Rega Planar 3 - upgrade it or get something better

[W9TR]

I have a Rega Planar 3 / RB 300 circa 1995, so 30 years old now. I use it in our lake house so it is not my main spinner. It does get used for 3 months in the summer.

I have a Dynavector Karat 17D3 MC cart on it

It is all original, so it runs a little fast, and I’m wondering if upgrading the motor is worthwhile, and maybe adding a motor speed controller.

Or should I just sell it and buy something better?

 

[Mr Peabody]

I had a P3 I used for years a great reliable table. I started with an Elys then Dynavector 10x5. As my gear progressed I eventually upgraded to a Clearaudio Performance DC. The Clearaudio sound much better even with same cart but I was disappointed in build quality. I had a RCA end get pulled off. Yes, my fault but the arm had to go back to Germany for re-wiring. Also when I sold the table the buyer was told by a shop the belt should be replaced. Who knows whether that's true the P3 was just less trouble by comparison. The belt should not have needed replaced I didn't use the table that much although I did have the table for some years.

My thought your table is older now and depending the cost of upgrades you might as well get something new. Perhaps move up the Rega line. Another good table with good support is Sota. My friend had just a Sota Sapphire he brought out of storage and hooked it up to a high end system. I was amazed how good it was. Even compared to a high dollar DAC. Of course, he did have a Lyra cart on it which I'm sure helped a great deal.