Is a better built table and the Rega Cartidge is a better catrridge than the Sumiko. I had an issue with a Rega cartridge that my dealer resolved quickly with the distributor at the time. This leads me to believe that Rega has good relationships with their supply chain tip to tail, and that is important. I still have and occasionally use that same cart, an Elys. The Elys 2 and Exact cartridges are very good. I've also for a long time used a Grado Platinum Reference and a few AT's on that table. Keep in mind that with the Rega you are getting an arm that WOULD be more expensive than the complete package, if it were to be made by most "high end" companies. And it's not even Rega's best arm.

The Rega is a much better table. I have the P3-24 which immediately preceded the RP3 in Rega's line and have an Elys2. I briefly had an Xpression with an Ortofom 2M blue. The Pro-ject was prettier with a glossy plinth but I returned it as it just sounded flat. I got the Rega and love it though I will admit I don't listen to bass heavy music. Bass detail is the one criticism that you will hear on the Elys2. If you like bass heavy music, I would step up to an Exact2 or look at the VPI Traveler.

I truly love this table. I am considering getting a second table to add to my home theatre and am only thinking about an RP3 or an RP6. For rock, jazz and classical it is amazing and sounds as good as a Clearaudio Concept or a VPI Traveler which are like $400 more than the RP3.

The Pro-Ject 1Xpression Carbon Classic's tonearm has adjustments for VTA/SRA and azimuth, and they set it apart from anything I can find in this price category. I can 'play out' all the moves I've learned adjusting much more expensive turntables' (I use a USB microscope, a Feickert Universal Protractor, and Adjust Plus) but with a very affordable deck. Ideally set up (your local dealer should be able to do that for you), the 2M silver cartridge (factory fitted in Australia) produces fantastic transient attacks and virtually no surface noise. And the 2M silver, with its pure-silver coil windings, naturally invites upgrades by replacing the standard stylus with one of Ortofon's higher-spec blue, bronze or black models. Tonally it's lean compared with the Rega; in my experience, it's the plug-and-play RP3-24/Elys2 that sounds dull and lifeless beside the 1Xpression Carbon Classic! But 'straight out of the box,' without the cartridge setup optimized by someone who knows what they're doing, I can see how folks might think differently.