Rega Announces Planar 3 Turntable

While I was busy from February to March, something great slipped my attention. Rega announced an update of their award-winning turntable RP3, which they called the Planar 3 2016.

I guess by now, you have guessed that I am actually looking for a new turntable to upgrade my Rega RP1 with.  I love my RP1, but I feel that I have outgrown it.  It still is running very well, but I did give it the performance pack as a minor upgrade.

Rega explained on its website that it took them two years to develop the new Planar 3, rebuilding it practically from the ground up and with only two components being carried over.  The improvements promise to bring "improved ergonomics, usability and first and foremost, sonic performance."


Here are the details of the Rega Planar 3 2016 straight from the Rega website:

RB330 tonearm - Designed using the latest 3D CAD & CAM technology, the new RB330 is the culmination of more than 35 years of tonearm design experience.  Featuring a brand new bearing housing and our latest tonearm tube designed using intelligent redistribution of mass ensure this arm will exhibit fewer points of possible resonance. Extreme stability with almost friction-free movement from the new high precision bearing assemblies guarantees to gather more information from your vinyl than ever before.

•  Featuring a new bias assembly, re-designed stiffer vertical bearing housing, integrated

•  arm clip and an improved spring housing with easier-to-read numbers.

•  Rega made, new low capacitance phono cable with Neutrik plugs,

•  Improved lower friction, precision horizontal and vertical bearings

•  New design 100g mild steel balance weight.

Plinth - High gloss acrylic, laminated plinth, stiffer and vastly improved appearance, ergonomically positioned power switch. Two plinth finishes at launch: gloss black & gloss white.

Double braces - Improved thicker 3mm phenolic bottom brace and new metalized skin phenolic top brace.

Bearing housing – Re-designed brass main hub central bearing, improved fit and construction reducing stress on the bearing itself.

Sub platter - Re-designed sub platter, improved accuracy, and improved stiffness.

Platter - New float glass ‘Optiwhite’ polished rim 12mm – Improved accuracy in manufacture and stunning looks.

Re-designed foot - New, improved foot to increase stability and reduce vibration transfer.

24V motor - Improved new motor control PCB with integration for the addition of TT-PSU for electronic speed change and improved advanced anti-vibration circuit (sold separately).

Motor cover tray with integrated cooling.

There are still no details on how much this baby will cost. I hope it will be within my budget so it can be my early bonus for myself.  As to when it will reach our shores, I asked a local dealer, and he gave me a "probably by June" period.