Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition

Rega Planar 3 50^th Anniversary Edition

Rega are celebrating their 50^th Anniversary with a very special edition of the legendary Rega Planar 3. A turntable package designed and developed to maximise the performance from this model. As part of the celebration, they have put this anniversary package together at an incredible price that won't be repeatable.

Presented in the hugely popular new walnut effect finish, the 50^th Anniversary Planar 3 is supplied with a hand tuned Neo PSU MK2 and the handmade Rega Exact moving magnet cartridge factory fitted. The drive system uses Rega's Reference EBLT drive belt and a 24V motor fitted with a custom CNC'd aluminium drive pulley to deliver the absolute best in performance and accuracy. The Anniversary Edition is badged with exclusive aluminium plinth and lid badges for the finishing touch.

Celebrating 50 Years of Rega Research Ltd: From humble beginnings in 1973, making just a handful of turntables for friends, Rega has since grown into a multimillion-pound audio engineering company making world-class, award-winning hi-fi products that are supplied across the globe.

Since inception, their expertise in mechanical and electrical engineering was combined with three core values; to create products that perform beyond expectation, deliver unrivalled value for money, and offer lifelong reliability. These same values are upheld today and are key factors in their continued growth and success.

Further Refining A Classic: The Rega Planar 3 50^th Anniversary Edition Turntable with Exact Moving Magnet Cartridge can trace its lineage all the way back to the original turntable produced by Rega in 1973. All the hallmarks are present and accounted for, such as a thick glass platter, one piece RB330 tonearm, standard hand tuned outboard power supply and the latest walnut effect finish. The Exact moving magnet cartridge from Rega is a great match for the Planar 3 and provides the perfect price performance package.

The Rega design team has worked tirelessly to improve every aspect of this turntable, offering improved ergonomics, usability and first and foremost, sonic performance.

DB Technology (Double Brace Technology): Rega pioneered the use of lightweight rigid plinths. Tradition was the heavier the plinth or base the better the performance. However, 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 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 Tonearm: Designed using the latest 3D CAD & CAM technology, the RB330 is the culmination of more than 35 years of tonearm design experience.  Featuring a brand new bearing housing and Rega's 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 RCA plugs
• Improved lower friction, precision horizontal and vertical bearings
• New design 100g mild steel balance weight

The Planar 3 has a re-designed brass main hub central bearing, improved fit and construction reducing stress on the bearing itself. The sub-platter has also been re-designed for improved accuracy and improved stiffness. Really this is just a tweak as the previous models were very good. Same with the 12mm glass platter. It has a new float glass 'Optiwhite' polished rim which delivers great manufacturing accuracy and stunning looks. Well some of us think so! Even the support feet have been tweaked to increase stability and reduce vibration transfer. There is also a new and improved motor control PCB with integration for the NEO PSU for electronic speed change and improved advanced anti-vibration circuit. The Rega NEO PSU is included standard with this 50^th Anniversary Edition

About Rega

Roy Gandy started making Turntables in the early 1970's when vinyl was at its peak of popularity! He became a part time retailer and found he had to spend a ridiculous amount of time repairing new turntables before his conscience and common sense would allow him to sell them to others! Out of frustration and a strong feeling he could do better, the Planar turntable was born. By 1973 he was making turntables in the evening. In 1975 the Planar 2 was developed and quickly took its place in the market as the finest budget turntable. In June 1977 HI-FI News and Record Review announced the Planar 3 saying 'The complete unit is worth a look'! Rega's usual blaze of non-publicity.

Engineering has always been the beating heart of Rega Research, a company obsessed with specialist materials, tolerances and accuracy. From day one every Rega product has been designed to achieve the best musical performance and deliver a lifetime of musical enjoyment at an affordable price.

To this day, Rega remains a dedicated British manufacturer and now employs over 140 people selling to 46 different countries. Rega manufacture a vast range of hi-fi products including amplifiers, phono stages, cartridges, CD players, loudspeakers, and a wide range of accessories, to name but a few. Rega designs and assembles every product by hand in their custom-built 38,000 square foot facility in the South East of England, using a team of highly trained and highly skilled technicians who take great pride in the work they do.

A Typical Rega Planar 3 Review

The good folk at Hi-Fi Choice gave the Planar 3 an Editor's Choice Award and said (in part) the following:

"How substantial are the changes to the new Planar 3? Rega claims that only two parts of the Planar 3 are shared with the outgoing RP3, effectively making it all new. If you look closely, however, it quickly becomes clear that while the basic form is the same as before, there are some key differences. Key to the way that the Planar functions is a new bracing system that links the arm mount and bearing together... This makes the Planar 3 a great deal more rigid and controls the movement between the two. Rega calls this arrangement a 'stressed beam' and claims that coupled with the stiffer plinth, the Planar 3 is considerably more inert than any previous version, which should audibly reduce distortion. The arm has been even more heavily reworked. The new RB330 is visibly similar to the old RB300, but given it includes a new bearing housing, arm tube and counterweight, it can realistically be thought of as all new...

In many ways the sonic performance of the Planar 3 echoes the aesthetic improvements that have been made. There is a substance to the sound that shines through almost regardless of the partnering equipment, managing to create a sense of space and soundstage where many similarly priced rivals might struggle. There is a three dimensionality to the Planar 3 which allows it to sound believable and consistently enjoyable. This spaciousness doesn't require a toe tapping beat to reveal itself either. The lovely repress of Air's Moon Safari is involving and intimate, but still possesses an ambience that makes it sound real. The beautiful 'All I Need' is delivered with an almost liquid quality with Beth Hirsch's vocals layered effortlessly across a soundstage that is simply exceptional.

Something that helps across a wide variety of music is the fact that the Planar 3 has gained a bass response that is deeply impressive for a turntable built from these materials at this price point. It manages to produce powerful and impressively deep bass that never loses the texture and detail needed to be a convincing part of the performance rather than big uncontrolled slabs of low end.

The Planar 3 is consistently entertaining. It is unfazed by any genre of music that is thrown at it and the basic attributes it possesses are consistent regardless of whether you're listening to something small scale and elegant or a massive piece of live rock... More than almost any relatively affordable turntable I have listened to in recent times, it doesn't require the caveat that it is good at the price. This consistency and ability is admirable, but what really impresses is that it also manages to impart very little of itself while it does so.

There is unquestionably some of the life and energy that's often associated with Rega turntables, but the Planar 3 gives fine neutrality and should be as happy in a low-power valve setup as a high-power solid state one."

Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Review

"While the price difference over the standard versions will vary by market, the Australian distributor Synergy points out that the Planar 3 with Exact currently retails for AU$1799, while the 50th Anniversary Edition includes upgrades valued at AU$624 RRP for just AU$100 more, as well as giving you a little piece of Rega history.

Verdict: It's a no brainer, the 50th anniversary Rega Planar 3. Useful upgrades for not much more, simply wonderful vinyl replay in every regard – full frequency response, detailed resolution and soundstaging, kicking kick drums, delicacy when required.

If you want a real turntable, a classic taken to a new level, look no further. But look fairly quickly: Rega is saying the 50th Anniversary edition will be available during 2023, but no later. So perhaps happy Christmas to you, as well as happy birthday to Rega." Sound+Image Magazine

Our Take On The Rega Planar 3 50^th Anniversary Edition Turntable

We have been fans of Rega for around 45 years and we don't think there are more than one or two 'old-timers' that may lay claim to selling the product longer than we have. But let's be frank, Roy Gandy has been selling his turntables for 50 years now and not just one now and again. Sales around the world are staggering. You will struggle to find a review anywhere that bags or discredits the brand. They are extremely well engineered and therefore give their owners and those who sell them hours of pleasure. Plus they sound amazing... and that's why we sell them! Believe what you read because it is all true.

Presented in the hugely popular new walnut effect finish, the 50^th Anniversary Planar 3 is supplied with a hand tuned Neo PSU MK2 and the handmade Rega Exact moving magnet cartridge factory fitted. The drive system uses Rega's Reference EBLT drive belt and a 24V motor fitted with a custom CNC'd aluminium drive pulley to deliver the absolute best in performance and accuracy. The Anniversary Edition is badged with exclusive aluminium plinth and lid badges for the finishing touch. Great sound, great looks, at a never to be repeated price. Oh, and this model will only be available to buy in 2023. Don't let this one get away from you. Order one today.

Main Features & Specifications

• Design: 50^th Anniversary Two Speed Manual Belt Drive Turntable
  • New Walnut Effect Finish
  • Hand Tuned Neo PSU MK2 Power Supply
  • Handmade Rega Exact Moving Magnet Cartridge Factory Fitted
  • Rega Reference EBLT Drive Belt
  • 24V Motor fitted with a custom CNC'd aluminium drive pulley from the Planar 6 to deliver the absolute best in performance and accuracy
  • 50^th Anniversary Badging on the Plinth & Lid
• Tonearm: RB330 tonearm with 3-point mounting
• Lift: There is a hydraulic lift on the tonearm
• Cartridge: Rega Exact Moving Magnet Cartridge attached and aligned
• Speeds: 33⅓ & 45 rpm
• Special Features: Double brace technology
• Plinth: Light weight plinth design
• Platter: Superb 12mm glass platter
• Drive Belt: Reference EBLT drive belt fitted as standard
• Mat: Includes wool mat
• Dustcover: Includes hinged smoked Acrylic dustcover/lid
• Motor: 24 Volt low noise low vibration hand tuned motor assembly
• Power Supply: Supplied standard with a hand tuned NEO PSU MK2 which gives you the convenience of electronic speed change at the touch of a button and, more importantly, better performance
• Finish: Walnut Effect Laminated Plinth, Smoked Dust Cover
• Designed & Made In England
• Dimensions (WxHxD): 447 x 117 x 360mm - Lid closed
• Nett Weight: 6kg
• Manufacturer's Warranty: 3 Years

Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE.