So, you’ve decided to buy a turntable and you’re wondering why they come in all different prices, which brand offers great value for money or maybe even where to go for advice and a demonstration? We at Audio T Swindon are here to help you find the turntable that suits you. In this article we will talk you through the Rega range of turntables, and we’ll look to answer all your questions - No problem.

Turntables are quite exciting to look at. They make you feel attached to your music system. Buy a record and look at the cover, take the record out of the sleeve and put it on the turntable platter, use your anti static brush to take the dust and debris off your record before playing it. Check the speed then lower the tonearm and enjoy the music - I’ll warn you, It’s very addictive once you have started the journey.

The Rega Turntable Range

Rega Research is a British audio equipment manufacturer. Since their humble beginnings back in 1973, Rega’s initial success was built upon award-winning tonearms and turntables but Rega has been making complete hi-fi systems since the eighties.

In it’s 47 year history, the Planar Turntable has been a staple of the Rega’s arsenal. You can see a selection of our demonstration models below…

Planar 1 and Planar 2 - Great sound and easy to set-up!

At first sight both look almost identical. But what makes them different?

Finishes and Features

The Planar 1 is a Plug-and-Play design that is available in three finishes: Matt White, Matt Black and an all new Walnut effect finish.

Simply unbox it, push the round counter weight onto the back of the tonearm and you’re ready to play your vinyl. The supplied Rega Carbon cartridge (sometimes referred to as the needle) is fitted as standard and a dust cover is included, too. This Planar 1 is also available as a Planar 1 Plus which has a phono amplifier built-in which allows you to connect either directly to a pair of active speakers or an amplifier that doesn’t have it’s own phono stage. Both sound great straight out of the box.

The Planar 2 is available in three high gloss finishes: Red, White and Black. The Planar 2’s counter weight and adjustable bias, (counteracts the centripetal force pulling the arm towards the centre of the record), allows the use of a wider range of cartridges should you want to experiment or upgrade in future. The most notable difference, the high gloss plinth, is an MDF core covered with a highly rigid, acrylic laminate and the float glass platter improves accuracy. Just like the Planar 1, a dust cover is supplied as standard. The Planar 2 tonearm set-up is very easy, however, we are happy to set it up for you if you like - at no extra cost. In our opinion, more detail and a larger soundstage are definitely worth the extra money.

How to change the speed between 33 and 45 RPM?

**Lift the platter and move the belt that goes around the shiny pulley to the top groove for 33 or the bottom groove for 45 RPM.**

From the Planar 2 to the Planar 3 - Quite a step up…

Where to start here? First up is a strengthened plinth to prevent unwanted resonance and a double brace system to add more overall stiffness. A high precision tonearm bearing that is almost friction free - This is just to name a few improvements compared to the Planar 2, all of which makes such a big difference to the sound. The combination of the RB330 tonearm and its supplied counterweight allows the use of a much wider range of cartridges so you can finely tune the system to your requirements.

The Planar 3 is available with factory fitted Elys2 or Exact moving magnet cartridges. You even have the option to purchase the Planar 3 without a cartridge if you already have one you’re looking to fit.

You may also notice that there is an upgrade socket on the back of the Planar 3. This allows you to connect the Rega Neo MK2 turntable power supply that further reduces motor noise, improves speed stability and the convenience of electronic speed change.

With a much bigger upgrade path the Planar 3 offers incredible value for the money.

It keeps getting better - Planar 6 with a super lightweight foam core and more

What do you get when you move from the Planar 3 to the Planar 6?

The most obvious difference in the picture above is the little box lying in front of the Planar 6. This is the previously mentioned Neo MK2 turntable power supply. Rather than being an additional purchase, the Planar 6 comes with a custom matched PSU as standard. It further reduces motor noise, improves speed stability and the convenience of electronic speed change.

The Planar 6 features a super lightweight foam core, made from material developed for the aerospace industry. It is sandwiched between two layers of high pressure laminate that adds the right amount of stiffness and this combination reduces external energy from entering the plinth. Rega have decided to offer a single stunning finish, Polaris Matt Grey, with a high gloss polymer black edge trim.

The Planar 6 is available as Planar 6/Exact (MM), Planar 6/Ania (MC), Planar 6/Ania Pro (MC) cartridges or Planar 6/no cartridge.

Sub platter and platter - Precision and Accuracy

The sub platter is made from a single-piece of machined aluminium that offers better speed stability. The dual layer glass platter improves the flywheel effect and with that the rotational speed.

The Planar 6 offers a tighter and deeper bass, more separation between the instruments and more silence in quieter parts of the music.

You spin me right round - The Planar 8

A small footprint with an impressive sound - Rega decided to take a very elegant approach with the Planar 8. It is quite a unique design compared to most of the more conventional looking turntables available on the market.

Take off the triple layer glass platter, then lift the skeletal lightweight foam plinth - This plinth is incredibly light, constructed from Tancast 8 core and covered in a high-pressure laminate (HPL) skin (a material developed for the aerospace industry).

What makes the Planar 8 such a great sounding turntable ?

It is this very clever combination of a incredibly lightweight plinth, sandwiched between two layers of high pressure laminate, the new bearing assembly and the single piece machined aluminium sub-platter that holds the three-piece laminated glass platter (constructed from two different high-quality Pilkington glasses, a British glass engineering company). The platter is driven by two EBLT reference drive belts, made from a bespoke new rubber compound. Those are just a few reasons why the Planar 8 takes it to a new level.

The Planar 8 is available as Planar 8/Ania (MC), Planar 8/Ania Pro (MC), Planar 8/Apheta3 (MC) and Planar 8 /no cartridge.

“Every aspect of the Planar 8 is engineered to extract as much detail from the vinyl surface as possible”

— Rega Research

The Rega Planar 10 - An engineering statement

The Planar 10 was inspired by the ultimate Rega turntable, the Naiad. Built around the same ultra-light skeletal plinth featured on the Planar 8. There are however some significant improvements compared to the Planar 8 -

The Planar 10 uses a more advanced double brace system (a mix of phenolic resin and ceramic) to reduce unwanted resonance.
The hub bearing assembly eradicates unwanted potential energy being transferred or stored in the plinth.
The ceramic flywheel platter with improved coupling to the sub platter.
The 24v low noise motor is hand tuned to match its own custom matched P10 PSU power supply before fitting to the turntable to optimise the anti-vibration circuit.
The RB3000 tonearm designed to have the minimum of mechanical joints while using the stiffest materials in all critical areas.
Available with factory fitted Apheta 3 MC or Aphelion 2 MC cartridges