Already have the 555PSDR on the CDS3 
A LP12 at Akurate level is a bit steep at £7k and I worry that a lower spec may not live upto expectation although the desire to own a LP12 is strong 
Where would a Rega 6 fit into the LP12 hierarchy? Or is that comparing apples and fish?
As I mention red in my post I believe you need to be at akurate level deck to match your current source
Does this mean you need to purchase news, well one option or speak to an LP12 specialist to build you one
Donor deck
Ittock arm or Nima
Lingo 4
Kore
Cartridge
Karsouel or cirkus
I would say around £4 £5,000 depending on your budget
With shops opening again, demo options, my dealer well know in these parts is a specialist at LP12 configuration
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Hi Nick. I was using a Rega RP8 with Apheta2 cartridge and Rega Aria phono stage into my 552/300DR system. My digital source was ND555/555PS. The Rega tt really “held its own” and was quite enjoyable. With your system, I would be confident that if you don’t get a properly set-up and configured LP12, you would be quite happy with a Rega. Depending on your budget, you could think P6/Ania/Aria Phono Stage, or P8/Apheta3/Aria phono stage. Of if you can find a nice but used RP8, no worries about that and a bargain!
As HH said, if you only have a few records, and don’t play them much, depending on budget you could be happy with a P6. And as he and others report, the set up is truly trivial. It is 5 minutes from opening the box to playing records!
We ‘fell in love all over again’ with vinyl replay here at home and went from my wife’s old collection of 12 lp’s to about 100 lp’s in the course of 6 months, as we are having fun with it!
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If you try to buy a used LP12 from Cymbiosis and see what they can make up for your budget. Alot of people are changing from Cirkus to Karousel so you may be able to get them to fit a used Cirkus bearing.
They should be able to make up something pretty good for the £2000 mark. If you can get one with an Ittok or better still and Ekos 1 or Ekos 2 tonearm that would be ideal.
The Kore and some form of Lingo would be good but these can come later. I have the Lingo 1 but would now only upgrade to a Radikal rather than a Lingo 4 as I don’t see the value in doing it.
Might be an idea to think about where you want to end up and either go for a used Lp12. When I started off I was very happy with it without the Cirkus once the tonearm was sorted out (it had iffy bearings). A service is a very good place to start if you buy one on the bay.
It is a potential minefield but if you start with Cymbiosis you won’t go far wrong.
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There’s a nice Lp12 on the bay at the moment with Lingo 2 and Ittok arm for £2495 buy it now or starting bids £1495. Has been rebuilt at Cymbiosis so should be good.
Something like that would be an ideal place to start if you want an LP12. You can just leave it as it is.
Remember when transporting to remove the counterweight from the arm, remove the outer platter and pack cardboard to secure the inner plater in place.
I totally agree that if the OP wants an LP12, something used from the dealer you mentioned would be ideal. But I worry as soon as a private seller must pack and ship . . . what he’ll get at home may not be ideal. He’ll have no way to truly know if the setup, once on his rack or shelf, is right. “Rebuilt by Cymbiosis” but how long ago and how has it been treated, moved, re-sold, etc., since then? As I understand it, some of the setup items are in the ‘few millimeters’ of tolerance. If he buys direct from that dealer, more variables are eliminated.
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Good point @Bart. If you buy from the bay you don’t know what you’re getting. The one I bought had Iffy bearings. It’s a case of whether you are prepared to buy unseen and unheard, take a risk and then get it serviced. In my case it worked out fine in the end.
I have real passion for my LP12, didn’t feel the same way about the RP3 or Linn Axis!
For the OP here’s a simple formula
£7k LP12 = £1.6k Rega P8
I speak from experience…but will be shot down in flames
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I was always quite ‘paranoid’ about moving my turntables from home to dealer and back, particularly with respect to caring for main and arm bearings. I would never have purchased a TT from ebay…used but from an official dealer would be ok I guess.
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Hi @anon23139555. I won’t shoot you down in flames exactly! Lol. That’s for a used RP8 they cost over £2000 new depending on cartidge. So maybe an unfair comparison. For £5k you will get a middle spec LP12 used.
Different sound. But you have a good point - you get alot for your money with a RP8.
It’s whether this is what the OP wants! Maybe do some demos of different decks. See what else is out there.
Enjoy the journey and most importantly the music!
If the OP wants ti re-visit vinyl the RP6 and a good phono stage (say Graham Slee) it would be a good starting place given the £2 k budget or with an Ania cartridge and a Fono Stage that would leave £50 change from £2000
It is so much more fun to spend someone else’s money than your own
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There is much talk about needing to spend £5,000 for an LP12 to go with the rest of the system.
For the £2,000 that the OP indicated, A modern Rega makes a lot of sense.
For the £5,000 that could buy a used LP12, there are several very good, fuss free alternatives from the likes of Roksan and Vertere… It’s still a great deal to spend on playing “a few lps” though.
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Truth is if you have a Vertere, RP, Roksan or Lp12 you will be biased. Of course I am biased - I love my LP12.
Hifi dealers are opening up on monday so best way is to demo some different decks and see what you prefer.
Look at your options: Rega decks, used Lp12s, Vertere, Roksan and Clear Audio.
Look at the pros and cons of each.
For me there is something very special about an LP12. It really depends what you want and where you want to go in the future too.
No quite
£1600 is for a brand new P8 (not the old rp8)
And represents a typical dealer price with a minor haggle
Fantastic. I take it that includes cartridge, phono stage and power supply? All in £1600 ? Interconnects as well?
Point I was making with £5000 LP12 is that includes everything. Including shelving.
Home dem of a P6 does seem like a good place to start, else just wing it and buy a second hand one - if it doesn’t work out then you can sell it on without loosing too much.
You do need to find a reputable LP12 dealer if taking the Linn route.
Nothing wrong with becoming a Rega fanboy. Their superb RB1000 has been a delight to have on my Sondek for many moons now.
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A 5k LP12 will not compete with a P8 (IMO)
Especially if that budget includes cart / shelf/ kitchen sink
The P8 includes the excellent neo power supply and interconnects
You will not match the performance with a Linn …at 4 times the money
That’s my last word on this…I’ve done it to death
Nick, there’s a lovely LP12 with Nima arm and refinished afromosia plinth on PFM right now – you should have a look. If you dig it, you can take it to Cymbiosis for the new Karousel bearing, and away you go!
–Joe