PLANAR 3 Turntables NEW for 2024 - Light oak Planar 3 - available with Nd3 or Nd5 factory fitted. Replacing the multi award winning What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year (RP3) was never going to be an easy task. It took our team of designers headed up by Rega’s Roy Gandy, two years to develop the all new ‘Planar 3’ following the biggest re-design of the iconic ‘Three’ model ever seen. The ‘Planar 3’ is a completely new turntable carrying over just two components from the previous RP model. The iconic Planar 3 Rega has pioneered the use of lightweight rigid plinths. Clever use of lightweight particulate core with a highly rigid phenolic resin skin became the foundations of the high level of performance achieved by the now iconic original Planar range. The new Planar 3 takes this design philosophy to the next level. A lightweight acrylic laminated plinth strengthened using a new improved double brace system mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) which forms a structurally sound “stressed beam” assembly. This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonance, which will add unnatural distortions to the music. Equally, heavier mass can transfer more unwanted energy, such as motor or bearing noise directly into the rotating record. The use of braces instead of the complete skin allows double thickness phenolic resin in these key areas while providing further weight reduction to the plinth which directly addresses the issue of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission. KEY FEATURES What Hi-Fi? Product of the year 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 RB330 precision tonearm Rega Nd3 MM cartridge factory fitted (optional) Rega Nd5 MM cartridge factory fitted (optional) Double brace technology 24 V low noise, low vibration motor 12 mm float glass opti-white polished platter Supplied with clear dust cover as standard. Compatible with Rega Neo turntable power supply (sold separately) Three high gloss plinth options and light oak effect (New for 2024) Advanced EBLT drive belt fitted as standard from March 2021 Lifetime warranty against manufacture defects RB330 The RB330 tonearm was designed using the latest 3D CAD & CAM technology, and is the culmination of more than 35 years of tonearm design experience. Featuring a brand new bearing housing, and our latest tonearm tube designed using intelligent redistribution of mass ensure this arm will exhibit fewer points of possible resonance. Extreme stability with almost friction free movement from the new high precision bearing assemblies guarantees to gather more information from your vinyl than ever before. PLINTH High gloss acrylic, laminated plinth, stiffer and vastly improved appearance, ergonomically positioned power switch. Available in three stunning high gloss finishes, black, white and red and new for 2024 Light oak effect. DOUBLE BRACE TECHNOLOGY Improved thicker 3 mm phenolic bottom brace and new metalised skin phenolic top brace. BEARING HOUSING Re-designed brass main hub central bearing, improved fit and construction reducing stress on the bearing itself. ISOLATION New improved foot to increase stability and reduce vibration transfer. 24 V MOTOR Improved new motor control PCB with integration for the addition of Neo PSU for electronic speed change and improved advanced anti-vibration circuit (sold separately). New motor cover tray with integrated cooling. DUST COVER Supplied as standard / optional lid - plinth protectors - supplied to prevent marks on the plinth and keep it looking its best. SIMPLE SET-UP Easy to use multi-lingual quick start guide for easy set up SUB PLATTER Re-designed sub platter, improved accuracy and improved stiffness. PLATTER New float glass ‘Optiwhite’ polished edge 12 mm – Improved accuracy in manufacture and stunning looks. REVIEW & AWARDS Rega Planar 3/Elys 2 review - Read More "Rega has been developing the Planar 3 for decades and there’s no doubt the product has steadily improved over the years. We think this new version is the best RP3 yet, adding extra servings of clarity, precision and insight to an already musical sound. Want the best value on the market? This is it. " - What Hi-Fi? Rega Planar 3/ Elys2 - Read More "In a nutshell the new Rega Planar 3 lives up to its name and then some, if you want to hear just why vinyl is the format that will not die you cannot do better for the money, and you’ll be hard pressed to beat it unless you spend a lot more. But don’t take my word for it, take your vinyl to your nearest audio emporium and let them prove the point." - Jason Kennedy Rega Planar 3 Turntable Review - Read More "The turntable might superficially look a bit like what has gone before but the Planar 3 is not a rehash or facelift. This is the new class in the field in terms of attainable analogue and the combination of performance, build, looks and overall value, is going to require other companies to up their game. We might well be in a bubble for vinyl but if the results of the bubble are decks like this, I'm entirely OK with that." - Ed Selley Rega’s Planar 3 Turntable - Read More "When you really listen to the Rega Planar 3, listen close. It’s changed a lot. And we’re happy to give this perennial favorite one of our Exceptional Value Awards for 2016. We defy you to find a better executed turntable at this price." Gramophone Dreams #14: Rega Planar 3 - Read More "I love the way Rega Research's new Planar 3 navigates my black discs. I love the way it honors musicians. I love the way each of the Rega's engineering subtleties—in the tonearm, the float-glass platter, the light and rigid plinth, the nonadjustable tonearm, the motor and power supply, and the thicker white drive belt—combine to make listening to black discs enjoyable in a way that's more psychic and emotional than audiophile-sonic. For me, the best record-playing system is the one that most vigorously directs my attention toward the humans behind the music—not the sound of my hi-fi. Rega's new Planar 3 is exceptional at doing just that." - John Atkinson Rega Planar 3 turntable Michael Fremer - Read More "I began this column with the Rega 3/Clavis D.C. combo, and that's where I'll end it. That combo was scary-good, as was the AudioQuest Fe5/Rega 3 combo. The better the cartridge, the closer I got to the TNT! (But believe me, TNT owners need not second-guess their investment.) My conclusion from all of this playing around is, if you're on a limited budget, better to get a Rega 3 and an expensive cartridge than an expensive turntable with a cheap cartridge (footnote 1). I'm surprised by this, but that's what I found. Of course, if your electronics can't do justice to a low-output MC, the point is moot. I tried a Dynavector XX-1 ($1100) high-output cartridge, and that combination scored high marks with me. Unfortunately, it's a very heavy cartridge; I had the counterweight almost hanging off the back of the arm. Still..." - Michael Fremer Rega Planar 3 review - Read More "Should you have a great big wad of cash that you're desperate to spend, you could consider the Clearaudio Concept Turntable (£1300). Another minimalist manual deck, it's a spectacular-sounding turntable – and has a huge haul of awards to show for it." - Louder Rega Planar 3 Review - Read More "For most people, this is all the turntable they could ever need. While t isn’t as visually striking as the Pro-Ject RPM 3 Carbon, but it does everything else so right. The only real caveat is if you swap between 33s and 45s a lot, you’ll likely need to budget for the optional TT-PSU power supply. That’s a significant sum, but could be worth it for the added convenience." - Simon Osborne-Walker Review: Rega Planar 3 turntable with Rega Exact cartridge - Read More "If you want quality sound from your vinyl LPs, you won’t go wrong with the Rega Planar 3 turntable, especially fitted with Rega Exact cartridge. But if you don’t have a stylus pressure gauge or balance yourself, I’d strongly recommend borrowing one from the high fidelity shop where you purchase the turntable. Once you’ve determined the setting, you can jot it down in the manual and return the device. You’ll be able to dial in that value next time. " - THOMAS BARTLETT Rega’s new Planar 3 – Review - Read More "For the money, I just don’t think you can touch this combination, particularly with the Elicit-R and its flexibility. The Planar 3 is, for my money the best turntable you can get near this price range and is probably the only one you’ll ever need to buy. This is a true HiFi icon. " - Simon Wilce Rega Planar 3 - Read More "Affordable analogue esoterica, this is a comfortable Group Test winner " Three for all - Read More "Rega’s new Planar 3 is something of a star and is an ideal starter turntable for those looking to discover just what vinyl is capable of. Rega has taken its iconic simplistic philosophy and run with it, and by throwing the Elys 2 cartridge into the bundle it represents the driving force for affordable vinyl playback " - Simon Webster SPECIFICATIONS Tonearm Hand assembled precision RB330 tonearm Connectivity RCA / Phono Motor 24 V low noise motor Platter 12 mm glass polished edge Power (additional) Mini DIN for connection to Neo PSU (optional upgrade) Dimensions (lid closed) (W x H x D) 447 x 117 x 360 mm Weight 6.0 kg
