I have recently purchased a "new" 2nd hand Turntable. Canidates where Rega Planar 2, Planar 3, Systemdek II X 900 (with Rega Arm). The Rega 2 was bad. The Planar 3 is fairly okay. The Systemdek in the same priceclass new was head and sholders above the Rega.
I eneded up bying neither of them but a old Marble Plithed Direct Drive Turntable. Way better but no longer in Production.

The Planar 3 is a nice introduction to analog. it has a great Arm but little else to recommend it. Thus three Star rating, bordering on 4 if the (low in the UK) price is taken into account.

Since I bought the Rega Planar 3 turntable I have rediscovered my record collection. I bought it used but in mint condition equipped with a Linn Basik Plus tonearm. I added a Sumiko cartridge. The table virtually sings, giving life to the old vinyl. More heart warming than CD.

musical, detailed, quiet and not finicky. Very reliable

could use a ground wire, VTA adjustment would be nice on the RB300

If there's one piece of audio equipment that I could think of as an old friend that I never want to replace, this is it.

Sure, it's more convenient to listen to CD's through my CAL DX-2, and sure it's nice to be able to switch through the tracks by remote, but when I want to sit down to have a real listen, the Rega is always my first choice.

The funny thing is that most music-enthusiast friends that visit also end up wanting to listen to vinyl as well. I can't count the number of times I've done the vinyl vs. CD test to have the vinyl chosen as the 'preferred' choice.

Ok, I admit that I'm probably preaching to the converted here, but the fact that I'm always confident that the Rega will produce a warm, detailed and very musical sound is a testament to the design of the unit. The major strengths are the RB300 and the 'quietness' of the deck. I've tried a number of different cartridges over the years on the deck, and have the following comments:

(1) Rega RB100 - musical, but a little dark. Needs more highs.
(2) Shure V15-VMR - bright and forward. I didn't like it.
(3) Linn K-5 - bright, but musical. Forward in a nice way
(4) Linn K-9 - similar to the K-5, but less bright. A nice cartridge, and one I wish I could still get.
(5) Rega Elys - very detailed and musical. The highs seem a little soft at first, compared to a K-5, but ultimately a very listenable cartridge, and the one I use right now.

If I were asked to complain about something, I'd wish for a ground wire. Occasionally, I'll get a pop through the speakers on shut-down... Sure, this can be alleviated by turning the table off after the pre-amp, but I shouldn't have to. I'd also wish for some VTA adjustment on the RB300, but then again, if I use Rega cartridges, I probably don't need it.

I'd welcome any comments or questions,
Jason

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this has been my one and only table for 15 years.

sound and price.

no ground wire, probably needs rewiring from the original tonarm setup to improve teh sound.

...well I've just got a great bargain from Brooklyn Audio
after such a big term of listening CDs and terribly missing for an analogue natural sound. I've got it hooked up with Rega Elys cartridge which is included in the overall price and I'm really happy with that. Hey I've just technically downgraded back to analogue. My vinyl collection busted up on the first days my turntable present ( over 200 lps )!
The first unusual thing for turntables I've noticed that there were no ground wire and desided not to pay attantion for it. Once I've turned on the volume level on my preamp after approx. 1 o'clock and then took the tonearm of lp, the terrible and loud noise of 60hz started to come out of my speekers.
Ocasionally I've found one to thread it from the phono to the turntable's bearing and the noise could only be heard after 4 o'clock out of 5.5 of max volume level.
The great improvement of the sound and static reduction can be acheived by replacing an original Rega wiring with Audio Note tonarm wiring that includes a ground wire too.
Now the listening tests:
I am not about to discuss a different recordings rather than just shortly say that with thorough way to set up and choose the right components of your front end starting up with phono and ending up with the speakers you can pull out of this turntable more and more sound details.
For the short period of time i've upgraded twice while I own it and it still does not seem to be the limit still.
The major upgrade I await right now is TUBE$ for every component of the stereosystem.

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Arktur Mid-fi famous Russian LP player (built-in phono)

Purchased a demo Rega 3 when my 20 year old Sony PSX7 died and could not be repaired (too old to get parts). Tried a Thorens TD-280 Mk IV, wanted auto shutoff. The Thorens, unlike older models, was a piece of junk. Nuff said about that. The Rega 3 has been great. Quiet and articulate with a Shure V15 I have had for about 10 years. Motor briefly rattles on its suspension when started, but not a big complaint. Runs smoothly, but the belt continues to roll and pop. Am hoping it will wear in. Or, I will try another one. Overall, I am pleased with what I got for $450. Plan to try the Grado Sonata (hopefully, it will not hum). RB300 arm is terrific. Am working with Cardas to upgrade the wires, which may remove the possibility of hum. Not as nice as the Sony, but that is history. Only wish it turn off at the end of play. Very nice for the $.

Quiet

Rubber feet.

I jumped on the digital band wagon with a vengeance and when the dust settled, and my money ran out, I still was looking for that relaxed, involving sound of yesterday. I told my girlfriend It is time to keep an eye out for a Rega 3. She was shocked and asked "why did we spend so much on a digital front end just to buy an old analogue reproducer". I must admit her qusestion initiated some deep thought. Another year went by before I seen one advertised with the Elys cartdridge ( 600.00). I went to see the table and found it to be virtually brand new and bought it. Let me tell you my 600 plus record collection is in serious danger of being worn out!!! The bang for my dollar spent is humbling. The Rega totally made my Maggies vanish. The amount this unit soundstaged was magic. The old recordings were not nearly as noisy as I recalled nor as compressed. Digital freaks do not buy one of these tables for if you do your digital front end will collect some serious dust.
Thank you Rega.

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Kenwood KD-500,StaxUA7,Grace F9E

Extremely Quiet, with exceptionally Lively tempo: a Beautiful Turntable.

Set up is time consuming, and can even be a pain.. but worth it.

I have used the Rega 3 for many years now, and have been nothing but pleased with its performance. Besides being a work of art (its a beautiful table), it has an extremely low noise floor, and lively play characteristics. There have been people who have complained of Wow and flutter.. I have never experienced this. On mine, even solo Piano pieces are clean and accurate. There is a common mistake made with the Rega.... Many people damage the Center spindle shortly after getting it. This causes terrible Wow and flutter problems, and can ONLY be corrected by replacing the center bearing assembly ( about 75 bucks).Misalignment of the motor (belt tension/pully angle)can also cause this problem.
The Rega Must only be moved AFTER the platter is removed or,at least, with sheet of cardboad placed under the spindle plate. The belt must be replaced from time to time, as it will wear in a couple of years due to the weight of the glass platter. Also, keep it clean. If you've purchased a Rega, and it has Wow and flutter problems, it's most probably been damaged. It can be damaged with heavy handling as well.... dropping it from even an inch from the resting surface will cause damage (or dropping the platter on the spindle plate while changing belt speed). I have no doubt there are hundreds of Rega owners who have NEVER realized the potential of their table because it has been damaged from the day they aquired it. Sad. Once damaged, the sound is affected in other ways as well. It becomes a noisy, out of sync piece of garbage. Once you have your Rega set up, DON'T MOVE IT. ( a tip; when you buy the table, TEST IT AT THE STORE before taking it home, to be sure the spindle is sound).. Then treat it like thin crystal until you get it to its final resting place in your home.
The Rega is extremely picky about where it is placed. It must be COMPLETELY isolated from vibration, and I mean completely. Otherwise, it will sound like a 75 dollar Radio shack replacement. Once properly placed however, it really shines! One more thing; tightening the arm as tightly to the base as possible will help it a great deal. I suggest you have someone help you with this, as one slip and you can ruin the tonearm. Ok.. set-up is essential, as you can see, but well worth the rewards. I suggest you use something heavy, such as cinder blocks to weigh whatever you place it on, the more weight, the better. Think Isolation. If it's sitting in between your speakers, it probably sounds terrible.
I have absolutly loved my Rega! Once all the set-up is completed, I'd put it up against anything in its price range. I've used everything from The Shure Type5(smooth but a common sounding cartridge) to moving coil cartridges. I now use a relativly inexpensive Audio Technica Line Contact/ Nude type stylus/cartridge. I get smooth, accurate, well balanced sound. The difference between the Rega and other tables is how it affects ones spirit. You'll soar in wonder of the obvious difference between it and lesser tables, experiencing music in a way music should be. Bass is tight and percussive, and it is so quiet, the finer nuances of musical passages come through. Vocals are full of life, and even high volumes are pleasant over extended periods.
If you take extra precautions during set-up, align the cartridge perfectly, and isolate the table well, YOU WILL BE OVER-JOYED WITH ITS PERFORMANCE!!!(as I have been over the years).
One more thing I've noticed about performance; outlet current can affect the Rega. If the spindle is not damaged, the belt is in good condition, and you're still having wow and flutter problems, it's the wall current. Use a current stablizier, switch the polarity, or try a different outlet. This one is getting old... I've had it for 15 years. When I purchase a new table, it will Definitly be a Rega!
Jay Totten

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AR Turntable.

This is a great tt! I use it with two cartridges- a Grado Platinum Reference and a Benz Micro Silver. Still hard to beat at its price point! Five stars if one considers the price, but three stars if cost is no object.

After looking for a used VPI and having no luck, I settled on a Planar 3, put on a Goldring 1042g, and have been quite pleased. I won't claim that it has elevated the way I now listen to music, or that it destroys my digital set up, because it doesn't. What I will add is that it now enables me to purchase far more music, and enjoy it at no extreme cost of sound reproduction. In fact, with the exception of keeping records clean, I prefer buying vinyl. There is just something far more intimate about it... not in the sound, but in something I cannot really explain.
With the exception of the cheap power cord and connectors, I think this table is a good value. Again, I'm using it through my Copland phono stage, so perhaps I've yet to hear it at its full potential. But over-all, it's a neutral performer and a good add on to my set up.
Goodluck with your purchase, and if, like me, you have a limited budget, and prefer spending money on actually buying records rather than components, check this out. I don't think it will prove to be a disappointment except for the absurdly critical.

Durabiltiy

speed and sound

I bought this turntable 2 years after my Phillips turntable died of old age. I missed my records and just bought some new speakers (Martin Logan SL-3's), new pre-amp (Audio Research LS16), and amp (Aragon 8008BB dual mono), and was looking for a good, yet unexpensive turntable. The guys at Digital Ear sold me the Rega Planer 3 saying it was the best on the market for the price. It was B/O from England for over a month, and I put a Grado Sonata cart. via Aragon 47K phono pre-amp connected to the Audio Research LS16 tubed pre-amp. I notice that some of the reviews comment about the rubber belt problem, and I also can hear it over work itself when I don't help it along by pushing the record. It sounds great, but I think thats due to the Grado Sonata cart. and Aragon 47K phono pre-amp. I have read some WWW sites that write about rewiring the tone arm and I am curious about how this may improve the sound, but this might be for hard core stereo people with very expensive phono pre-amps...for example the Audio Research PH3. I would like to see the tone arm wires end at the turntable itself with RCA outputs where one could add their own wires from turntable to phono pre-amp. In other words, why couldn't Rega improve their wiring from cart. mount to an RCA output insite of forcing everyone to use their wires to the phono pre-amp. Just a thought. If I would of done it over again, I think I would go for more of a high end product, but I am pleased. A "4" for the price

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