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Recommended Component 2023 – Stereophile
Five Stars – What Hi-fi? Magazine
"Look No Further Than This"
Replacing the multi award winning and five-time What Hi-Fi? magazine Product of the Year turntable (RP3) was never going to be an easy task. It took a team of designers headed up by Rega's Roy Gandy two years to develop the all-new Planar 3. The result is the biggest redesign of the iconic 'three' model ever seen.
Rega's team has worked tirelessly to improve every aspect of this turntable. The Planar 3 offers improved ergonomics and ease-of-use. First and foremost, however, is an upgrade in sonic performance. The Planar 3 is truly a new turntable for 2016, carrying over few components from the previous model while retaining the high quality, value-for-money, and spirit of excellence that made the previous model a consistent Product of the Year.
This version of the Planar 3 is factory fitted with your choice of Rega's new, breakthrough Nd3 or Nd5 moving magnet cartridges. The factory fitted package is offered at a discounted rate compared to purchasing the Planar 3 turntable and Nd3 or Nd5 cartridge separately.
"Recommended Component" Honors
Stereophile honored the Rega Planar 3 with Elys 2 cartridge by awarding it the magazine's coveted Recommend Component status for 2023.
According to Stereophile's Herb Reichert, Herb wrote, "For me, the best record-playing system is the one that most vigorously directs my attention toward the humans behind the music… Rega's new Planar 3 is exceptional at doing just that."
"Clarity, Precision, and Insight"
"Want the best value turntable on the market? This is it," raves the March 23, 2016 issue of What Hi-fi? magazine, which awards the Planar 3 its top rating of Five Stars. "We think this new version is the best RP3 yet, adding extra servings of clarity, precision and insight to an already musical sound."
"Percussion sounds crisp, vocals are clear and realistic, and there’s plenty of tight bass. Simon Osborne-Walker, TrustedReviews.com, May 4, 2016. "If you’re looking for a record player for less than £1,000, you need look no further than this."
Breakthrough RB330 Tonearm
Designed using the latest 3D CAD & CAM technology, the new RB330 is the culmination of more than 35 years of Rega tonearm design experience. A brand new bearing housing joins forces with Rega's latest tonearm tube, which was designed using intelligent redistribution of mass, ensuring that this arm will exhibit fewer points of possible resonance. Extreme stability with almost friction-free movement from the new high precision bearing assemblies will gather more information from your vinyl than ever before.
Features aplenty include a new bias assembly, a redesigned stiffer vertical bearing housing, an integrated arm clip, and an improved spring housing with easier to read numbers. The arm also boasts a new Rega-made low capacitance phono cable with Neutrik plugs, improved lower friction precision horizontal and vertical bearings, and a newly designed 100g (3.5 oz.) milled steel balance weight.
Revolutionary Nd3 or Nd5 MM Phono Cartridge with Neodynium Magnets
Included with this version of the Planar 3 is your choice of Rega's all new Nd3 or Nd5 moving magnet cartridge. Their revolutionary design was developed over 10 years of rigorous R&D and critical listening. They promise to deliver 'next level' performance from Moving Magnet (MM) technology.
The Nd3 cartridge is fitted with a bonded precision elliptical stylus. This profile provides exceptional tracking accuracy and extracts great levels of detail from the vinyl surface.
The Nd5 cartridge is fitted with a perfect elliptical nude diamond. This is a true ellipse created by an elliptical grinding process made from a polycrystalline manmade diamond and provides even more detail and accuracy than the Nd3.
Although Neodymium (Nd) magnets are used in Moving Coil designs, the Nd is the first Moving Magnet cartridge to utilize a Neodymium (Nd) N55 magnet. This is the world's most powerful commercially available magnet and is a crucial component that makes this unique design possible by delivering extra power compared to standard bar magnet designs.
Each Nd3 and Nd5 is meticulously handmade by Rega's highly skilled technicians. The design uses brand new generator geometry with perfect symmetry to achieve accurate channel balance.
Double Brace-Technology Plinth
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), forming a structurally sound "stressed beam" assembly. The double braced design has an improved thicker 3mm phenolic bottom brace and new metalized skin phenolic top brace. 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 strategic 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.
More Performance-Enhancing Features
Beginning with a brand new platter, the Planar 3 includes even more performance-enhancing features. A new float glass ‘Optiwhite’ 12mm-thick platter with polished provides improved accuracy along with stunning looks.
A new bearing housing uses a redesigned brass main hub central bearing, improved fit and construction reducing stress on the bearing itself. The redesigned sub platter offers improved accuracy and improved stiffness. Redesigned feet increase stability and reduce vibration transfer.
An improved new 24-volt motor control PCB offers integration with the addition of and optional TT-PSU for electronic speed change and improved advanced anti-vibration circuit (sold separately).
