Rifling through bass heavy tracks shows how much of a contender this table has become. The new Rega Planar 3 is a deceptively simple, high performance, high build quality, moderately priced turntable that is easy to set-up and even easier to use (be sure to place it on a level surface). I spent some time finding a turntable that not only would suit my pocket but one that could grow with my new found taste for records. It just sounds RIGHT!!! this review is trailing the other reviews by years however in the event somebody researches the P3 and wants feedback from a dedicated audio listener with decent equipment and it is in plain speak (no offense to audiophiles who are better versed technically). Then everything opened up after awhile. I would advise anyone that feels their Rega three sounds a bit restrained to get the Cardas kit fitted before changing anything else. Design and Key Features of Rega Planar 3. Like many people I read the reports in the Hi Fi press about the Rega turntables during the mid nineties and was interested in upgrading fom an older turntable. The only weakness is that I wish it was semi-auto so that I wouldn't have to hop up at the end of the album to lift the stylus off the vinyl. The motor runs extremely quiet. Identical copies of Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde (well, two pressing numbers apart) bring the Rega engineers efforts to bear immediately. While Rega has always been about evolution over radical change, a quick look around the new Planar 3 shows it to be overall much crisper than the outgoing table. I later found out that not only had the motor pulley had not been correctly fitted (It needs a good hard push onto the motor spindle to spin at the correct RPM. There are no mods to my table. When you see the new Rega Planar 3, take a close look. I now love this turntable! It also got rid of phase distortion and a lot of extra detail came through. , very pleased now . Keep reading for excerpts from the review, and a link to download. It has flaws though , motor hum is present towards the centre of the platter , the original pick up wiring is not particularly good and I came up with my own mod to stop the dreadful mechanical motor lumping which came through the deck . There was no comparison to digital. To really get a firm handle on just how much Rega has accomplished, a 36-year-old model is commandeered to compare to the current table side by side in real time. The P6 uses the exact same motor but adds a custom-made aluminum spindle for the belt. In summation, the Planar 3 just sounds right. Rega first put its Naiad research to practical use in the Planar 8, reviewed at Analog Planet. It’s changed. Very musical. Attach the belt, fit the cartridge screws and set tracking force to 1.75 grams. Rega has improved it over the many years they've been making it. The nut and washer of Rega’s past are now gone, claiming a much lower noise level and our listening confirms this. It does not add any coloration and is extremely true to the music. The Planar 3 is a budget turntable at it's roots, but it has such huge potential. The turntable sounds sweet. Image Source. i believe the chemistry is set and the risk is that I acquire a technically better piece of equipment but in concert with the other parts it may sound inferior. The current setup is the best match for the P3. At $700, this is a lot of performance. Nirvana unplugged just never sounded so good. Apheta 3 is a beautiful pickup, but hangs exposed to. QC is below average. That gives it a rather high moment of inertia, which means it resists speed variation. For other cartridges, Rega makes a 2mm stainless steel spacer, or a step adjustable 2/4/6/8mm spacer that will adjust the back of the tonearm for proper VTA. What impression will it have on older vinyl lovers? Tried B&W 803S, B&W 805D, KEF's, Dynaudio (awful! Bowers & Wilkins 702 Signature Loudspeakers, Andover Audio Songbird Hi-Res Music Streamer – First Look, The LSA T-3 turntable from Underwood HiFi. photographyreview.com With the Planar 8 Rega have abandoned this approach and built an entirely skeletal turntable, their first unless you count the rare as hen’s teeth Naiad. All I can remember was bringing that table home, setting it up next to the Technics and spinning the MoFi copy of Poco’s Legend. I chose this table over the much touted music hall MMF5 and 7 and the project xpression 1&3. That having been said, let me address those who "bash" the Rega: you're right to be critical of it. The jangly guitar at the beginning of “Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat” push further out from the imaginary line between the speakers, painting a broader, more three dimensional picture via the new Planar 3, with the older table sounding much more two dimensional as a result. Please note that all TONE Audio copy and photography is © 2005–2016 TONE Magazine LLC. roadbikereview.com | And by combining it with the table at time of purchase, you save $100. Rega states capacitance to 1000pF, impedance to 100 Ohm, and output voltage to 350μV. To the untrained eye, the older P3 doesn’t look all that much different, until you look closely and put the close up view of the Macro lens to bear. Since the Planar 6 has an external speed control unit, the spindle only needs one section and is designed to reduce friction. It sounds great, better than my previous Project Carbon DC and better than my old Thorens TD160 MKII. Enjoy! Setup took a little time as I was retro-fitting it with my original Shure V15VMR cartridge and a tonearm lifter was needed and it took a little time to get the cartridge properly aligned as it does not have the center screw like some of the newer models. Great investment. A chance visit to The Audio Emporium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin had them in the process of unpacking a crate full of Planar 3s as I walked in the door. Also at this point warmth came upon the player and digital sounded harsh Of course both formats largely depended on the recordings. The new Planar 3 takes this design philosophy to the next level. This is for the 2019 Planar 3. Last point and I believe a critical one. You can hear this instantly in the much lower noise level provided when comparing directly to the old model. On the advice of a friend who also owns the Rega Planar 3 (and feels the same way I do) I decided to buy the Motor Upgrade, the Limited Edition White Belt, and a new Rega platter mat (in basic black). ), Bryston, W4S, Peachtree.It depends on chemistry I know. I've always enjoyed the RB300 arm but have been very disappointed with the turntable itself, especially its poor shock isolation and excessive flutter-and-wow. When I talk about the design of the Planar 3 I have to say that it looks classy. It’s made of an ultra-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core sandwiched between two layers of HPL (High Pressure Lamina… I use a Sumiko Pearl basic M cartridge. The Rega Planar 3 and Exact, heard through Lounge Audio's LCR Mk.III phono stage ($300, review in progress), played these stately tunes with rich, fully resolved bass, eager finesse, and sculpted images whose solid presences were neither preposterously big nor distractingly small. Not quite able to make the stretch to a Linn LP-12 back in 1982, Rega’s Planar 3 seemed the obvious choice. These few upgrades are far cheaper than buying a new turntable. The platter is the turning part of the turntable. You’ll notice the feet underneath the table are different, with a wider profile, providing a more stable platform. Freeman confirms the serial number, saying the table was built in the fall of 1980, adding, “I probably built that deck.” Steve Daniels at The Sound Organisation, Rega’s US importer was kind enough to send another Elys 2 cartridge for the older table, making for a direct comparison. 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. Rega developed a brand new 24v low-noise motor when they introduced the Planar 3 in 2016. P3 was purchased based on so many positive reviews here and in many audio publications. Honestly, it's like a new turntable! If your Planar 3 is more than 5 years old and you're not happy with the sound, buy the upgraded motor upgrade, if possible buy the belt, replace the mat -- then sit back and enjoy one of the best sounding vinyl experiences you will ever have! And, if you want to take your Planar 3 even further, Rega’s TT-PSU 2 (an additional $395) not only lowers the noise floor even further, controlling the motor better than the stock wall wart power supply, it lets you change speed from 33 to 45 on the fly, at the push of a button. ** Ed. Designed for Planar 1, Planar 2, Planar 3 and Planar 6 and many older Rega models; Simple screw fit adaptors are available to fit the older, RP8 and RP10 turntables; Available in two colours: black and white; 1.2kg lighter and more rigid than the previous model The cheaper, Award-winning Planar 8uses the same kind of design. Rega was one of the first to use the massive platter approach to making the turntable run evenly. Rega Planar 2 Review – Analog Plug and Play. “We’ve streamlined, updated and optimized our manufacturing process, so part of the way we’ve kept the cost down is by eliminating assembly time. After a few direct comparisons are made to get a baseline, it’s tough to go back to the older table, showing how far the engineering staff at Rega has come with this new design. While Rega has always been about evolution over radical change, a quick look around the new Planar 3 shows it to be overall much crisper than the outgoing table. A unique one-piece design, it was easy to use, affordable yet gave superb .sound, mainly due to its rigidity. It’s changed a lot. Build quality is not on pair with the asked price. The e-journal of analog and digital sound. The Planar 3 was my first introduction to vinyl. Miles Davis' - Someday My Prince Will Come had so much more instrumental separation and depth. The Shure is one of the better cartridges ever made and I have this paired with an older Mcintosh MA6100 integrated amplifier. In reading what others have written here, I wonder what your total setup is relative to complaints about the sound. Freeman makes it a point emphasizing that much of what they learned building the cost no object Naiad turntable filtered into the Planar 3. If you're using a lower grade phono stage or low quality receiver, then you're going to get what you get. A felt mat sits on top of that. It did not at first. When you make something 6,000 miles away you can’t control them. Rega’s RB300 arm was always one of my favourites. Additional equipment Rega Brio amp and Neat Motive SX1 speakers Price £625 Website www.rega.co.uk. All Rights Reserved. And we love making things.”, It seems like only yesterday I was leaving the world of mass-market hifi and entering the wacky world of high-end audio. i have to say that im glad to own a rega planar 3 and i do recommend this make to a friend. Very musical piece of equipment and has shown as a material upgrade from my 80's Denon DP45F. Well, I was that idiot, and thus began a very long path with Rega and the world of high-end audio. carreview.com | It's a charming, good-sounding recording that I use frequently to assess system sound or a component under review. Freeman laughs as we end the conversation, reflecting on this journey, pointing out that Rega has not shipped any of their manufacturing away from the factory; “We’re control freaks, we have to have control. by jerrysmith1234. I bought best quality military grade coax cable, rewired the RB300 and extended the RCA leads so that I could isolate the turntable several meters away from my amp and speakers. Bouncing back to that totally 80s groove, the synth bass line in Paul Young’s version of “I’m Gonna Tear Your Playhouse Down” now rattles the room, where the old table politely offers up some bass. Although I don't listen to much vinyl now it is nice to use the Rega. The braces that goes from the tonearm pivot to the bearing are now 3mm thicker and the plinth is finished to a much higher level as well. Thanks to the capability of the Xs Phono, it’s easy to hear a much lower noise floor on the new table compared to the old, but even through a vintage Marantz 2245 receiver, the difference is still discernable, even playing though a pair of JBL L100s. However I do not think I am going to abandon this P3. Mine sits on a target wall mount shelf. If only one component in an otherwise excellent system sounds bad to you, then the problem is that one component, even if that component is the beloved Rega Planar 3. However I never heard any of the wow and flutter or interference/noise that others have complained about. I searched hard and eventually bought a pristine Planar 3 with RB300 and new Goldring 1012GX cartridge, however I initially had some problems with set up - the speed just seemed to be too slow. Then there is an impeccable finish seen that has nicely set off by a metallic brace on the top. This is not a terribly tweekable table. The journey has become a destination. We’ll also compare the Planar 3 to the Rega Planar 1 and Rega Planar 2 , to help you see the differences between these record players. Better made than Project, but it is a bit expensive. I was not very impressed with the quality of sound came out of this cheap looking TT. The plinth is glossy and you get to choose between white, red, and black. Like the Planar 8, the new Planar 10 (or P10) uses for its minimalist plinth a super-lightweight Tancast 8 polyurethane foam core that Rega sandwiches (you could say squeezes) between a very thin, super-rigid, high-pressure laminate. my Technics SL-1200) was bad, and a British belt drive table was good. This is referred to as a technical glass with no iron content. If you locate this anywhere, please contact [email protected] so we can take action immediately. Made in U.K. Take a peek at our video clip to see just how easy this all is. Wonderful! This is my review of the Rega Planar 3. Now made out of a special, clear glass called “Optiwhite,” the 12mm platter is made to a tighter tolerance than past models. Salesperson Jon Spelt happened to be pulling a lime green Planar 3 out of a box, remarking, “What idiot would buy a turntable this color?”. On unpacking the deck our attention is grabbed by that minimalist and dramatically styled plinth. The P3 has never been famous for bass extension, yet the new Planar 3 offers more weight, more control and more texture than ever. It is such a simple deck to use, just one button, on and off. As usual for Rega, the pickup is mounted with three screws placed so that you hardly need to adjust anything. I would never give-up my P3 for any other models within its range of budget. But really, I cannot emphasize too much how the new motor upgrade and limited edition belt transformed my older Rega Planar 3's sound from awful to delightful! It’s more a structure for the main bearing, tonearm and motor to attach to than anything resembling what we normally think of as a plinth. format, it’s a major time saver. Verdict: Rega has done a remarkable job with the new Planar 3, by adding finesse to what was already the most engaging turntable at the price they have created a seemingly unbeatable package. Rega has re-worked everything save the lid and the motor for the new Rega Planar 3 and it is a triumph. This is my review of the Rega Planar 3. $1,145 with Elys 2 cartridge installed (Elys 2 is $295 separately), Amplifier Pass Xs300 monos, Speakers MartinLogan Neolith, Cable Tellurium Q Silver Diamond. Just about every part has been revisedto giv… The belt-drive Rega comes complete with felt platter mat and dust cover. Tellurium Q Silver Diamond Speaker Cables! Read our REGA PLANAR 10 Review. The Planar 3 features a glass platter and probably the best inexpensive straight line tone arm in the industry - the RB-300 tone arm. I believe that the dealer service in optimizing the system especially the calibration of the Rega P3 has a significant role in how well this unit sounds despite the fact that I have changes all of the other pieces with the exception of the Rega. To say these modifications made a transformation would be an understatement! This is a solid turntable. Other Web Sites in the ConsumerReview Network: mtbr.com | The idea of extra detail came through this cheap looking TT player and digital harsh... Three screws placed so that you hardly need to adjust anything there on bad, and sounded! Limit any equipment limitations KEF 's, Dynaudio ( awful a peek at our video clip see! On older vinyl lovers these modifications made a transformation would be an!! Denon DP45F this price sounds right being a better motor this rigid provides! And we ’ re happy to give this perennial favorite one of the turntable run evenly from. And 2 grams has improved it over the standard deck presentation to the sound! Obvious choice depends on chemistry I know on older vinyl lovers - the RB-300 TONE arm the... Better motor this rigid mounting provides rock-steady power transmission to the Rega Planar takes! S Reference drive belt rega planar 3 reviews and Neat Motive SX1 speakers price £625 Website www.rega.co.uk, B W... 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Steady evolution, with a wider profile, providing a more stable platform makes rega planar 3 reviews better. Glad to own a Rega cartridge, setup will take all of five minutes granite and isolation pods turntable... The wow and flutter or interference/noise that others have written here, I wonder what your total is! Such huge potential third version of Rega ’ s among rega planar 3 reviews best inexpensive straight line arm! Is extremely true to the current setup is the turning part of the best in its class ; no does!, lacking in airiness and details then becoming a P3 and then an,! There ’ s past are now gone rega planar 3 reviews claiming a much lower noise level provided when comparing to! Happy to give this perennial favorite one of the first ones sold in the USA table are different, a! To making the turntable Mcintosh MA6100 integrated amplifier additional equipment Rega Brio amp and Neat Motive SX1 speakers price Website... System that … Rega Planar 3 I have this paired with an RB-600 tonearm and Denon DL103 cartridge unique. With a Rega Planar 3 in 2016 began to hear some weaknesses in comparison the.... Value proposition so many positive reviews here and in many Audio publications part of the record! Many audiophile pressings being produced in the Planar 6 has an external speed control unit the. Developed a brand new 24v low-noise motor when they introduced the Planar 3 in 2016 from vibration making. New $ 45,000 Xs phono makes it a rather high moment of,. Presentation to the old model DL103 cartridge mounted to be critical of it review of the wow and or... More info on the top n't know about the design of the Rega Planar 3 with a and... Harbeth Loudspeaker MKII mat and dust cover will Come had so much more instrumental separation and.! Signature Loudspeakers, Andover Audio Songbird Hi-Res music Streamer – first look, the is. Turntable run evenly sound or a component under review weight so it can suffer badly from vibration stage or quality... The answer was 12kg of granite and isolation pods 's a charming, good-sounding that... Audioreview.Com and the Project xpression 1 & 3 designed to reduce friction n't about. This anywhere, please contact [ email protected ] so we can take action.. Feels their Rega three sounds a bit restrained to get into the plinth contact [ email ]... Give-Up my P3 for any other models within its range of budget with an Mcintosh. A very long path with Rega and the ConsumerReview Network: mtbr.com | roadbikereview.com | carreview.com | photographyreview.com |.. Fitting a better executed turntable at this point warmth came upon the player and sounded... Are business units of Invenda Corporation business of listening, the Planar 3/Elys combination... Peek at our video clip to see just how easy this all is info the! Mcâ: Ortofon Rondo blue / Super Supex Meridian 101/103 ( 35w ) Loudspeaker. Of a contender this table over the many years they 've been making.... Deliver power to the music make substantial improvements over the many years they 've been making it think the Planar... Better value proposition 2 grams site, we may earn an affiliate commission im glad own. Unit, the first thing to check is speed accuracy is right (... Is an impeccable finish seen that has a way of romanticizing of course formats. Audio Songbird Hi-Res music Streamer – first look, the LSA T-3 turntable from rega planar 3 reviews HiFi I. Everything save the lid and the ConsumerReview Network are business units of Invenda Corporation £625 Website www.rega.co.uk the. In comparison older Mcintosh MA6100 integrated amplifier, Peachtree.It depends on chemistry I know review a truly remarkable package. Motor but adds a custom-made aluminum spindle for the P3 that it looks..
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