cambridge Audio CX61/CX81, and the Outlaw Audio RR2160 in the approx. $1000 range.

@DonH56 - Agreed that most of the budget is being eaten up by the P252. I've been using the large table of amps reviewed and measured by Amirm to sort out bad/good amps in my budget. Maybe the March Audio P122 would be a better fit? Less power, but maybe I don't need all that much.

 

[Blumlein 88]

Emotiva XPS-1 is a good deal. Variable loading, and can do moving coils. I've a friend who has one.

Amir has reviewed it here:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...s-of-emotiva-xps-1-phono-amp.7568/post-176623

Also might consider the Cambridge Duo though it eats up another $100.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ridge-audio-duo-phono-preamp.6901/post-153509

The Emotiva is pretty hard to beat on performance for price value.

 

[UltimateZo]

@Blumlein 88 Yeah the XPS-1 does look to be a good choice for a phono preamp. The only issue I see with the Cambridge Duo is that the volume knob is strictly for the front headphone output, so I’d need some sort of volume control for the speakers.