Planar 3

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.

Our team have worked tirelessly to improve every aspect of this turntable offering improved ergonomics, usability and first and foremost, sonic performance. The new ‘Planar 3’ is truly a new turntable for 2016 carrying over just two components from the previous 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
• RB330 precision tonearm
• Rega Elys 2 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)
• High gloss plinth with three colour options
• 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.

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.

Complementary Components

Elys 2

• Handmade
• Elliptical profile
• Stereo cartridge
• 1.75 g tracking pressure
• Premium hand adjusted fine channel balance for advanced stereo image

Exact

• Handmade stereo cartridge
• Rega 3 point fixing
• 'Vital' nude diamond profile
• Aluminium cantilever
• 1.75 g tracking pressure
• Ultimate hand adjusted fine channel balance for optimum stereo image
• Fine channel balance ±0.1 mV

ND3

• Bonded elliptical profile stylus
• Aluminium cantilever
• Neodymium magnet
• Unique generator
• Rega 3 point mounting system
• Highly rigid lightweight PPS body
• Handmade stereo cartridge
• 100% recyclable packaging

ND5

• Perfect elliptical nude diamond profile stylus
• Aluminium cantilever
• Neodymium magnet
• Unique generator
• Rega 3 point mounting system
• Highly rigid lightweight PPS body
• Handmade stereo cartridge
• 100% recyclable packaging

Reviews

Rega has used its engineering skill, years of experience and enormous amounts of care to squeeze a huge amount of performance out of the Planar 3 - performance that very little under £1,000 can rival.

AV Forums - Ed Selley

What Hi-Fi? Product of the year 2020

What Hi-Fi? Best Turntable £500-£750, October 2020

Best Buy

Best Turntable £500-£750

Editor's Choice

Product of the Year 2019

Outstanding Product

Product of the Year 2018

Best Buy

Best Turntable £500-£800

Product of the year 2016

Highly Commended 2017

Tone Audio review

audiofi review