Brand: Rega
Product type: Analogue
Replacing the multi award winning What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year, the Rega 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’ following the biggest re-design of the iconic ‘Three’ model ever seen.
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.
Fitted with the RB330 tonearm and a 12mm float glass platter, the Planar-3 is the best of the bunch. With upgrade options including the NEO TT-PSU and a choice of factory fitted Nd3 or Nd5 cartridges, the Planar-3 is an impressive, class leading performer.
Available with Black, White, Red & Light Oak effect plinths.