Rega P25

Well, I bought the Rega P25 turntables.

After testing the turntable for a small week, I was convinced about the sound quality. The testplayer was equiped with a new Sumiko Blue point special cartridge (moving coil). At first the sound was rather compressed, but after an hour or 10 it fully opened up. The Sumiko cell gives a very detailed, focused en broad soundstage. I now fully enjoy my old records and wasn't aware they had that kind of quality. When I compare the vinyl sound to the CD played on my Gamut CD1(I have several records both on vinyl and CD), apart from the small clicks and plops, it surely gives a better sound. Altough the Gamut also gives a very smooth and liquid sound, the liquidity and focusing is a little better then the CD1.

conclusion: I am very pleased with the result.

First and foremost,the rega p25 is a massive improvement over the p3,but then again its far more exspensive!so what do you get?.

On asthetics alone, it's a great improvement over the planer 2 & 3,as a picture fraim has been added to the surround off the plinth,which comes in a variety of colours,which looks attractive and adds a sense of class to the deck.It looks like the p9 in this respect.

Also you get the exellent rb600,a improvement over the famous rb300,which comes in silver paint finish,compared to the rb250/300 which as standard are black.

The interconnects are shielded and come with some nice nuetric rca plugs,which give a exellent contact.

So how does it sound?well i use it with a valve copland cta401 amp,and sonus faber concertino homes speakers.As i stated earlier the p25 was a big improvement over the 3,in all areas,it is extremly smooth,musical,with a lush midband.It has pace rythemm,and good timing that leads to great involvement,and really shines on well produced,clean vinyl,the only drawback i feel is the bass could be a tad more authorative,but its no major drawback.

The deck really needs a good cartridge,a goldring 1042 as a minimum on a mm or a mc from sumiko,dynvector will suit this rather exellent deck very well.

The Rega P25 turntable produces lovely, lush and rich sound, but with crisp detail in mid and treble. More realistic than P3, although slight increase in surface noise due to enhanced top end. Not a major problem in light of extra realism provided by P25.

Put it this way, this is the turntable I'm buying, even if I could justify saving by buying the P3. I just want the P25!