With High End Munich 2023 officially in the books, we now commence our highlighting of some of the coolest gear seen and heard at the big show. First, we’d like to take a moment and commend Rega in recognition of the company’s 50th anniversary this year — especially considering how this venerable high-end British manufacturer was celebrating that golden milestone in style at their booth in Munich by showcasing the 50th anniversary edition of their legendary Planar 3 turntable, replete with walnut finish.
The stats are these. Rega’s Planar 3 50th anniversary edition turntable comes with a hand-tuned Neo MK2 PSU and a handmade, factory-fitted Rega Exact moving magnet (MM) cartridge. The drive system utilizes the company’s Reference EBLT drive belt, and a 24V motor fitted with a custom-CNC’ed aluminium drive pulley. The golden anniversary edition of the Planar 3 also comes with an exclusive “Rega 50” lid badge and aluminium plinth. Planetary Gear Motors
The included RB330 tonearm was designed using the latest 3D CAD/CAM technology, sporting a brand-new bearing housing and the company’s latest tonearm tube, which is said to be designed “using intelligent redistribution of mass to ensure this arm will exhibit fewer points of possible resonance” (their words).
Meanwhile, the aforementioned walnut, laminated double-brace plinth sports both a 3mm phenolic bottom brace and a metalized skin phenolic top brace. Mounted specifically where increased rigidity is required — i.e., between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing — this double-brace concept forms what the company calls a “structurally sound stressed beam assembly.” The use of braces instead of the complete skin enables double thickness phenolic resin in these areas while providing further weight reduction to the plinth, which is further said to directly address the issue of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission.
The Planar 3 50th anniversary edition’s 24V low-noise, low-voltage precision motor and PCB assembly is fitted with a custom CNC-machined aluminium pulley. The Rega-designed patented brass main hub central bearing is intended to improve fit and construction by reducing stress on the bearing itself. Finally, the Neo MK2 PSU power supply provides user-controllable fine-speed adjustment, an advanced anti-vibration motor circuit, and electronic speed change. The Neo MK2 is said to reduce motor noise, as well as improve both speed stability and rotational speed accuracy.
The SRP for Rega’s Planar 3 50th anniversary edition turntable is $1,695. The limited-availability shipping window for this modern/classic turntable is set to be between August and December 2023.
For more about Rega, go here. To find Rega’s authorized global distributors, go here. (If you’re on the North American side of the Pond, scroll directly down to the North America section.)
REGA PLANAR 3 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION TURNTABLE ($1,695)
Features & Specs 12mm float glass opti-white polished platter Smoked dust cover (supplied) 24V low-noise motor 12mm glass polished edge platter Connectivity: RCA (phono) Power: via mini-DIN from Neo MK2 PSU Power Consumption: 7.2W Speed control (step size): 0.01rpm Turntable dimensions (w/h/d, lid closed): 447 x 117 x 360mm Turntable weight: 6.0kg Neo MK2 PSU dimensions (w/h/d): 180 x 50 x 150mm
Log in or register to post comments COMMENTS Shootout? Submitted by HiFiMark on Mon, 2023-05-22 14:30 Hey Mike: What do you think about a shootout amongst the top 4-5 tables in this price range? It is such a crowded segment of the market that my head spins when friends ask for upgrade suggestions from their entry level Music Halls, Pro-Jects, etc. IMHO this segment is going to increasingly explode in importance as Millennials and Gen-Zers make more money and discover that their "vinyls" can sound SO. MUCH. BETTER. How about this: manufacturers who are willing to play submit their best shot: arm, table, cartridge of choice, package price max $2K. Sounds like fun!? Log in or register to post comments Yes Submitted by Lazer on Mon, 2023-05-22 17:26 Sounds like fun to me. Log in or register to post comments Spin Fun Submitted by Mike Mettler on Tue, 2023-05-23 09:22 It does sound like fun, yes! Might take some time to organize, logistically speaking, but we will look into the idea. :) Log in or register to post comments A game I like to play... Submitted by Anton D on Mon, 2023-05-22 17:44 I like playing the "What would I pay for that" game. As I was reading the post, I thought, "Man, if that's anywhere near 1,500 bucks, that's gonna be a category killer!" 1,695 struck me as a smoking hot deal. I'm really impressed to read about how much love and tech they put into this and hope they sell like hot cakes! (The other game I like to play is "If I had to start over completely, what would I buy game" and the Planar 10 and Gyrodec and my most common answers to myself.) Thanks for that report! Log in or register to post comments I play that game all the time Submitted by volvic on Tue, 2023-05-23 06:34 For me it would be the Technics 1200G and maybe get a second one. Love this from Rega, love their products. I own one of their entry level MM phono preamps and for $300 I can't believe how good it is. I still have it as a backup. Hope they sell a lot of these. Log in or register to post comments Walnut "effect" finish per the Rega website Submitted by johnnythunder2 on Mon, 2023-05-22 18:00 not a real walnut laminate/veneer....a difference. Not a huge one but a difference. Log in or register to post comments Disappointed with Rega...... Submitted by Trevor_Bartram on Wed, 2023-05-24 06:12 Rega has moved from sounding board, an homage to a previous era, to skeletal designs, and that make a lot of sense. Is this 50th AE a nostalgic money grab or what? Log in or register to post comments ? Submitted by piedpiper on Wed, 2023-05-24 21:43 This is simply a version of the latest iteration of the P3 with a walnut finish and a couple of the pre existing upgrade elements that put it between the P3 and P6 with a commensurate albeit slightly discounted price. There is nothing retro about it other than the look. And the price is very good for what you get, just like every other Rega product. Log in or register to post comments Wow and flutter Submitted by RG on Thu, 2023-07-06 08:38 And yet it’s W/F can’t beat a $179 uturn orbit. So what are we paying for, exactly? Log in or register to post comments
What do you think about a shootout amongst the top 4-5 tables in this price range? It is such a crowded segment of the market that my head spins when friends ask for upgrade suggestions from their entry level Music Halls, Pro-Jects, etc.
IMHO this segment is going to increasingly explode in importance as Millennials and Gen-Zers make more money and discover that their "vinyls" can sound SO. MUCH. BETTER.
How about this: manufacturers who are willing to play submit their best shot: arm, table, cartridge of choice, package price max $2K.
Sounds like fun to me.
I like playing the "What would I pay for that" game.
As I was reading the post, I thought, "Man, if that's anywhere near 1,500 bucks, that's gonna be a category killer!"
1,695 struck me as a smoking hot deal.
I'm really impressed to read about how much love and tech they put into this and hope they sell like hot cakes!
(The other game I like to play is "If I had to start over completely, what would I buy game" and the Planar 10 and Gyrodec and my most common answers to myself.)
For me it would be the Technics 1200G and maybe get a second one. Love this from Rega, love their products. I own one of their entry level MM phono preamps and for $300 I can't believe how good it is. I still have it as a backup. Hope they sell a lot of these.
not a real walnut laminate/veneer....a difference. Not a huge one but a difference.
Rega has moved from sounding board, an homage to a previous era, to skeletal designs, and that make a lot of sense. Is this 50th AE a nostalgic money grab or what?
This is simply a version of the latest iteration of the P3 with a walnut finish and a couple of the pre existing upgrade elements that put it between the P3 and P6 with a commensurate albeit slightly discounted price. There is nothing retro about it other than the look. And the price is very good for what you get, just like every other Rega product.
Speed Motor And yet it’s W/F can’t beat a $179 uturn orbit. So what are we paying for, exactly?