If Regas are ever replaced, it was because they were stepping up over the range and performance of what they then offered. In our case, it ended for the longest time at the Planar 3 which was the stepping stone to the Linn LP12. But times have changed, Rega has expanded their line and performance (the Naia is nuts) while those that were once the go to points have priced themselves out of the league of most people and to only those who shop at Tiffany's.

Thank you, Tom. And now, all these years later, LP production exceeds CD. As George Burns once said "If you hang around long enough, you become new again." I'm hanging around.

Audiophiles like me are glad that you are hanging around Lou. Another longtime proprietor of high-end audio, Andy Singer, of Sound By Singer in New York City, passed on earlier this year.

@@johncrockford4216 I never had the actual opportunity to meet Andy but I know he was quite a character. Then, again, New York City at that time was a pretty wild market with the likes of Crazy Eddie and such. Yes, we are fewer now and our tasks are even harder than before with the proliferation of information. As Denzel Washington said (and attributed to Mark Twain) , "Today, if you don't read the newspaper you're uninformed. If you do read the newspaper, you're misinformed. So, we shall have fun with it with various spoofs in the future.

I took time on a trip stopping in the city for an overnight for Broadway and dining on the way to Rhinebeck, NY. Before departing the city, I took time to stop at Sound By Singer. I did not see Andy but had a nice salesman who showed me a VTL preamp. This was in the late 90s or early 2000s. His store's tri-state was CT, NJ, NY, and a larger population. Thus, your longevity as a going concern is even more impressive with OH, KY, IN, and smaller population but proves what great customer service will compensate for. There are interviews online of Andy by the Audiophiac, Steve Guttenberg, who was once one of his salesmen, and then a reviewer for various publicatios. Andy was an interesting person but with a passion for high-end audio. Thanks, Lou, for having the passion to keep doing this KZfaq channel with all that is on your plate.

@@johncrockford4216 It is my gift to everyone really. Our generation is fading away now and I either give it to many to learn and enjoy or it becomes lost. It is also an interesting time where there is a growing division between those who have really come to appreciate what we do and others who won't hesitate to click their keypad. In that regard, even the larger markets are no longer safe and, in certain ways, even more subject to it. My favorite person that I did get to meet was Simon Zreczny of Audio Consultants in Chicago. He was so no-nonsense and professional that he was someone I really admired. He's off the playing field.

Well, that's a hard one as I really don't have a table that I go to at that price. We don't show the Rega Planar 1 as it is a poor value when compared to the Planar 2. The fault is that plastic platter or whatever it is on the Planar 1. Now there is the NAD C558 but I have not played with one of those yet. Keep in mind that when you start to change cartridges on a Rega turntable, you may need to buy shims for the tonearm as they do not have adjustable VTA. The Ortofon is a nice cartridge.

@@audibleeleganceinc Thanks for the reply Lou. I understand what you're saying. One last question for now, that's regarding say the included Rega MM cartridge in comparison to the Ortofon Blue? Thanks!

@@zizendorf Honestly, having not done a direct A-B using identical turntables and proper set-up, I can not answer that question. My Bullshitometer has been empty for quite some time. Perhaps someone else on the web has made such an attempt. Good question, for sure and useful information when it comes time to replace cartridges on Regas. Maybe, one day, we will get that shot and we will know for sure.

@@audibleeleganceinc Just and only going on intuition (which means a good likelihood of being wrong), I can't imagine a TT manufacturer builds a better or even commensurate quality cartridge as does Ortofon. Thanks for your honest reply. Yup, stating "I don't know" is not a crime as it bespeaks a level of humility.

@@zizendorf My son who repairs nuclear reactors on our aircraft carriers has three answers. Yes, No, and Potato Chip.