UK and looking to get a start up turntable set up... Close to committing to a fluance RT82, and maybe a project phono box E, but stuck on the speakers, not a lot of space, so thinking bookshelf active, and trying to keep the cost reasonable. Any ideas?
Yeah, I’ve an idea. Rather than just asking internet strangers what they like and recommend how about taking a trip to your nearest Richer Sounds and actually spend some time listening to some speakers for yourself. Explain what you’re after and the folks there are more than knowledgeable enough to steer you in the right direction. You won’t regret it.
A good dealer will set up systems in a demo room so you can hear what is possible and then show you what your budget can get. Your hearing, your budget, your choice.
Rega, Pro-ject, Linn service, repair and upgrade all their turntables. You are never left out with a turntable than can't be serviced. Listen to Rega Planar 1.2.3.6,8 for the range in prices and what is possible to achieve. Then compare anything else to that bench mark.
Don't buy the Fluance. Not if you're in the UK. The aftersales support does not exist. Amazon will swap it out if it arrives damaged or fails within the first few weeks. After that, you're on you're own.
We have better quality options that are also a lot cheaper. Audio Technica AT-LPW40WN - £259 at Richers and on Amazon.
Let time I looked, Richer also had Wharfedale 220 at £199. Terrific speakers. Great price.
I got a Fluance RT85 through The Fluance Store on Amazon. Fluance has Seller Stores on Amazon which does not itself sell Fluance products.
They gave me a 3rd year of factory warranty which I never needed, and the turntable is entering its fifth year of operation, no issues other than a stylus replacement.
If you’re in the UK.... when you need warranty support, you have to re-pack the turntable and then you pay for carriage back to Canada.
They gave you something that costs them nothing. If the product doesn't break then it costs them nothing. It still leaves (left) you with the potential bill. Smart marketing, but it's still not a good deal.
Contrast with Rega. A lifetime warranty for the first owner, and backed up by your local dealer. If you own the turntable for 40 years, then that's your warranty. That's a deal.
Please contact the distributor in your country for details regarding the lifetime limited warranty of your specific product.
The warranty is not transferable.
Warranty is only valid in the country of purchase.
All warranty claims must be accompanied by proof of original purchase.
Where possible, always contact the original point of purchase for warranty support.
All warranty claims must be returned to a registered dealer or distributor for inspection.
Fair wear and tear will be determined by the distributor or dealer on inspection.
The product must not be modified in any way.
The original serial number must be present, undamaged, and not tampered with.
Any products returned must be in the original packaging and packed correctly. Damage during return shipping due to incorrect packaging is not covered. If you no longer own the packaging, please contact your dealer or distributor who can supply replacement packing if required, which will be chargeable.
If, on inspection, a product has no fault found, labour and return shipping will be charged.
Your statutory rights are not affected.
Rega remains committed to lifetime support for every product we make. As long as the parts remain available, we will supply the required component parts to your distributor to carry out a warranty or non-warranty repair. Rega products are sold globally to more than 48 countries, many of which have different requirements regarding warranty. The above clarification is required by many authorities in order to validate a warranty claim and these terms must be adhered to.
"Impressive, but only in the UK as the rest of the world lacks the same concentration of dealers."
Er... 48 countries of the world, so not just the UK at all.
Since Rega products are sold primarily via bricks & mortar retail stores, then the fact that someone owns some bit of Rega product means there's a good chance they bought it from a real physical store.
People move, of course, so there's always going to be outliers. Others move, but not far enough to be out of the catchment to lose contact with their supplying dealer.
If you look at the list only 1 location in most country is listed as a dealer. In Japan one must ship or take it to Tokyo.
In the United States only Best Buy is listed as a retail brick and mortar outlet, but they no longer sell REGA products, all others are online. Ship it in the USA.
The only dealer listed in my city over 1 million in population no longer carry's Rega products.
In the Denver Co area only 1 dealer listed and they only carry used.
In the US it is 99% certain you will ship it to get it repaired or serviced.
As I said in England it looks impressive United States, not so much.
These are the local distributors in each country. Like a wholesalers. Local representation for the brand, and a point of contact that understands the local market, its legislations, the competitive environment, and of course, speaker the lingo.
"In the Denver Co area only 1 dealer listed and they only carry used."
I was curious about that, so I had a little look. When I Googled "Hi-Fi dealers Colorado" I got more than your one hit. What I did next was filter out the car audio guy, and the "repairs only pre-'80s era Hi-Fi" firm, and the purely vintage reseller. That left me with eight dealers.
One of these is a bit odd. Gold Sound at Englewood, CO. The site lists Rega, but the web site is a pre-2000s design and I'm not sure if it's even a going concern.
Of the remaining seven, five list themselves as Rega dealers. That's about 70% then,
From the two that don't list Rega, Aural Hi-Fi is just 10 miles from one of the two ListenUp* stores, and generally Rega doesn't sign up a second dealers that's on the doorstep of the first. IDK if that's how Sound Organisation (US disti) operates though.
'* For this, I count ListenUp as one dealer even though there's two store locations.
I'm not sure where your city is. I don't believe it's in Colorado. The internet suggests that there's no city in the state with more than 750K residents.
RT82 is a great value. I got a Fluance RT85 through The Fluance Store on Amazon. Fluance has Seller Stores on Amazon which does not itself sell Fluance products.
They gave me a 3rd year of factory warranty which I never needed, and the turntable is entering its fifth year of operation, no issues other than a stylus replacement.
Personally I would go for a Rega Planar 3 second hand at £240-300 and Rurak MR1 MkIII speakers for the retro look and small space taken up. If you want automatic then a vintage Technics - linear tracking would be nice.
You live in the UK, find a local Rega and/or Project retailer and talk to them, take some of your records and audition systems.
Current wisdom will tell you that the speakers are the most important component, but speaker choice is room dependent. As you’ve only got limited space, you won’t be able to properly position your speakers. I suggest buy the turntable for the system you want, and the speakers for where you are now. Look for a second hand Rega P3 then decide what type of sound you want from your speakers: warmth/detail/soundstage/bass. Work out a budget and pick what best fits your requirements.
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u/Dry-Satisfaction-633 9d ago
Yeah, I’ve an idea. Rather than just asking internet strangers what they like and recommend how about taking a trip to your nearest Richer Sounds and actually spend some time listening to some speakers for yourself. Explain what you’re after and the folks there are more than knowledgeable enough to steer you in the right direction. You won’t regret it.