TURNTABLES
Sales of vinyl records show no sign of abating - and these superb decks will make the most of your collection
Rega Planar 3/Elys2 £685
In last year’s Awards issue, we said that “Rega’s Planar 3/Elys 2 combination wins our Product of the Year title yet again. Though we said the same thing last year, and years before that, once again no rival we tested this time round even came close to knocking this excellent package off the top spot.” Well, let’s add one more year to that really rather remarkable record.
This Planar doesn’t look very different from the original, dating back to the late 1970s; yet every part of this deck has been carefully developed, leading to regular hikes in performance.
The changes between this generation and the last are significant. The glossy plinth is far smarter and more rigid than before, with braces on the top and bottom that strengthen the area between the tonearm and brass main bearing.
The all-important main bearing has been redesigned to improve fit, while there are also upgrades to the subplatter, platter, motor printed circuit board (PCB) and feet. Most of these aim to improve sound, but the plinth’s gloss finish and the polished ‘Optiwhite’ edge on the glass platter simply add a touch of visual class.
That familiar-looking Rega arm, now called the RB330, improves on past efforts through having a new bearing housing and redesigned arm tube. This new arm also uses higher-quality cables with classier plugs. Still, despite the scale of the various upgrades Rega has undertaken here, the Planar 3 remains a simple, well-engineered deck that puts performance first.
Rega will supply it without a cartridge for £599, but we would advise spending the extra cash just for the privilege of having the company’s long-running Elys 2 moving-magnet cartridge fitted. It’s a good performer that suits the deck’s musical character well.
Once up and running, it’s clear that Rega’s extensive efforts have paid off; the Planar 3 sounds considerably cleaner and clearer than its talented predecessor. There’s greater transparency and detail too. Grand orchestral arrangements such as Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony showcase the Planar 3’s organisational skills, with every instrumental strand kept neatly in place and composure maintained.
There’s a healthy dose of scale and authority here too. Tonally, things are nicely balanced and there’s a convincing sense of body. Large scale dynamic shifts are delivered with enthusiasm, subtler ones with finesse.
Some of the Planar 3’s rivals may have a more etched and analytical sound, but nothing at this price is as entertaining. This version of the Planar adds insight and precision into an already-musical sound. All of which helps to make it a six-time Product of the Year.