Rega Planar 3 50th Anniversary Edition Turntable

PLANAR 3 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

Rega are celebrating their 50th Anniversary with a very special edition of the legendary Rega Planar 3. A turntable package designed and developed to maximise the performance of this popular model.

Presented 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. The drive system uses the Reference EBLT drive belt and 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 an exclusive aluminium plinth and lid badges for the finishing touch.

Key Features

• Anniversary Special Edition only available to buy during 2023
• Complete with upgrades valued over $600
• Walnut Effect plinth with custom aluminium badge
• RB330 Precision tonearm
• Exact MM cartridge factory fitted
• Neo turntable PSU MK2 included
• 24V 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

User Manual (PDF, 0.5MB)

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 world-renowned audio engineering company making world-class, award-winning hi-fi products that are enjoyed by music lovers across the globe.

Since their inception, Rega's 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 popularity, growth, and success.

Tonearm

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, 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.

Double Brace Technology

3 mm phenolic bottom brace and metalized skin phenolic top brace. The 50th anniversary Planar 3 uses a lightweight laminated plinth strengthened using their double brace system. Mounted specifically where the increased rigidity is required (between the tonearm mounting and the main hub bearing) this 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.

Plinth

Walnut effect, laminated plinth. Rega has pioneered the use of lightweight rigid plinths. The clever use of a lightweight particulate core with a highly rigid phenolic resin skin became the foundation of the high level of performance achieved by the now iconic Planar range.

Motor

24V low noise low voltage precision motor and PCB assembly, fitted with a custom CNC machined aluminium pulley.

Central Bearing

Rega designed a patented brass main hub central bearing, improved fit and construction reducing stress on the bearing itself.

Exact MM Cartridge

Each one of Rega's moving magnet cartridges are meticulously hand assembled to the highest standard by their highly trained technicians. The design and assembly procedure are focused on one simple goal, extracting as much music from your vinyl as possible. Each cartridge uses a pair of parallel wound coils which are then carefully assembled on custom jigs to create a working stereo generator. Each cartridge is then tested and checked over two days to ensure all of the strict parameters for each model are met before either packing or fitting to a Rega turntable.

Key Features:
- Moving Magnet cartridge
- Vital profile, rectangular diamond billet
- Three-point mounting system
- Output: 6.8 - 7.2mV

NEO PSU MK2

The Neo MK2 PSU is an advanced turntable power supply providing user-controllable fine speed adjustment, an advanced anti-vibration motor circuit and the convenience of electronic speed change. The Neo MK2 reduces motor noise, improves speed stability and rotational speed accuracy.

Using the same DSP (digital signal processing) generator found in the Planar 10 power supply, the Neo MK2 is built upon a high-stability crystal. The DSP generator will divide the accurate signal from the crystal to the exact frequency required to turn the platter at the selected speed whilst producing a near-perfect sinusoidal waveform to drive the 24v motor. Fine speed adjustment is made via the rear panel using the supplied custom Neo trim tool (supplied).

Reference EBLT Drive Belt

The Rega Reference EBLT drive belt is the culmination of many years of R&D and advanced tooling trials and is the most accurate drive belt Rega has ever produced. Each belt is moulded on Rega's highly accurate custom tooling using a unique secret blend. Once moulded, the belts are cryogenically frozen and barrelled to remove any excess flash in order to create perfect cross-sectional roundness which is critical for accurate speed and stability. In normal use and conditions, the lifespan of the EBLT drive belt is 50% longer than the previous model. All Reference belts go through a unique curing process that guarantees the highest achievable level of accuracy.

Key Features

- Rega Drive Belt Replacement
- Reference EBLT Monomer
- Cross-sectional roundness results in improved stability & speed accuracy
- 50% longer lifespan than a polychloroprene belt
- Advanced curing process
- Improved consistency in modulus of material
- Made in England