Since people don't seem to be discussing audio anymore, I thought I would post something.
This may be of more interest to those of you who have been following my analog quest (and I wish Jim and Clay were here to see this ), but I will share with everyone. It's cathartic.
Moons ago, I had my heart set on a new Rega P2. It was better than the P1 - not by a huge amount, but the improved construction quality was a tipping point - and the price was right. I was all set to save my pennies for the 2 until...
I had to do it. Just for the the halibut, I decided to put the P2 and the P3 in the octagon. There would be only one winner. Before doing any listening, I had a notion that the P3 would be better, but the price gap would not allow it to unseat the P2. Boy was I wrong!
It took very little time to declare the P3-24 the new champion. Not only was it significantly quieter, but the music itself was SO much more present. The recording space was represented much more realistically, with added "air" and spatial cues. Where the P2 paints a beautiful picture, its big brother sculpts. I should mention that the 2 was fitted with a Bias, whereas the 3 had an Elys. As an interesting additional note, even the dust cover is upgraded on the P3, as evidenced by the customary finger rap test.
As much as it pained me, I decided my turntable budget had to be increased by another $400.
Christmas is almost upon us, and I project that I will be short only a couple hundred dollars after the holidays, which could unite me with my newfound love as early as January. The excitement is - what's the word? Oh, yes - palpable. It could be a very merry Christmas this year.
Peace on earth and good will towards men,