Replacing the multi award winning What Hi-Fi? Product of the Year (RP3) was never going to be an easy task. It took our team of designers headed up by Rega’s Roy Gandy, two years to develop the all new ‘Planar 3’ following the biggest re-design of the iconic ‘Three’ model ever seen.
Our team have worked tirelessly to improve every aspect of this turntable offering improved ergonomics, usability and first and foremost, sonic performance. The new ‘Planar 3’ is truly a new turntable for 2016 carrying over just two components from the previous model.
The iconic Planar 3
Rega has pioneered the use of lightweight rigid plinths. 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.
The new Planar 3 takes this design philosophy to the next level. A lightweight acrylic laminated plinth strengthened using a new improved double brace system mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) which forms a structurally sound “stressed beam” assembly. This rigid plinth design prevents energy absorption and unwanted resonance, which will add unnatural distortions to the music. Equally, heavier mass can transfer more unwanted energy, such as motor or bearing noise directly into the rotating record. The use of braces instead of the complete skin allows double thickness phenolic resin in these key areas while providing further weight reduction to the plinth which directly addresses the issue of mass absorption and unwanted energy transmission.
RB330
The RB330 tonearm was designed using the latest 3D CAD & CAM technology, and 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.
Plinth
High gloss acrylic, laminated plinth, stiffer and vastly improved appearance, ergonomically positioned power switch. Available in three stunning high gloss finishes, black, white and red.
Double Brace Technology
Improved thicker 3 mm phenolic bottom brace and new metalised skin phenolic top brace.
Bearing Housing
Re-designed brass main hub central bearing, improved fit and construction reducing stress on the bearing itself.
Isolation
New improved foot to increase stability and reduce vibration transfer.
24 V Motor
Improved new motor control PCB with integration for the addition of Neo PSU for electronic speed change and improved advanced anti-vibration circuit (sold separately). New motor cover tray with integrated cooling.
Dust Cover
Supplied as standard / optional lid - plinth protectors - supplied to prevent marks on the plinth and keep it looking its best.
Simple Set-Up
Easy to use multi-lingual quick start guide for easy set up.
Sub Platter
Re-designed sub platter, improved accuracy and improved stiffness.
Platter
New float glass ‘Optiwhite’ polished edge 12 mm – Improved accuracy in manufacture and stunning looks.
Exact Cartridge
The Exact is the top tier of our handmade moving magnet range of cartridges. Built to the tightest achievable tolerances and using an advanced ‘Vital’ profile, (a complex fine line micro-ground from a rectangular diamond billet). This advanced profile is guaranteed to extract more music from your vinyl by using its unique profile to track the grooves with greater accuracy. Available factory fitted to the Planar 6, and an ideal moving magnet partner for Planar 3 and Planar 8.
Each Exact uses a pair of the highest grade in house wound parallel coils. The selected coil-set is carefully assembled in a custom jig to create the tightest possible pole gap in the moving magnet range. Achieving an incredible fine channel balance figure of ±0.1 mV the Exact delivers the best stereo image and highest output available from our magnet range. This testing process can take three time longer than other magnet models but the increased accuracy is worth the effort as you will experience taut bass and incisive treble. The addition of the unique Rega three point mounting system (which automatically sets overhang and improves the rigidity of mounting to the tonearm head-shell on Rega arms) is what makes the Exact our top moving magnet cartridge.