Rega Planar 3 Nd5

Rega Planar 3 Nd5

Award-winning turntable with a cartridge

Rega's Planar series has existed for decades, undergoing numerous changes and upgrades. The Planar 3 has always been one of the best buys in Rega's lineup due to its attractive price-to-quality ratio.

The highlights of Rega Planar 3 Nd5 include an advanced RB330 tonearm, double-braced plinth, 12mm thick glass platter, Advanced EBLT drive belt, and compatibility with the Neo PSU power supply. The Planar 3 is not the least expensive turntable from Rega, but it offers some of the best quality for the money, partly thanks to its advanced and ultra-precise RB330 tonearm.

The best Planar 3 yet

Over the years, the Rega Planar 3 has garnered praise and top reviews in the specialist press. Since the release of the current model in 2016, it has won countless awards for best turntable in its price range and has been named Product of the Year by publications like What Hi-Fi? This turntable comes with Rega's new Nd5 cartridge, making it an excellent combination to start enjoying your vinyl collection. As your interest grows, the cartridge can be upgraded to a better one from Rega or another manufacturer.

Advanced improvements to performance

Rega Planar 3 significantly improves upon its predecessor, the RP3, which was discontinued in 2016. The development team, led by Rega's owner Roy Gandy, spent two years designing the Planar 3, resulting in the most comprehensive upgrade to the model since its launch. Only two components from the predecessor made it to the new version, effectively making the Planar 3 a completely different turntable. The lightweight, braced plinth is a hallmark of Rega's design philosophy. Roy Gandy prioritizes low weight in turntable design, focusing on reducing the weight of the plinth or base. For the Planar 3, this is achieved through an acrylic-laminated design with double bracing in the critical areas. The plinth is reinforced from the arm base to the platter bearing with a phenolic brace that has cutouts to minimize weight.

RB330 tonearm

The underside features another brace, this time without cutouts. According to Roy Gandy, the only moving part on a turntable should be the cartridge tracking the groove. This philosophy is central to Rega turntables at all levels of their range. The high-precision Rega RB330 tonearm is another standout feature. The tonearm is essential as it must move to allow the needle to track the record groove. The RB330 tonearm is the best Rega offers before stepping up to the more expensive Planar 8 model. Designed using advanced 3D CAD technology and over 40 years of tonearm expertise, the RB330 features an intelligent mass redistribution to minimize resonant points. The tonearm offers exceptional stability and nearly friction-free movement with its newly developed bearing, ensuring precise tracking of the record grooves.

Outstanding vinyl enjoyment

The brass bearing housing the sub-platter spindle also benefits from low friction, reducing wear and making the motor work less while improving the rotation accuracy of the 12mm thick glass platter. The anti-skating or bias adjustment has been relocated under the tonearm, with three settings controlled via a slider. The Rega Planar 3 delivers outstanding vinyl enjoyment. Also known as the P3, it is an exceptional turntable and an ideal choice for those who already own a budget model and want to elevate their vinyl playback experience. It’s also an excellent starting point for anyone who wants one of the best turntables in its price range. Either way, you can’t go wrong investing in this model.

Comes with a cartridge, but needs an external pre-amp

Rega Planar 3 Nd5 comes with a pre-installed and adjusted cartridge from the factory. Additionally, you will need a RIAA amplifier compatible with MM cartridges. Rega offers the Fono MM, a recommended choice for this purpose. For even greater performance, consider the optional Neo PSU power supply, which adds electronic speed switching and higher precision compared to the standard manual belt adjustment. Lastly, all turntable enthusiasts should invest in cleaning tools for vinyl records and cartridges, which are also available.