Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

New Products

Rega’s Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable Celebrates Iconic Deck

Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable

Rega’s iconic turntables have been in production for 50 years and would make any credible list of high-end audio components that have changed the industry. Rega has also sold hundreds of thousands of tonearms over the past 5 decades; audiophiles have purchased OEM versions of its tonearms from a number of brands including Michell, Origin Live, Moth Audio, and Goldring.

On Another Planet

Rega was one of the last British high-end audio brands to introduce a CD player in the late 1990s; the Rega Planet was a radical departure from almost everything else on the market and its quirky clamping system made a fan out of me.

The Planet CD player won over a lot of listeners with its warmer tonal balance that was decidedly very different sounding than what was being offered by its rivals; Naim, Linn, Arcam, and Cyrus Audio. The CD player was paying homage to Rega’s original turntable that is being honored in 2023 with the limited edition Planar 3 50th Anniversary deck.

Rega Research Ltd was founded in 1973 in Essex, England, by Roy Gandy, a mechanical engineer, and Tony Relph, a chemical engineer. They started the company to produce hi-fi equipment, including turntables, amplifiers, and speakers. The first Rega turntable was the Planet, which was introduced in 1973.

Rega Planet Turntable from 1973
Rega Planet Turntable (1973)

The Planet was a budget turntable that sold for £39.95 and was designed to be an affordable alternative to the expensive turntables of the time. It also used a Rega-designed tonearm that was manufactured by Acos in Japan.

In 1977, Rega introduced the Planar 2 and Planar 3 turntables, which were an evolution of the Planet turntable. The Planar 3 was designed to be a higher-end version of the Planar 2, with better build quality and performance.

Rega Planar 3 Turntable Black
The Rega Planar 3 Turntable comes in high gloss black, red or white.

The Planar 3 had a glass platter, a low-noise motor, and a new tonearm. The new Rega-Acos R200 tonearm was a radical departure from the standard tonearms of the time. It was a lightweight design that used a unipivot bearing, which allowed it to track the record groove more accurately. The Planar 3 was an instant success and quickly gained a reputation for its excellent sound quality and value for money.

Over the years, Rega has continued to refine and improve the Planar 3 turntable. In 1983, they introduced the RB300 tonearm, which was a significant upgrade over the original tonearm. The RB300 used a more rigid tube and a more advanced bearing system, which improved tracking accuracy and reduced distortion.

In 1991, Rega introduced the P3 turntable, which was an updated version of the Planar 3 with a new motor, platter, and tonearm. In 2000, Rega introduced the P3-24, which had a new 24-volt motor and a new plinth design.

In 2016, Rega introduced a new version of the Planar 3, which had a new RB330 tonearm, a new plinth design, and improved motor control circuitry.

Rega pioneered the use of lightweight rigid plinths. Their innovative 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.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Today, the Rega Planar 3 turntable ($1,125 at Turntablelab.com) is still regarded as one of the best turntables on the market, and it continues to win awards for its performance and value for money. Rega has remained true to its original philosophy of producing high-quality, affordable hi-fi equipment, and the Planar 3 turntable is a testament to that philosophy.

Planar 3 50th Anniversary

Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable Lid Closed

Available in the hugely popular new walnut effect finish, the 50th anniversary Planar 3 is supplied with a hand tuned Neo PSU MK2 and the handmade Rega Exact moving magnet cartridge factory fitted.

Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable Cartridge

The drive system uses their reference drive belt and a custom CNC’d aluminium drive pulley to deliver the absolute best in performance and accuracy.

The Anniversary Edition is completed with an aluminium lid plinth badge and smoked dustcover to complete the Anniversary Edition.

Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable Lid Open

Key Features

  • Walnut Effect plinth with custom aluminium badge
  • RB330 Precision tonearm
  • Exact MM cartridge factory fitted
  • Neo turntable PSU MK2 included
  • 24 V low noise, low vibration motor, hand tuned to the custom Neo PSU Mk2.
  • Double brace technology
  • 12 mm float glass opti-white polished platter
  • CNC machined Planar 6 drive pulley for use with the Neo PSU.
  • Supplied with a smoked dust cover as standard.
  • Reference EBLT drive belt fitted as standard
  • Anniversary Special Edition only available to buy during 2023
Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable Badge

Where to buy: $1,695 at Turntable Lab

Tip: This edition will only be available for the rest of 2023 and can be ordered through Rega’s global dealer network.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

Latest Products

OePhi Lounge Series 2 and 2.5 Loudspeakers in Oak

Bookshelf Speakers

OePhi Lounge Series Loudspeakers aim to prove high levels of musical performance don't have to cost a fortune.

GIK Acoustics Sound Block StackPack Promo Image GIK Acoustics Sound Block StackPack Promo Image

A/V Furniture & Accessories

GIK Acoustics’ Sound Block StackPack includes a trio of modular acoustic panels that can be free standing or wall mounted.

Hisense C2 Ultra Lifestyle Laser Projector Mounting Positions Hisense C2 Ultra Lifestyle Laser Projector Mounting Positions

New Products

At $2,499 the versatile Hisense C2 Ultra lifestyle 4K projector offers optical zoom, built-in JBL speakers, gaming features and more.

A.bsolument Vintage Bluetooth Radios Collage A.bsolument Vintage Bluetooth Radios Collage

New Products

A.bsolument turns your dusty old radio into a Bluetooth beauty with French savoir-faire—because even your granny’s relic deserves to sound magnifique, not like a...

Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO IEMs Wired Lifestyle Astell&Kern 64 Audio XIO IEMs Wired Lifestyle

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

Astell&Kern and 64 Audio’s $3,000 XIO IEMs combine cutting-edge tech and luxury design for audiophiles seeking top-tier sound and craftsmanship.

Headphone Amps

Pro-Ject Head Box E offers powerful, affordable desktop headphone amplification with discrete circuitry and versatile connections. A solid $120 upgrade option.

Gift Ideas?

Amazon Prime Day is July 8-11, 2025

Daily Deals

Amazon Prime Day is a four-day shopping event from July 8-11, 2025 offering the biggest discounts of the year on consumer electronics.

You May Also Like

New Products

Celebrate 75 years of Peanuts with Pro-Ject's limited edition turntable, featuring hi-fi tech, Bluetooth, and Schroeder-approved specs—finally, a reason Linus might drop the blanket.

New Products

The Pro-Ject Metallica Limited Edition Turntable might be the "One" for fans of the iconic heavy metal band this summer.

New Products

AVID launches the Relveo, its first all-new turntable in 12 years. Handmade in the UK and priced at £6,900 ($11,000 US), the Relveo targets...

Articles

Discover if vintage turntables still beat modern models under $2,000. Pros, cons, sound quality, and where to buy for the best vinyl experience.

New Products

With a $699 tag, the O Turntable is belt-driven and comes with a pre-installed MM cartridge and a built-in phono preamp for easy connection...

Daily Deals

Score big savings on Andover Audio’s turntables, speaker systems, and accessories during Prime Day 2025. Upgrade your vinyl setup with deals on SpinDeck 2,...

Articles

Unique turntables of 2025 include Audio-Technica’s levitating Hotaru to MoFi x Fender’s vintage rock vibe and Thorens’ modern classic.

New Products

Are you one of those people who hates having to install a phono cartridge? The Waiting for Ideas PP-1 might be exactly what you're...

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers