Yes it's worth it.

The stock P1 MDF platter is crappy.

Funnily enough the latest P3-24 has lost the traditional glass platter for an MDF one...

Actually, that's not correct. The P3-24 continues to use a glass platter. It's the P2 that has been downgraded to MDF.

My P2 (purchased new a bit over 2 years ago) had the MDF platter, but yesterday, the Rega glass platter arrived (purchased from Music Direct).

I can't say if the sound has improved since I also just upgraded my cart, but it is nice to have a platter that is dead nuts round and true. The MDF platter was pretty light weight, and the bottom was not completely true, meaning it looked to wobble ever so slightly when it was spinning. The Glass Platter fits perfectly on the hub, and appears to be perfectly true.

It is also of course much heavier, which I would expect would help improve on speed and pitch stability, but I have not spun enough vinyl to know for sure. For the price though, it's a no brainer.

Brian

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Actually, that's not correct. The P3-24 continues to use a glass platter. It's the P2 that has been downgraded to MDF.

Not so according to a review of the Rega P3/24 in Augusts Hi-Fi News. It says the platter has been replaced with a MDF platter with a 2mm felt wool mat on top and even has a picture of it in the review.

Quote:

Quote:
Actually, that's not correct. The P3-24 continues to use a glass platter. It's the P2 that has been downgraded to MDF.

Not so according to a review of the Rega P3/24 in Augusts Hi-Fi News. It says the platter has been replaced with a MDF platter with a 2mm felt wool mat on top and even has a picture of it in the review.

I asked Steve Daniels of The Sound Organisation, Rega's US distributor, about this. He responded:

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The P3 - 24 comes with the glass platter as did it's predecessors the P3 and the Planar 3. The UK review referenced was incorrect.

The latest version of the P2 has a completely redesigned platter. This is a noticeable improvement on the previous P2 MDF platter and substituting the original Planar 2 glass platter produced no noticeable improvements to the sound on the latest version.

The P1 comes with a less refined version of the P2 platter. Does the job at the price.

Only in the USA we are offering the original Planar 2 glass platter and P3 mat as an upgrade for $69 retail. This is worthwhile on the P1 and any of the OEM tables that Rega have designed over the years. Please note that we have a limited supply of these kits.

I'll be interested how a HiFi Magazine as respected as Hi-Fi News can get it so wrong. Epecially when it provided a photograph of said platter and stated the glass one seen on the origional had been replaced with MDF.

Just shows even when you have a copy of the Magazine in front of you, not to trust the reviewer always to even get the basics of manufacturering correct.

No worries. Rega have such a full model range now, it can be tough to keep everything straight, apparently even for an audio magazine!

I was at my dealer the week their first P3-24 arrived, and I listened to it briefly. It's a real beaut, and much better put together than some consumer reviews floating around the internet would have one believe. And, yes, it featured the glass platter in all its splendor. For $70, the glass is a worthwhile upgrade on the P2 over the MDF for purely aesthetic reasons, even if the two sound the same.

I'm a long way off from either table, but I'm a sucker for both of them.

Yes. It did give it a rating of 88% for sound.

Makes one wonder though how a reviewer can have the turntable and use it long enough for a 2 page review, even post a technical review and still get the platter wrong.

Just shows, Print Reviews sometimes can mislead. I should have checked Rega's homepage which I did later. But regardless of the wrong imformation, sound wise it sure impressed the reviewer.