REGA PLANAR 3

£625 / rega.co.uk

Rega’s Planar 3 turntable has been on a hot streak since the late 1970s. And far from succumbing to a late-career dip in form, the latest model to bear this much-vaunted name may well rank as a Bowie-esque best.

Besides a jazzed-up plinth and updated tonearm, there’s not a whole lot in the way of aesthetics to distinguish the new Planar 3 spinner from its decades-old cousins. Instead Rega has focused on updating this player’s internals for a dramatic leap forward in performance, with every part having been revised for the better. That tonearm is particularly improved, with a new bearing housing and redesigned arm-tube both contributing towards reduced friction, greater rigidity and controlled resonances.

For the record

Don’t have a clue what any of that means? Rest assured, you’ll hear the difference as soon as you give this Rega a spin. It’s a cleaner, more characterful version of its predecessor that can carry its charms across all manner of genres, from West Coast hip-hop to ’90s alt-rock. Combined with Rega’s expert Elys 2 cartridge, your tunes of choice are conveyed with cohesion and sparkle. Simply put, there’s nothing else available at this price that’s so expertly crafted and so righteously entertaining to listen to.

With decades of expertise having been poured into the Planar 3, it’s no surprise this model is Rega’s best yet, with further lashings of clarity, precision and insight being ladled on top of an already impressive performance. This is the best-value turntable you can buy right now.

Tech specs

Drive type Belt Speeds supported (rpm) 33⅓, 45 Dimensions 447x360x117mm, 6kg